CHAP* XX. TflE COMPLETE ANGLER. 323 



Well, scholar ! I bave told you the substance of all 

 that either observation or discourse, or a diligent sur- 



the canal at St. James's Park which, though a large one, is yet a 

 pond it was, in the reign of Charles II. the practice of ladies to angle. 



Beneath, a shole of silver fishes glides, 



" And plays about the gilded barges sides ; 



" The ladies, angling in the chrystal lake, 



" Feast on the waters with the prey they take ; 



" At once victorious with their lines and eyes, 



" They make the fishes and the men their prize." 



Waller. Poem on St. JameSs Park, 

 lately improved by his Majesty. 



As the method of ordering fish-ponds is now very well known, and 

 there are few books of gardening but what give some directions about it, 

 it is hoped, the reader will think the following quotation from Bowlker 

 sufficient, by way of annotation on this chapter. 



" When you intend to stock a pool with Carp or Tench, make a 

 " close etbering hedge, across the head of the pool, about a yard distance 

 *' of the dam, and about three feet above the water; which is the 

 " best refuge for them I know of, and the only method to preserve 

 " pool-fish, because, if any one attempts to rob the pool, muddied 

 " the water, or disturbs it with nets, most of the fish, if not all, im- 

 mediately fly between the hedge and the dam, to preserve them- 

 '* selves ; and in all pools, where there are such shelters and shades, the 

 " fish delight to swim backwards and forwards, through and round the 

 same, rubbing and sporting themselves therewith. This hedge ought 

 *' to be made, chiefly, of orls, and not too close; the boughs long and 

 straggling, towards the dam ; by which means you may feed and fatten 

 * them as you please. The best baits for drawing them together, at 

 first are : maggots, or young wasps ; the next are : bullock's brain's 

 < and lob- worms, chopped together, and thrown into the pools in large 

 *' quantities, about two hours before sun-set, summer and winter. By thu* 

 using these ground-baits, once a day, for a fortnight together, the 

 " fish will come as constantly and naturally to the place, as cattle to 

 " their fodder ; and to satisfy your curiosity, and to convince you herein, 

 " after you have baited the pool for some time, as directed, take about 

 " the quantity of a two-penny loaf of wheaten bread, cut it into slices, and 

 <f wet it ; then throw it into the pool where you had baited, and the! 

 Carp will feed upon it: after you have used the wet bread three of 

 w four mornings, then throw some dry bread in, which will lie on the 

 * top of the water; and if you watch, out of sight of the fish, you 

 ' will presently see them swim to it, and suck it in. I look upon 

 " wheaten bread to be the best food for them, though barley or oaten 

 " bread is very good. If there be Tench and Pearch in the same pond, 

 4* they will feed upon the four former baits, and not touch the bread. In- 

 " deed there is no pool-fish so shy and nice as a Carp. When the 

 " water is disturbed, Carp will fly to the safest shelter they can ; which 

 *' I one day observed, when assisting a gentleman to fish his pool ; for 

 " another person disturbed the water, by throwing the casting-net, 



