88 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



winter in ditches that be near to the river, and there both to hide 

 and keep himself warm in the mud or in the weeds, which rot 

 not so soon as in a running river, in which place if he were in 

 winter, the distempered floods that are usually in that season, 

 would sutTer him to take no rest, but carry him headlong to mills 

 and wears to his confusion. And of these minnows, first you are 

 to know, that the biggest size is not the best ; and next that the 

 middle size and the whitest are the best : and then you are to 

 know, that your minnow must be so put on your hook, and it 

 must turn round when 'tis drawn against the stream ; and that it 

 may turn nimbly, you must put it on a big-sized hook, as I shall 

 now direct you, which is thus. Put your hook in at his mouth 

 and out at his gill, then having drawn your hook two or three 

 inches beyond or through his gill, put it again into his mouth, 

 and the point and beard out at his tail, and then tie the hook and 

 his tail about very neatly with a white thread, which will make 

 it the apter to turn quick in the water : that done, pull back that 

 part of your line which was slack when you did put your hook 

 into the minnow the second time : I say, pull that part of your 

 line back so that it shall fasten the head, so that the body of the 

 minnow shall be almost straight on your hook ; this done, try 

 how it will turn by drawing it across the water or against a 

 stream, and if it do not turn nimbly, then turn the tail a little to 

 the right or left hand, and try again, till it turn quick ; for if not, 

 you are in danger to catch nothing : for know, that it is impossi- 

 ble that it should turn too quick : and you arc yet to know, that 

 in case you want a minnow, then a small loach or a stickle-bag, 

 or any other small fish that will turn quick, will serve as well : 

 and you are yet to know, that you may salt them, and by that 

 means keep them ready and fit for use three or four days or 

 longer ; and that of salt, bay salt is the best. 



And here let me tell you, what many old anglers know right 

 well, that at some times, and in some waters, a minnow is not to 

 be got ; and therefore let me tell you I have, — which I will shew 

 to you, — an artificial minnow, that will catch a trout as well as an 

 artificial fly, and it was made by a handsome woman that had a 

 fine hand, and a live minnow lying by her : the mould or body 

 of the minnow was cloth, and wrought upon or over it thus with 



