THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 161 



THE GROUND-BAIT. 



You shall take a peck, or a peck and a half, according to the 

 greatness of the stream and deepness of the water where you 

 mean to anirle, of sweet irross-ground barley-malt, and boil it in 

 a kettle ; one or two warms is enough : then strain it through a 

 bag into a tub, the liquor whereof hath often done my horse 

 much good : and when the bag and malt is near cold, take it 

 down to the water-side about eight or nine of the clock in the 

 evening, and not before : cast in two parts of your ground-bait, 

 squeezed hard between both your hands ; it will sink presently 

 to the bottom, and be sure it may rest in the very place where 

 you mean to angle : if the stream run hard, or move a little, cast 

 your malt in handfuls a little the higher, upwards the stream. 

 You may between your hands close the malt so fast in handfuls, 

 that the water will hardly part it with the fall. 



Your ground thus baited, and tackling fitted, leave your bag 

 with the rest of your tackling and ground bait near the sporting, 

 place all night, and in the morning about three or four of the 

 clock visit the water-side, but not too near ; for they have a cun- 

 ninsT watchman, and are watchful themselves too. 



Then gently take one of your three rods, and bait your hook, 

 casting it over your ground, and gently and secretly draw it to 

 you, till the lead rests about the middle of the ground-bait. 



Then take a second rod and cast it about a yard above, and 

 vour third a yard below the first rod, and stay the rods in the 

 ground ; but go yourself so far from the water-side, that you 

 perceive nothing but the top of the floats, which you must watch 

 most diligently : then, when you have a bite, you shall perceive 

 the top of your float to sink suddenly into the water ; yet never- 

 theless, be not too hasty to run to your rods, until you see that 

 the line goes clear away, then creep to the water-side, and give 

 as much line as possibly you can : if it be a good carp or bream, 

 they will go to the further side of the river ; then strike gently, 

 and' hold your rod at a bent a little while ; but if you both pull 

 together, you are sure to lose your game, for either your line, or 

 hook, or hold will break ; and after you have overcome them, 

 they will make noble sport, and are very shy to be landed. The 

 carp is far stronger and more mettlesome than the bream. 



