The Compleat ^Angler 



your hook hang a quarter of a yard short of the water, to which end 

 you must rest your rod on some bough of the tree. But it is likely 

 the chubs will sink down towards the bottom of the water at the 

 first shadow of your rod (for a chub is the fearfulest of fishes), and 

 will do so if a bird flies over him and makes the least shadow on the 

 water ; but they will presently rise up to the top again, and there 

 lie soaring till some shadow affrights them again. I say, when they 

 lie upon the top of the water, look out the best chub (which you, 

 setting yourself in a fit place, may very easily see), and move your 

 rod as softly as a snail moves, to that chub you intend to catch ; let 

 your bait fall gently upon the water three or four inches before him, 

 and he will infallibly take the bait, and you will be as sure to catch 

 him ; for he is one of the leather-mouthed fishes, of which a hook 

 does scarce ever lose its hold ; and therefore give him play enough 

 before you offer to take him out of the water. Go your way 

 presently ; take my rod and do as I bid you ; and I will sit down 

 and mend my tackling till you return back. 



VEN. Truly, my loving master, you have offered me as fair as I 

 could wish. I'll go, and observe your directions. 



Look you, master, what I have done, that which joys my heart, 

 caught just such another chub as yours was. 



Pise. Marry, and I am glad of it : I am like to have a towardly 

 scholar of you. I now see that with advice and practice, you will 

 make an angler in a short time. Have but a love to it ; and I'll 

 warrant you. 



VEN. But, master, what if I could not have found a grasshopper? 



Pise. Then I may tell you that a black snail, with his belly slit to 

 show his white, or a piece of soft cheese, will usually do as well : 

 nay, sometimes a worm, or any kind of fly, as the ant-fly, the flesh- 

 fly, or wall-fly, or the dor or beetle (which you may find under cow- 

 tird), or a bob, which you will find in the same place, and in time 

 will be a beetle ; it is a short white worm, like to and bigger than a 

 gentle, or a cod-worm, or a case-worm, any of these will do very 

 well to fish in such a manner. And after this manner you may 

 catch a trout in a hot evening : when as you walk by a brook, and 

 shall see or hear him leap at flies, then if you get a grasshopper, put 



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