The Compleat ^Angler 



About four of the clock in the afternoon repair to your baited 

 place; and as soon as you come to the water-side, cast in one half 

 of the rest of your ground-bait, and stand off : then whilst the fish 

 are gathering together (for there they will most certainlycome for their 

 supper) you may take a pipe of tobacco ; and then in with your 

 three rods, as in the morning : you will find excellent sport that 

 evening till eight of the clock ; then cast in the residue of your 

 ground-bait, and next morning by four of the clock visit them again 

 for four hours, which is the best sport of all; and after that, let 

 them rest till you and your friends have a mind to more sport. 



From St. James's-tide until Bartholomew-tide is the best; when 

 they have had all the summer's food, they are the fattest. 



Observe lastly, that after three or four days' fishing together, your 

 game will be very shy and wary, and you shall hardly get above a 

 bite or two at a baiting ; then your only way is to desist from your 

 sport about two or three days ; and in the meantime (on the place 

 you late baited, and again intend to bait) you shall take a tuft of 

 green, but short grass, as big or bigger than a round trencher; to 

 the top of this turf, on the green side, you shall with a needle and 

 green thread, fasten one by one as many little red worms as will near 

 cover all the turf ; then take a round board or trencher, make a hole 

 in the middle thereof, and through the turf, placed on the board or 

 trencher, with a string or cord as long as is fitting, tied to a pole, let 

 it down to the bottom of the water, for the fish to feed upon with- 

 out disturbance about two or three days ; and after that you have 

 drawn it away, you may fall to and enjoy your former recreation. 



176 



