'The Compleat ^Angler 



and not kept in sour and musty moss, for he is a curious feeder ; 

 but at a well scoured lob-worm he will bite as boldly as at any bait, 

 and especially if, the night or two before you fish for him, you shall 

 bait the places where you intend to fish for him with big worms cut 

 into pieces ; and note, that none did ever overbait the place, nor fish 

 too early or too late for a barbel. And the barbel will bite also at 

 gentles, which (not being too much scoured, but green) are a choice 

 bait for him ; and so is cheese, which is not to be too hard, but kept 

 a day or two in a wet linen cloth to make it tough : with this you 

 may also bait the water a day or two before you fish for the barbel, 

 and be much the likelier to catch store ; and if the cheese were laid in 

 clarified honey a short time before (as namely, an hour or two) you 

 are still the likelier to catch fish; some have directed to cut the 

 cheese into thin pieces, and toast it, and then tie it on the hook with 

 fine silk : and some advise to fish for the barbel with sheep's tallow 

 and soft cheese beaten or worked into a paste, and that it is choicely 

 good in August, and I believe it ; but doubtless the lob-worm well 

 scoured, and the gentle not too much scoured, and cheese ordered as 

 I have directed, are baits enough, and I think will serve in any 

 month, though I shall commend any angler that tries conclusions, 

 and is industrious to improve the art. And now, my honest scholar, 

 the long shower, and my tedious discourse are both ended together ; 

 and I shall give you but this observation, that when you fish for 

 barbel, your rod and line be both long and of good strength, for (as 

 I told you) you will find him a heavy and a dogged fish to be dealt 

 withal, yet he seldom or never breaks his hold if he be once strucken. 

 And if you would know more of fishing for the umber or barbel, get 

 into favour with Doctor Sheldon, whose skill is above others ; and 

 of that the poor that dwell about him have a comfortable experience. 



And now let us go and see what interest the trouts will pay us for 

 letting our angle-rods lie so long, and so quietly in the water, for 

 their use. Come, scholar, which will you take up? 



VEN. Which you think fit, master. 



Pise. Why, you shall take up that, for I am certain, by viewing 

 the line, it has a fish at it. Look you, scholar ! well done ! Come, 

 now take up the other too: well! now you may tell my brother 



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