WITH DIRECTIONS HOW TO FISH FOR HIM 



This I take to be a very good way, to use so many Ledger- 

 baits as you intend to make trial of. 



Or if you bait your hooks thus with live fish or frogs, and 

 in a windy day, fasten them thus to a bough or bundle of straw, 

 and by the help of that wind can get them to move across a 

 pond or mere, you are like to stand still on the shore and see 

 sport presently if there be any store of Pikes ; or these live- 

 baits may make sport, being tied about the body or wings of 

 a goose or duck, and she chased over a pond : and the like 

 may be done with turning three or four live-baits thus fastened 

 to bladders, or boughs, or bottles of hay or flags to swim down 

 a river, whilst you walk quietly alone on the shore, and are 

 still in expectation of sport. The rest must be taught you by 

 practice, for time will not allow me to say more of this kind of 

 fishing with live-baits. 



And for your dead-bait for a Pike, for that you may be 

 taught by one day's going a-fishing with me, or any other body 

 that fishes for him, for the baiting your hook with a dead 

 Gudgeon or a Roach, and moving it up and down the water, 

 is too easy a thing to take up any time to direct you to do it ; 

 and yet, because I cut you short in that, I will commute for it, 

 by telling you that that was told me for a secret : it is this. 



Dissolve Gum of Ivy in Oil of Spike, and therewith anoint 

 your dead-bait for a Pike, and then cast it into a likely place, 

 and when it has lain a short time at the bottom, draw it towards 

 the top of the water and so up the stream, and it is more than 

 likely that you have a Pike follow with more than common 

 eagerness. 



And some affirm, that any bait anointed with the marrow 

 of the thigh-bone of an Hern, is a great temptation to any 

 fish. 



These have not been tried by me, but told me by a friend 

 of note, that pretended to do me a courtesy ; but if this direc- 

 tion to catch a Pike thus, do you no good, yet I am certain 

 this direction how to roast him when he is caught, is choicely 

 good, for I have tried it ; and it is somewhat the better for not 

 being common, but with my direction you must take this caution, 

 that your Pike must not be a small one, that is, it must be more 

 than half a yard, and should be bigger. 



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