AND DIRECTIONS TO CATCH HIM 



not the quill to bear up the lead, for the lead must lie on the 

 ground. Note, that your link next the hook may be smaller 

 than the rest of your line, if you dare adventure, for fear of 

 taking the Pike or Pearch, who will assuredly visit your hooks, 

 till they be taken out, as I will shew you afterwards, before 

 either Carp or Bream will come near to bite. Note also, that 

 when the worm is well baited, it will crawl up and down, as 

 far as the lead will give leave, which much enticeth the fish to 

 bite without suspicion. 



3. Having thus prepared your baits, and fitted your tackling, 

 repair to the river, where you have seen them to swim in skuls 

 or shoals in the Summer time in a hot afternoon, about three 

 or four of the clock, and watch their going forth of their deep 

 holes and returning, which you may well discern, for they 

 return about four of the clock, most of them seeking food at 

 the bottom, yet one or two will lie on the top of the water, 

 rolling and tumbling themselves whilst the rest are under him 

 at the bottom, and so you shall perceive him to keep sentinel ; 

 then mark where he plays most, and stays longest, which 

 commonly is in the broadest and deepest place of the river, 

 and there, or near thereabouts, at a clear bottom, and a con- 

 venient landing-place, take one of your angles ready fitted as 

 aforesaid, and sound the bottom, which should be about eight 

 or ten feet deep ; two yards from the bank is the best. Then 

 consider with yourself whether that water will rise or fall by 

 the next morning, by reason of any water-mills near, and 

 according to your discretion take the depth of the place, 

 where you mean after to cast your ground-bait, and to fish, to 

 half an inch ; that the lead lying on, or near the ground-bait, 

 the top of the float may only appear upright half an inch above 

 the water. 



Thus you having found and fitted for the place and depth 

 thereof, then go home and prepare your ground-bait, which is 

 next to the fruit of your labours, to be regarded. 



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 



R in 



