AND HOW TO FISH FOR THEM 



sheep, being half dried on a trencher, that so you may cut it 

 into such pieces as may best fit the size of your hook, and a 

 little salt keeps it from growing black, and makes it not the 

 worse, but better: this is taken to be a choice bait if rightly 

 ordered. 



There be several oils of a strong smell that 1 have been told 

 of, and to be excellent to tempt fish to bite, of which I could 

 say much; but I remember I once carried a small bottle from 

 Sir George Hastings to Sir Henry Wotton, they were both 

 chemical men, as a great present; it was sent, and received, 

 and used with great confidence ; and yet upon enquiry, I found 

 it did not answer the expectation of Sir Henry, which, with the 

 help of this and other circumstances, makes me have little belief 

 in such things as many men talk of: not but that I think fishes 

 both smell and hear, as I have expressed in my former discourse ; 

 but there is a mysterious knack, which, though it be much 

 easier than the philosopher's stone, yet is not attainable by 

 common capacities, or else lies locked up in the brain or breast 

 of some chemical man, that like the Rosicrucians, will not yet 

 reveal it. But let me nevertheless tell you, that Camphor, put 

 with moss into your worm-bag with your worms, makes them, 

 if many Anglers be not very much mistaken, a tempting bait, 

 and the Angler more fortunate. But I stepped by chance into 

 this discourse of oils and fishes smelling, and though there 

 might be more said, both of it and of baits for Roach and Dace, 

 and other float-fish, yet I will forbear it at this time, and tell you 

 in the next place how you are to prepare your tackling: con- 

 cerning which, I will for sport-sake, give you an old rhyme out 

 of an old fish-book which will prove a part, and but a part, of 

 what you are to provide. 



My rod and my line, my float and my lead, 

 My hook and my plummet, my whetstone and knife, 



My basket, my baits both living and dead, 

 My net and my meat, for that is the chief: 



Then I must have thread, and hairs green and small, 



With mine Angling-purse, and so you have all. 



But you must have all these tackling, and twice so many 

 more, with which if you mean to be a Fisher, you must store 

 yourself; and to that purpose I will go with you either to 



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