ANGLING IMPROVED. 6 



to make the line strong-, make it all of silk, or thread, 

 or hair, as strong as you please, and the lowest part of 

 the smallest lute or viol strings, which I have proved 

 to be very strong, but will quickly rot in the water, 

 you may however help that in having new and strong 

 ones to change for those that decay $ but as to hair, the 

 most usual matter whereof lines are made, I like sor- 

 rel, white, and grey best ; sorrel in muddy and boggy 

 rivers, and both the latter for clear waters. I never 

 could find such virtue or worth in other colours, to give 

 them so high praise as some do, yet if any other have 

 worth in it, I must yield it to the pale or watery green, 

 and if you fancy that, you may dye it thus. Take a 

 pottle of allum water, and a large handful of mari- 

 golds, boil them until a yellow scum arise, then take 

 half a pound of green copperas, and as much verde- 

 grease, beat them into a fine powder, then put those 

 with the hair into the allum-water, set all to cool for 

 twelve hours, then take out the hair and lay it to dry. 

 Leave a bought, or bout, at both ends of the line, the 

 one to put it to, and take it from your rod, the other to 

 hang your lowest link upon, to which your hook is 

 fastened, and so that you may change your hook as often 

 as you please. 



3. Let your hooks be long in the shank, and of a 

 compass somewhat inclining to roundness, but the 

 point must stand even and straight, and the bending 

 must be in the shank ; for if the shank be straight, the 

 point will hang outward, though when set on it may 

 stand right, yet it will after the taking of a few fish, 



