ANGLING IMPROVED. 4? 



the man that could read in no book but his own: 

 besides, a man, his occasions or desires drawing him 

 from home, must only stand as an idle spectator, whilst 

 others kill fish, but he none ; and so lose the repute of 

 a complete Angler, how excellent soever he be at his 

 own known river. 



Furthermore, you must understand, that as some 

 fish covet one soil more than another, so they differ in 

 their choice of places, in every season 5 some keep all 

 Summer long near the top, some never leave the bottom; 

 for the former sort you may angle with a quill or small 

 float near the top, with a fly, or any sort of worm bred 

 on herbs or trees, or with a fly at the top : the latter 

 sort you will, all Summer long, find at the tails of wiers, 

 mills, flood-gates, arches of bridges, or the more shal- 

 low parts of the river, in a strong, swift or gentle 

 stream, except Carp, and Tench, and Eel ; in Winter all 

 retreat into deep still places ; where it ebbs and flows, 

 they will sometimes bite best, but in the ebb most 

 usually; sometimes when it flows, but rarely at full 

 water, near the arches of Bridges, wiers, or flood-gates. 



CHAP. VIII. 



WHAT TIMES ARE UNSEASONABLE TO ANGLE IN. 



THERE being a time for all things, in which with ease 

 and facility the same may be accomplished, and most 

 difficult, if not impossible, at another : the skill and 

 knowledge how to choose the best season to angle, and 



