ANGLING IMPROVED. 5J 



ful nets, or means to take fish; especially bar-netting 

 and night-hooking. 



5. Get your rods and tops without knots, they are 

 dangerous for breaking. 



6. Keep your rod dry, lest it rot, and not near 

 the fire, lest it grow brittle. 



7. In drought, wet your rod a little before you 

 begin to angle. 



8. Lob-worms, dew-worms, and great garden 

 worms, all one. 



9. When you angle at ground, or with the natu- 

 ral fly, your line must not exceed the length of your 

 rod. For the Trout at ground, it must be shorter, and 

 in some cases, not half the length as in small brooks or 

 woody rivers, either at ground, or with the natural fly. 



10. When you have hooked a good fish, have an 

 especial care to keep your rod bent, lest he run to the 

 line, and break your hook, or his hold. 



11. Such tops or stocks as you get, must not be 

 used till fully seasoned, which will not be in one year 

 and a quarter, but I like them better if kept till they be 

 two years old. 



12. The first fish you take, cut up his belly, and 

 you may then see his stomach; it is known by its large- 

 ness and place, lying from the gills to the small guts ; 

 take it out very tenderly, if you bruise it, your labour 

 and design are lost ; and with a sharp knife cut it open 

 without bruising, and then you may find his food in it, 

 and thereby discover what bait the fish at that instant 



