ANCIENT ANGLING AUTHORS 17 



The seventh if that the weather be hot. 



The eighth if it rain. 



The ninth if it hail or snow fall. 



The tenth if it be a tempest. 



The eleventh is if it be a great wind. 



The twelfth if the wind be in the east, and that is 

 worst, for commonly neither winter nor summer the 

 fish will not bite then. The west and north winds 

 be good, but the south is best. 



Baits for every manner of fish and for every month. 

 For ye can not bring an hook in to a fishes mouth 

 without a bait, which baits for every manner of fish 

 and for every month here followeth in this wise. 



Salmon. The salmon is a gentle fish, but he is 

 combrous for to. take. His baits are with a red 

 worm in the beginning and ending of a season. And 

 also with a bob that breedeth in a dung hill, and 

 especially with a sovereign bait, that breedeth on a 

 water-dock. Also ye may take him but it is seldom 

 seen with a dubbe at such time as when he leapeth. 



Trout. The trout for by cause he is a right 

 deyntous (dainty) fish and also a right fervent biter 

 we shall speak next of him. In his leaping time 

 with a dubbe. Ye shall angle to him in March with 

 a minnow hanged on your hook by the nether lip 

 without float or plumb drawing up and down in the 

 stream until ye fele him fast. The other baits 

 recommended for a trout are : The red worm. The 

 Ineeba also named seven eyes [the River Lamprey]. 

 The Canker that breedeth in a great tree. The red 

 snail. The stone fly. The cow-dung worm. The 

 silk worm. The bait that breedeth on a fern leaf. 

 A cod worm. A flesh fly. Fat of bacon. 



For the Grayling a somewhat similar, but shorter 

 selection is given. 



The Barbel is a sweat fish but is a quasy meat and 

 perilous for man's body. And if he be eaten raw, 

 he may be cause of man's death which hath often 



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