58 ANCIENT ANGLING AUTHORS 



The milder streame of colour like to whay, 

 Within his bounds his wonted course doth keepe, 

 And that the wind i South or else by-West, 

 To Angle then is time and seasons best. 



After enumerating at some length the haunts of 

 each kind of fish, the author rightly concludes that 

 experience is the best guide : 



But here experience doth my skill exceed, 



Since divers Countries divers Rivers have ; 



And divers Rivers change of waters breed, 



And change of waters sundry Fish doth crave, 



And sundry Fish in divers places feede, 



As best doth like them in the liquid wave, 



So that by use and practice may be knowne, 

 More then by art or skill can well be showne. 



He then tells us " The best houres of the day to 

 Angle " : 



From first appearing of the rising Sunne, 

 Till nine of clocke low under water best 

 The Fish will bite, and then from nine to noone, 

 From noone to foure they doe refraine and rest, 

 From foure againe till Phoebus swift hath runne, 

 His daily course, and setteth in the West : 

 But at the flie aloft they use to bite, 

 All summer long from nine till it be night. 



The following verse is added "least the Angler 

 leave his Tooles behinde " : 



Light Rod to strike, long line to reach withall, 

 Strong hooke to holde the fish he haps to hit, 

 Spare Lines and Hookes, what ever chance doe fall, 

 Baites quicke and dead to bring them to the bit, 

 Fine Lead and Quils with Corks both great and small, 

 Knife, File and thred and little Basket fit, 



Plummets to sound the depth of clay and sand, 

 With Pole and Net to bring them safe to land. 



