96 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. PART i. 



his very gorge, 'tis more than probable he will live ; and a little 

 time, with the help of the water, will rust the hook, and it will 

 in time wear away; as the gravel doth in the horse-hoof, which 

 only leaves a false quarter. 



And now, scholar, let's go to my rod. Look you, scholar, I 

 have a fish too, but it proves a logger-headed chub; and this is 

 not much amiss, for this will pleasure some poor body, as we go 

 to our lodging to meet our brother Peter and honest Coridon. 

 Come, now bait your hook again, and lay it into the water, for 

 it rains again: and we will even retire to the sycamore tree, 

 and there I will give you more directions concerning fishing ; 

 for I would fain make you an artist. 



VEN. Yes, good master, I pray let it be so. 



PiSC. Well, scholar, now we are sat down and are at ease, 

 I shall tell you a little more of trout-fishing, before I speak of 

 salmon, which I purpose shall be next, and rfien of the pike or 

 luce. 



You are to know there is night as well as day-fishing for a 

 trout, and that in the night the best trouts come out of their 

 holes: and the manner of taking them is on the top of the 

 water, with a great lob or garden-worm, or rather two, which 

 you are to fish within a place where the waters run somewhat 

 quietly, for in a stream the bait will not be so well discerned. 

 I say, in a quiet or dead place, near to some swift: there draw 

 your bait over the top of the water, to and fro; and if there be 

 a good trout in the hole he will take it, especially if the night 

 be dark ; for then he is bold, and lies near the top of the water, 

 watching the motion of any frog, or water-rat, or mouse that 

 swims between him and the sky: these he hunts after if he sees 

 the water but wrinkle or move in one of these dead holes, where 

 these great old trouts usually lie near to their holds ; for you are 

 to note, that the great old trout is both subtle and fearful, and 

 lies close all day, and does not usually stir out of his hold, but 

 lies in it as close in the day as the timorous hare does in her 

 form, for the chief feeding of either is seldom in the day, but 

 usually in the night, and then the great trout feeds very 

 boldly. 



