126 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. PARTI. 



much good, and when the bag and malt is near cold, take it 

 down to the water-side about eight or nine of the clock in the 

 evening-, and not before ; cast in two parts of your ground-bait, 

 squeezed hard between both your hands ; it will sink presently 

 to the bottom, and be sure it may rest in the very place where 

 you mean to angle ; if the stream run hard or move a little, cast 

 your malt in handfuls a little the higher, upwards the stream. 

 You may, between your hands, close the malt so fast in hand- 

 fuls that the water will hardly part it with the fall. 



Your ground thus baited and tackling fitted, leave your bag 

 with the rest of your tackling and ground-bait near the sporting- 

 place all night, and in the morning about three or four of the 

 clock visit the water-side, but not too near, for they have a 

 cunning watchman, and are watchful themselves too. 



Then gently take one of your three rods, and bait your hook; 

 casting it over your ground-bait, and gently and secretly draw 

 it to you, till the lead rests about the middle of^the ground-bait. 



Then take a second tod, and cast in about a yard above, and 

 your third a yard below the first rod ; and stay the rods in the 

 ground : but go yourself so far from the water-side that you 

 perceive nothing but the top of the floats, which you must watch 

 most diligently. Then when you have a bite, you shall perceive 

 the top of your float to sink suddenly into the water: yet, 

 nevertheless, be not too hasty to run to your rods, until you see 

 that the line goes clear away, then creep to the water-side, and 

 give as much line as you possibly can : if it be a good carp or 

 bream, they will go to the farther side of the river : then strike 

 gently, and hold your rod at a bent a little while ; but if you 

 both pull together, you are sure to lose your game, for either 

 your line, or hook, or hold will break : and after you have 

 overcome them, they will make noble sport, and are very shy 

 to be landed. The carp is far stronger and more mettlesome 

 than the bream. 



Much more is to be observed in this kind of fish and fishing, 

 but it is far better for experience and discourse than paper. 

 Only, thus much is necessary for you to know, and to be 

 mindful and careful of, that if the pike or pearch do breed in 



