194 BEST'S ART OF ANGLING. 



sorts of which the fish are remarkably fond of, and 

 are equal in goodness to the cod-bait and grass- 

 hopper, and will take the same sorts offish. 



WQim y or Boitoni-Jishingy comes in about the 

 middle of February, if the weather is mild, and 

 continues good all the year ; you may fish with 

 a worm, all or any time of the day, if the water it 

 discoloured by rain ; but if low, clear, and fine, 

 only mornings and evenings ; it is the most ge- 

 neral bait we have, and will take every kind of 

 fish j the proper worms for angling are fully de- 

 scribed in this treatise. 



As in successive course the seasons roll, 

 So circling pleasures recreate the soul: 

 \Vhen genial spring a living warmth bestows, 

 And o'er the year her verclent mantle throws, 

 No swelling inundation hides the grounds, 

 But chrystal currents glide within their bounds j 

 The finny brood their wonted haunts forsake, 

 Float in the sun , and skim along the lake ; 

 With frequent leap they range the shallow streams, 

 Their silver coats reflect the dazzling beams. 

 Now let the fisherman his toils prepare, 

 And arm himself with every wat'ry snare ; 

 His hooks, his lines peruse, with careful eye, 

 Increase his tackle, and his rod re-tie. GAY. 



Happy England !(says an elegant writer) where 

 the sea furnishes an abundant and luxurious re- 

 past, and the fresh waters are innocent and harm- 

 less pastime ; where the angler in cheerful soli- 

 tude stroles by the edge of the stream, and fears 

 neither the coiled snake, nor the lurking croco- 

 dile ; where he can retire at night, with his few 

 trouts,(to borrow the charming descriptron of old 

 Walton) to some friendly cottage, where the 

 landlady is-good, and the daughter innocent and 

 beautiful; where the room is cleanly, the sheets 

 smelling of lavender, and twenty ballads stuck 



