CHAP. HI.] THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 83 



your hook, and let your hook hang a quarter of a yard short 

 of the water, to which end you must rest your rod on some 

 bough of the tree. But it is likely the Chubs will sink down 

 towards the bottom of the water at the first shadow of your 

 rod, for a Chub is the fearfullest of fishes, and will do so if but 

 a bird flies over him, and makes the least shadow on the water ; 

 but they will presently rise up to the top again, and there lie 

 soaring till some shadow affrights them again. I say, when they 

 lie upon the top of the water, look out the best Chub, which 

 you, setting yourself in a fit place, may very easily see, and 

 move your rod as softly as a snail moves to that Chub you in- 

 tend to catch : let your bait fall gently upon the water three or 

 four inches before him, and he will infallibly take the bait. 

 And you will be as sure to catch him ; for he is one of the 

 leather-mouthed fishes, of which a hook does scarcely ever lose 

 its hold ; and, therefore, give him play enough before you offer 

 to take him out of the water. Go your way presently ; take 

 my rod, and do as I bid you, and I will sit down and mend 

 my tackling till you return back. 



VEN. Truly, my loving Master, you have offered me as fair 

 as I could wish. I '11 go and observe your directions. 



Look you, Master, what I have done ! that which joys my 

 heart, caught just such another Chub as yours was. 



Pise. Marry, and I am glad of it; I am like to have a 

 towardly scholar of you. I now see that, with advice and 

 practice, you will make an Angler in a short time. Have but 

 a love to it, and I '11 warrant you. 



VEN. But, Master, what if I could not have found a grass- 

 hopper ? 



Pise. Then I may tell you, that a black snail, with his belly 

 slit to show his white, or a piece of soft cheese, will usually do 

 as well. Nay, sometimes a worm, or any kind of fly, as the 

 Ant-fly, the Flesh-fly, or Wall-fly, or the Dor or Beetle, which 

 you may find under cow-dung, or a Bob, which you will 

 find in the same place, and in time will be a Beetle, it is a 



