CHAP. V.] THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 10? 



fennel for sudden use ; but if you have time, and purpose to 

 keep them long, then they be best preserved in an earthen pot 

 with good store of moss, which is to be fresh every three or four 

 days in summer, and every week or eight days in winter ; or at 

 least the moss taken from them, and clean washed, and wrung 

 betwixt your hands till it be dry, and then put it to them again. 

 And when your worms, especially the Brandling, begins to be 

 sick and lose of his bigness, then you may recover him by put- 

 ting a little milk or cream, about a spoonful in a day, into them 

 by drops on the moss ; and if there be added to the cream an 

 egg beaten and boiled in it, then it will both fatten and pre- 

 serve them long. And note, that when the knot, which is near 

 to the middle of the Brandling, begins to swell, then he is sick, 

 and, if he be not well looked to, is near dying. And for moss 

 you are to note, that there be divers kinds of it, which I could 

 name to you, but will only tell you that that which is likest a 

 buck's horn is the best, except it be soft white moss, which 

 grows on some heaths, and is hard to be found. And note, that 

 in a very dry time, when you are put to an extremity for worms, 

 walnut-tree leaves squeezed into water, or salt in water, to make 

 it bitter or salt, and then that water poured on the ground 

 where you shall see worms are used to rise in the night, will 

 make them to appear above ground presently. And you may 

 take notice, some say that camphor put into your bag with your 

 moss and worms gives them a strong and so tempting a smell, 

 that the fish fare the worse and you the better for it. 



And now I shall show you how to bait your hook with a 

 worm, so as shall prevent you from much trouble, and the loss 

 of many a hook too, when you fish for a Trout with a running- 

 line ; that is to say, when you fish for him by hand at the 

 ground. I will direct you in this as plainly as I can, that you 

 may not mistake. 



Suppose it be a big Lob- worm ; put your hook into him 

 somewhat above the middle, and out again a little below the 

 middle : having so done, draw your worm above the arming of 



