IS 2 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [PARTI 



forth of the cleft or nick of that stick in which it was gently 

 fastened, he will have line enough to go to his hold and pouch 

 the bait. And if you would have this Ledger-bait to keep at a 

 fixed place, undisturbed by wind or other accidents, which may 

 drive it to the shore-side, for you are to note, that it is like- 

 liest to catch a Pike in the midst of the water, then hang a 

 small plummet of lead, a stone, or piece of tile, or a turf, in a 

 string, and cast it into the water, with the forked stick, to hang 

 upon the ground, to be a kind of anchor to keep the forked 

 stick from moving out of your intended place till the Pike come. 

 This I take to be a very good way to use so many Ledger-baits 

 as you intend to make trial of. 



Or if you bait your hooks thus with live fish or frogs, and in 

 a windy day, fasten them thus to a bough or bundle of straw, 

 and by the help of that wind can get them to move across a 

 pond or mere, you are like to stand still on the shore and see 

 sport presently if there be any store of Pikes : or these live-baits 

 may make sport, being tied about the body or wings of a goose 

 or duck, and she chased over a pond. And the like may be 

 done with turning three or four live-baits, thus fastened to 

 bladders, or boughs, or bottles of hay or flags, to swim down a 

 river, whilst you walk quietly alone on the shore, and are still 

 in expectation of sport. The rest must be taught you by prac- 

 tice, for time will not allow me to say more of this kind of fish- 

 ing with live-baits. 



And for your dead-bait for a Pike, for that you may be taught 

 by one day's going a-fishing with me, or any other body that 

 fishes for him ; for the baiting your hook with a dead Gudgeon 

 or a Roach, and moving it up and down the water, is too easy 

 a thing to take up any time to direct you to do it : and yet, 

 because I cut you short in that, I will commute for it by telling 

 you that that was told me for a secret. It is this. 



Dissolve gum of ivy in oil of spike, and therewith anoint 

 your dead-bait for a Pike ; and then cast it into a likely place, 

 and when it has lain a short time at the bottom, draw it tow- 



