1 64 



THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



[PART I. 



Bacon observes in his " History of Life and Death," fol. 20, 

 that there be some herbs that die and spring every year, and 

 some endure longer. 



But though some do not, yet the French esteem this fish 

 highly, and to that end have this proverb: "He that hath 

 Breams in his pond is able to bid his friend welcome." And 

 it is noted, that the best part of a Bream is his belly and head. 



Some say, that Breams and Roaches will mix their eggs and 

 melt together, and so there is in many places a bastard breed 

 of Breams, that never come to be either large or good, but 

 very numerous. 



The baits good to catch this BREAM 



are many. First, paste made of brown bread and honey, 

 gentles, or the brood of wasps that be young, and then not un- 

 like gentles, and should be hardened in an oven, or dried on a 

 tile before the fire to make them tough : or there is at the root 

 of docks or flags, or rushes in watery places, a worm not un- 

 like a maggot, at which Tench will bite freely. Or he will 

 bite at a grasshopper with his legs nipped off, in June and 

 July ; or at several flies, under water, which may be found on 

 flags that grow near to the water-side. I doubt not but that 

 there be many other baits that are good, but I will turn them 

 all into this most excellent one, either for a Carp or Bream, in 

 any river or mere : it was given to me by a most honest and 

 excellent Angler, and, hoping you will prove both, I will im- 

 part it to you, 



