l66 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [PART I. 



is in the broadest and deepest place of the river, and there, or 

 near thereabouts, at a clear bottom and a convenient landing- 

 place, take one of your angles ready fitted as aforesaid, and 

 sound the bottom, which should be about eight or ten feet deep ; 

 two yards from the bank is best. Then consider with yourself 

 whether that water will rise or fall by the next morning, by 

 reason of any water-mills near, and according to your discretion 

 take the depth of the place where you mean after to cast your 

 ground-bait, and to fish, to half an inch ; that the lead lying on 

 or near the ground-bait, the top of the float may only appear 

 upright half an inch above the water. 



Thus you having found and fitted for the place and depth 

 thereof, then go home and prepare your ground-bait ; which is, 

 next to the fruit of your labors, to be regarded. 



THE GROUND-BAIT. 



You shall take a peck, or a peck and a half, according to the 

 greatness of the stream, and deepness of the water, where you 

 mean to angle, of sweet gross-ground barley-malt, and boil it in 

 a kettle ; one or two warms is enough : then strain it through a 

 bag into a tub, the liquor whereof hath often done my horse 

 much good ; and when the bag and malt is near cold, take it 

 down to the water-side about eight or nine of the clock in the 

 evening, and not before : cast in two parts of your ground-bait, 

 squeezed hard between both your hands, it will sink pres- 

 ently to the bottom, and be sure it may rest in the very place 

 where you mean to angle : if the stream run hard, or move 

 a little, cast your malt in handfuls a little the higher, upwards 

 the stream. You may, between your hands, close the malt so 

 fast in handfuls, that the water will hardly part it with the 

 fall. 



Your ground thus baited, and tackling fit.ted, leave your bag 

 with the rest of your tackling and ground-bait near the sporting- 



