THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



151 



which Dubravius often quotes in his Discourse of Fishes 

 but it might rather perplex than satisfy you : and therefore I 

 shall rather choose to direct you how to catch, than spend 

 more time in discoursing either of the nature or the breeding 

 of this CARP, or of any more circumstances concerning him ; but 



yet I shall remember you of what I told you before, that he 

 is a very subtle fish, and hard to be caught. 



And my first direction is, that if you will fish for a carp, 

 you must put on a very large measure of patience ; especially 

 to fish for a river-carp ; I have known a very good fisher angle 

 diligently four or six hours in a day, for three or four days 

 together, for a river carp, and not have a bite. And you are 

 to note, that in some ponds it is as hard to catch a carp as in 

 a river ; that is to say, where they have store of feed, and the 

 water is of a clayish colour ; but you are to remember I have 

 told you there is no rule without an exception ; and therefore 

 being possessed with that hope and patience which I wish to 

 all fishers, especially to the carp-angler, I shall tell you with 

 what bait to fish for him. But first, you are to know that it 

 must be either early or late ; and let me tell you, that in hot 

 weather, for he will seldom bite in cold, you cannot be too 

 early or too late at it. And some have been so curious as to 

 say, the tenth of April is a fatal day for carps. 



The carp bites either at worms or at paste ; and of worms 

 I think the bluish marsh or meadow worm is best ; but 

 possibly another worm not too big may do as well, and so 

 may a green gentle ; and as for pastes, there are almost a 

 many sorts as there are medicines for the toothache,.; bu 



