160 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



ling, repair to the river, where you have seen them swim in 

 skulls or shoals, in the summer time, in a hot afternoon, 

 about three or four of the clock, and watch their going forth 

 of their deep holes and returning, which you may well discern, 

 for they return about four of the clock, most of them seeking 

 food at the bottom, yet one or two will lie on the top of the 

 water, rolling and tumbling themselves whilst the rest are 

 under him at the bottom, and so you shall perceive him to 

 keep sentinel ; then mark where he plays most, and stays 

 longest, whicli commonly 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 the 

 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 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 labours, 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 presently 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 tall. 



Your ground thus baited and tackling fitted, leave your bag 



