THE CARP. 249 



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 as 

 many sorts as there are medicines for the toothache ; but 

 doubtless sweet pastes are best ; I mean pastes made with 

 honey or with sugar ; which, that you may the better beguile 

 this crafty fish, should be thrown in the pond or place in 

 which you fish for him, some hours, or longer, before you 

 undertake your trial of skill with the angle-rod ; and doubt- 

 less, if it be thrown into the water a day or two before, at 

 several times, and in small pellets, you are the likelier, when 

 you fish for the carp, to obtain your desired sport. Or, in a 

 large pond, to draw them to a certain place, that they may 

 the better and with more hope be fished for, you are to throw 

 into it, in some certain place, either grains or blood mixed 

 with cow-dung or with bran, or any garbage, as chickens' 

 guts, or the like ; and then some of your small sweet pellets 

 with which you purpose to angle ; and these small pellets 

 being a few of them also thrown in as you are angling, will 

 be the better. 



And your paste must be thus made : take the flesh of a 

 rabbit or cat cut small ; and bean-flour ; and if that may not 

 be easily got, get other flour ; and then mix these together, 

 and put to them either sugar, or honey (which I think 

 better) ; and then beat these together in a mortar, or some- 

 times work them in your hands, your hands being very 

 clean ; and then make it into a ball, or two, or three, as you 

 like best, for your use : but you must work or pound it so 

 long in the mortar, as to make it so tough as to hang upon 

 your hook without washing from it, yet not too hard ; or, 



