THE BREAM. 



visit your hooks, till they be taken out, as I will shew you 

 afterward, before either carp or bream will come near to bite. 

 Note also, that when the worm is well baited, it will crawl 

 up and down as far as the lead will give leave, which much 

 enticeth the fish to bite without suspicion. 



3. Having thus prepared your baits and fitted your tack- 

 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 dis- 

 cern, 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, which 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 your- 

 self 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 labours, to be regarded. 



172 



