THE BREAM. 26 1 



that you perceive nothing but the top of the floats, which 

 you must watch most diligently. Then when you have a 

 bite, you shall perceive the top of your float to sink sud- 

 denly into the water : yet, nevertheless, be not too hasty to 

 run to your rods, until you see that the line goes clear away, 

 then creep to the water-side, and give as much line as you 

 possibly can : if it be a good carp or bream, they will go to 

 the farther side of the river : then strike gently, and hold 

 your rod at a bent a little while ; but if you both pull to- 

 gether, you are sure to lose your game, for either your line, 

 or hook, or hold will break ; and after you have overcome 

 them, they will make noble sport, and are very shy to be 

 landed. The carp is far stronger and more mettlesome 

 than the bream. 



Much more is to be observed in this kind of fish and fish- 

 ing, but it is far better for experience and discourse than 

 paper. Only thus much is necessary for you to know, and 

 to be mindful and careful of, that if the pike or perch do 

 breed in that river, they will be sure to bite first, and must 

 first be taken. And for the most part they are very large ; 

 and will repair to your ground-bait, not that they will eat 

 of it, but will feed and sport themselves among the young 

 fry that gather about and hover over the bait. 



The way to discern the pike and to take him, if you mis- 

 trust your bream-hook, for I have taken a pike a yard 

 long several times at my bream-hooks, and sometimes he 

 hath had the luck to share my line, may be thus : 



Take a small bleak, or roach, or gudgeon, and bait it, and 

 set it alive among your rods two feet deep from the cork, 

 with a little red worm on the point of the hook ; then take 

 a few crumbs of white bread, or some of the ground-bait, 



