THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 151 



which may be found on flags that grow near to the water side. 

 I doubt not but that there may be many other baits that are 

 good ; but I will turn them all into this most excellent one, 

 either for a Carp or Bream, in any river or mere :* it was given 

 to me by a most honest and excellent angler ; and hoping you 

 will prove both, I will impart it to you. 



1. Let your bait be as big a red worm as you can find, without 

 a knot ; get a pint, or quart, of them in an evening in garden 

 walks, or chalky commons, after a shower of rain ; f and put 

 them, with clean moss, well washed and picked, and the water 

 squeezed out of the moss as dry as you can, into an earthen pot, 

 or pipkin, set dry ; and change the moss fresh every three or 

 four days, for three weeks or a month together ; then your bait 

 will be at the best, for it mil be clear and lively. 



2. Having thus prepared your baits, get your tackling ready 

 and fitted for this sport. Take three long angling rods ; and as 

 many and more silk, or silk and hair lines ; and as many large 

 swan or goose quill floats. Then take a piece of lead made after 

 the manner of a carpenter's plummet, and fasten them to the low 

 ends of your lines : then fasten your link-hook also to the lead, 

 and let there be about a foot or ten inches between the lead and 

 the hook : but be sure the lead be heavy enough to sink the 

 fleat, or quill, a little under the water ; and not the quill to bear . 

 up the lead, for the lead must lie on the ground. Note, that 

 your link next the hook may be smaller than the rest of your 

 line, if you dare adventure, for fear of taking the Pike or Perch, 

 who will assuredly 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 tackling, 

 repair to the river, where you have seen them to 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 bot- 

 tom ; 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 



* Mere Is old English for a lake, and is still retained for several of our 

 lakes, as Buttermere, Grassmere. J. R. 



f As the knot is the sexual swelling of the worm, and as worms do not 

 Appear at night except for purveying, I think Walton's directioas imprac- 

 ticable. J R. 



