]52 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



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 watermills 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. 



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 Me 

 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 higher, upwards the stream. 

 You may, between your hands, close the malt so fast in hand- 

 fuls, that the water will hardly part it with the fall. 



Your ground thus baited, and tackling fitted, leave your bag, 

 with the rest of your tackling and ground-bait, near the sport- 

 ing place all night ; and in the morning, about three or four of 

 the clock, visit the water side, but not too near, for they have 

 a cunning watchman, and are watchful themselves too. 



Then gently take one of your three rods, and bait your hook, 

 casting it over your ground-bait, and gently and secretly draw 

 it to you till the lead rests about the middle of the ground-bait. 



Then take a second rod, and cast in about a yard above, and your 

 third a yard below the first rod ; and stay the rods in the ground : 

 but go yourself so far from the water side, 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 the float to sink suddenly into the water ; yet, neverthe- 

 less, 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 aa 

 much line as possibly you can : if it be a good Carp or Bream, 



