186 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



eye, and a nimble hand, or the bait is lost, and the fish too, if 

 one may lose that which he never had. With this paste you 

 may, as I said, take both the Roach and the Dace, or Dare : 



DACE Cyprimis JLeuciscus. LINNJEUS. 



for they be much of a kind, in matter of feeding, cunning, goodnes?, 

 and usually in size. And therefore take this general direction, 

 for some other baits which may concern you to take notice of; 

 they will bite almost at any fly, but especially at ant-flies ; con- 

 cerning which, take this direction, for it is very good : 



Take the blackish ant-fly out of the mole-hill or ant-hill, in 

 which place you shall find them in the month of June ; or if 

 that be too early in the year, then, doubtless, you may find them 

 in July, August, and most of September.* Gather them alive, 

 with both their wings : and then put them into a glass that will 

 hold a quart or a pottle ; but first put into the glass a handful, 

 or more, of the moist earth out of which you gather them, and as 

 much of the roots of the grass of the said hillock ; and then put 

 in the flies gently, that they lose not their wings ; lay a clod of 

 earth over it ; and then so many as are put into the glass with- 

 out bruising 1 will live there a month or more, and be always in 

 a readiness for you to fish with ; but if you would have them keep 

 longer, then get any great earthen pot, or barrel of three or four 

 gallons, (which is better,) then wash your barrel with water and 

 honey ; and having put into it a quantity of earth and grass 

 roots, then put in your flies, and cover it, and they will live 

 a quarter of a year.t These, in any stream and clear water, 

 are a deadly bait for Roach or Dace, or for a Chub : and your 

 rule is to fish not less than a handful from the bottom. 



* The ant-fly is the male or female ant, which can never certainly be got 

 in a mole-hill, but occurs from midsummer till September. J. R. 



They will not live so long with their wings on; for the female ant 

 strips off her wings as soon as she is comfortably settled, and the male does 

 not live long. J. R. 



