THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 205 



then no care is to be taken whether there be most male or 

 female Carps. 



It is observed, that the best ponds to breed Carps are those 

 that be stony or sandy, and are warm, and free from wind ; and 

 that are not deep, but have willow trees and grass on their 

 side.s, over which the water does sometimes flow ; and note, 

 that Carps do more usually breed in marie pits, or pits that 

 have clean clay bottoms ; or in new ponds, or ponds that lie 

 dry a winter season, than in old ponds that be full of mud and 

 weeds.* 



* It is observable, that the author has said very little of pond-fishing, 

 which is, in truth, a dull recreation ; and to which I have heard it 

 objected, that fish in ponds are already caught. Nevertheless, I find that 

 in the canal at St James's Park, which, though a large one, is yet a pond, 

 it was in the reign of Charles II. the practice of ladies to angle. 



Beneath, a shoal of silver fishes glides 

 And plays about the gilded barges' sides : 

 The ladies, angling in the crystal lake, 

 Feast on the waters with the prey they take : 

 At once victorious with their lines and eyes, 

 They make the fishes and the men their prize. 



WALLER Poem on St James 1 ! Park. 



As the method of ordering fish-ponds is now very well known, and 

 there are few books of gardening but what give some directions about it, 

 it i- hoped the reader will think the following quotation from Bowlker 

 sufficient, by way of annotation on this chapter. 



' : When you intend to stock a pool with Carp or Tench, make a close 

 pthering hedge across the head of the pool, about a yard distance of the 

 dam, and about three feet above the water, which is the best refuge for 

 them I know of, and the only method to preserve pool fish ; because if any 

 one attempts to rob the pool, muddies the water, or disturbs it with nets, 

 most of the fish, if not all, immediately fly between the hedge and the dam, 

 to preserve themselves : and in all pools where there are such shelters and 



straggling towards the dam, by which means you may feed and fatten 

 them as you please. The best baits for drawing them together, at first, 

 are maggots or young wasps ; the next are, bullock's brains and lob- worms, 

 chopped together, and thrown into the pools in large quantities, about two 

 hours before sunset, summer and winter. By thus using these ground baits 

 once a-day, for a fortnight together, the fish will come as constantly and 

 naturally to the place as cattle to their fodder ; and to satisfy your curio- 

 sity, and to convince you herein, after you have baited the pool for some 

 time, as directed, take about the quantity of a twopenny loaf of wheaten 

 bread, cut it into slices, and wet it, then throw it into the pool where you 

 had baited, and the Carp will feed upon it ; after you have used the wet 

 bread three or four mornings, then throw some dry bread in, which will 

 lie on the top of the water, and if you watch, out of sight of the fish, you 

 will presently see them swim to it, and suck it in. I look upon wheaten 

 bread to be the best food for them, though barley or oaten bread is very 

 good. If there be Tench and Perch in the same pond, they will feed upou 

 the four former baits, and not touch the bread. Indeed there is no pool- 

 fish so shy and nice as a Carp. When the water is disturbed, Carp will fly 

 to the safest shelter they can, which I one day observed, when assisting a 

 gentleman to fish his pool; for another person disturbed thewate; by 

 throwing the casting-net, but caught never a Carp, whereupon two or 

 three of us stripped and went into the pool, which was provided with such 

 a sort of hedge in it as is before described, whither the Carp had fled fur 



