THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 295 



be put upon the book, two or tbree together ; and is sometimes 

 (to very great effect) joined to a worm, and sometimes to an 

 artificial fly, to cover the point of the hook ; but is always to be 

 angled with at the bottom (when by itself especially) with the 

 finest tackle ; and is, for all times of the year, the most holding 

 bait of all other whatever, both for Trout and Grayling. 



There are several other baits, besides these few I have 

 named you, which also do very great execution at the bottom ; 

 and some that are peculiar to certain countries and rivers, of 

 which every angler may in his own place make his own obser- 

 vation ; and some others that I do not think fit to put you in 

 mind of, because I would not corrupt you, and would have you, 

 as in all things else I observe you to be a very honest gentle- 

 man, a fair angler. And so much for the second sort of angling 

 for a Trout at the bottom. 



Viator. But, sir, I beseech you give me leave to ask you 

 one question : Is there no art to be used to worms, to make 

 them allure the fish, and in a manner to compel them to bite 

 at the bait ? 



Piscator. Not that I know of; or did I know any such 

 secret, I would not use it myself, and therefore would not 

 teach it you. Though I will not deny to you, that in my 

 younger days I have made trial of oil of ospray, oil of ivy, 

 camphor, asafetida, juice of nettles, and several other devices 

 that I was taught by several anglers I met with, but could 

 never find any advantage by them ; and can scarce believe 

 there is any thing to be done that way : though I must 

 tell you, I have seen some men who I thought went to work 

 no more artificially than I, and have yet, with the same kind of 

 worms I had, in my own sight, taken five, and sometimes ten 

 to one.* But we '11 let that business alone, if you please ; and 

 because we have time enough, and that I would deliver you 

 from the trouble of any more lectures, I will, if you please, 

 proceed to the last way of angling for a Trout or Grayling, 

 which is in the middle ; after which I shall have no more to 

 trouble you with. 



Viator. 'Tis no trouble, sir, but the greatest satisfaction that 

 can be ; and I attend you. 



* There ran be no doubt of this fact, well known to all anglers, and 

 depending, it should seem, on some peculiar skill. In 1830 1 once \vent out 

 bird's nesting, with three others, and one of these found from ten to one 

 nests with the others, even, after they Lad searched the same bushes. J. R. 



