2 6 A Booke 



Therefore ther is inuented among the fisher men, a wele for to take him made with 

 a double teme or tonnell, and against the vtmost teme within is set an yeirne like 

 a gredyeirne with foure hooles staying and sliding vpon two round stickes, which 

 must be set vpright in the wele before the teme, to holde vp the yeirne : which two 

 stickes must be fast bound to the wele, both aboue and beneath, then must ye haue 

 a good stiffe rod, the one ende shall be set ouer the wele to hold vp the gredyeirne 

 or grate, and the other ende of the rodde, must reach ouer the inner teme, and a 

 small oziar tied at the end of the rodde, which small Oziar must be made with a 

 round knot, and so put downe vpon the ende of the nethermost Oziar in the midst 

 of the inner teme, but a very litle way put on that when the Otter is within the first 

 teme, he comes to the second where the fish is, and there he put off the Oziar, and 

 the rodde flirtes vp, and the gredyerne falles and stoppes the vtmost teme where he 

 came in, and as soon as he heares it fall, he will turn backe, without touching any 

 fish, gnawing at the gredyerne where hee came in, and so is drowned. 



And when ye haue a wele of fish robbed with the Otter, or your layer of weles 

 with fish spoyled and robbed with the Otter, there lay your Otter Wele, well bayted 

 with fish, and so ye shall soone take him. Which Otter Wele must be made of 

 good round Ozyars of the Hasell rodde or gore rodde, for those are the best. 

 These Otter Weles are made at Twyford, by sides Reading. There be two of the 

 Gootheriches which Hues much by making of such, and other weles. Also the Otter 

 wele is made at Dorney, by Windsor, by one called Twiner. If your Otter wele be 

 olde, and not strong, and if the Otter chaunce to breake it and scape, ye shall 

 hardly take him of a long time after, for he is very subtill to be caught again e in 

 such a wele. There be that hath prouided many wayes ere they could take him. 

 Thus much he'ere for the setting of the Otter Wele, and here shall follow the saide 

 Otter Wele, with his proportion how to be made and set, the more easier to make 

 them where as they haue not be'ene se'ene before. To know if an Otter do haunt 

 riuer or ponde, you must watch the waters in the night, then shall you heare him 

 plunging and chasing the fish all night by efts and bankes sides, so watch or else 

 your fish may be kilde and you know not how nor when. 



