154 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. PART I. 



swim iii skulls or shoals, in the summer time, in a hot 

 afternoon, about three or four of the clock ; and watch 

 their going forth of their deep holes, and returning, 

 which you may well discern, for they return about four 

 of the clock, most of them seeking food at the bottom, 

 yet one or two will lie on the top of the water rolling and 

 tumbling themselves, whilst the rest are under him at the 

 bottom ; and so you shall perceive him to keep centinel ; 

 then mark where he plays most and stays longest, which 

 commonly is in the broadest and deepest place of the 

 river; and there, or near 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 best. Then consider with yourself, whether 

 that water will rise or fall by the next morning, by rea- 

 son of any watermills near; and, according to your discre- 

 tion, 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 the evening, and not before, 

 cast in two parts of your ground-bait, squeezed hard be- 



