CHAP. X. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 155 



tween both your hands ; it will sink presently to the bot- 

 tom ; and be sure it may rest in the very place where you 

 mean to angle : if the stream run hard, or move a little, 

 cast your malt in handfuls a little higher, upwards the 

 stream. You may, between your hands, close the malt 

 so fast in handfuls, that the water will hardly part it with 

 the fall. 



Your ground thus baited, and tackling fitted, leave 

 your bag, with the rest of your tackling and ground-bait, 

 near the sporting-place all night ; and in the morning, 

 about three or four of the clock, visit the water-side, (but 

 not too near,) for they have a cunning watchman, and 

 are watchful themselves too. 



Then, gently take one of your three rods, and bait your 

 hook ; casting it over your ground-bait, and gently and 

 secretly draw it to you till the lead rests about the mid- 

 dle of the ground-bait. 



Then take a second rod, and cast in about a yard 

 above, and your third a yard below the first rod ; and 

 stay the rods in the ground : but go yourself so far from 

 the water-side, that you perceive nothing but the top of the 

 floats, which you must watch most diligently. Then when 

 you have a bite, you shall perceive the top of your float 

 to sink suddenly into the water: yet, nevertheless, be not 

 too hasty to run to your rods, until you see that the line 

 goes clear away ; then creep to the water-side, and give 

 as much line as possibly you can : if it be a good Carp 

 or Bream, they will go to the farther side of the river : 

 then strike gently, and hold your rod at a bent, a little 

 while ; but if you both pull together, you are sure to lose 

 your game, for either your line, or hook, or hold, will 

 break : and after you have overcome them, they will 

 make noble sport, and are very shy to be landed. The 

 Carp is far stronger and more mettlesome than the Bream. 

 . Much more is to be observed in this kind of fish and 



