CHAP. XV. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 181 



in poor people, to be neglected, yet the Bleak ought to 

 be much valued, though we want Allamot salt, and the 

 skill that the Italians have, to turn them into anchovies. 

 This fish may be caught with a Pater-noster line ; l that 

 is, six or eight very small hooks tied along the line, one 

 half a foot above the other : I have seen five caught thus 

 at one time, and the bait has been gentles, than which 

 none is better. 



Or this fish may be caught with a fine small artificial 

 fly, which is to be of a very sad brown colour, and very 

 small, and the hook answerable. There is no better sport 

 than whipping for Bleaks in a boat, or on a bank, in the 

 swift water, in a summer's evening, with a hazel-top about 

 five or six foot long, and a line twice the length of the 

 rod. I have heard Sir Henry Wotton say, that there be 

 many that in Italy will catch Swallows so, or especially 

 Martins ; 2 this bird-angler standing on the top of a steeple 

 to do it, and with a line twice so long as I have spoken 

 of. And let me tell you, scholar, that both Martins and 

 Bleaks be most excellent meat. 



And let me tell you, that I have known a Hern, that 

 did constantly frequent one place, caught with a hook 

 baited with a big minnow or a small gudgeon. The line 

 and hook must be strong: and tied to some loose staff, so 

 big as she cannot fly away with it : a line not exceeding 

 two yards. 



(1) A rosary, or string of beads, is used by tl>* Roman-Catholic devotees to 

 assist them in numbering their Patcr-noitcrs, or prayers ; a Hue with many hooks 

 at small distances from each other, though it little resembles a string of beads, 

 is thence called a Pattr-nostcr Hoe. 



(2) This is a common practice in England also. 



