CHAP. XVII. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 203 



give you an old rhyme out of an old fish-book ; which will 

 prove a part, and but a part, of what you are to provide. 



My rod and my line, my float and my lead, 



My hook aod my plummet, my whetstone and knife, 



My basket, iny baits both living and dead, 

 My net, and my meat, for that is the chief: 



Then I must have thread, and hairs green and small, 



With mine angling purse : and so you have all. 



seen in all my time ; and will take great store, and not fail, if they be there. 

 Secondly, it is a special bait for Dace or Dare, good for Chub or Bottlin, or 

 Grayling. The bait is, the roe of a Salmon or Trout. If it be a large Trout 

 that the spawns be any thing great, you may angle for the Trout with this bait 

 as you angle with the brandling ; taking a pair of scissars, and cut so much as a 

 large hazel-nut, and bait your hook ; so fall to your sport, there is no doubt of 

 pleasure. If I had known it but twenty years ago, I would have gained a hun- 

 dred pounds only with that bait. I am bound in duty to divulge it to your 

 honour, and not to carry it to my grave with me. I do desire that mrn or qua- 

 lity should have it, that delight in that pleasure. The greedy angler will murmur 

 at me, but for that I care not. 



" For the angling for the Scale-fish : They must angle either with cork or 

 quill, plumming their ground ; and with feeding with the same bait, taking them 

 [the spawns] as under, that they may spread abroad, that the fish may feed, and 

 come to your place : there is no doubt of pleasure, augliug with fine tackle ; as 

 single hair lines, at least five or six length long ; a small hook, with two or three 

 spawns. The bait will hold one week ; if you keep it on any longer you must 

 hang it up to dry a little : when you go to jour pleasure again, put the bait in 

 a little water, it will come in kind again." 



Others, to preserve Salmon spawn, sprinkle it with a little salt, and lay it 

 upon wool in a pot, one layer of wool and another of spawn. It is said to be a 

 lovely bait for the winter or spring ; especially where Salmon are used to spawn ; 

 for thither the fish gather, aad there expect it. Ang. Vadt Mecum, 53. 



To know at any time what bait fish are apt to take, open the belly of the first 

 you catch, and take out his stomach very tenderly ; open it with a sharp pen- 

 knife, and you will discover what he then feeds on. Vtnable, Ql. 



The people who live in ihe fishing-towns along the banks of the Thames have 

 a method of dressing large Roach and Dace, which, as 'tis said, renders them 

 very pleasant and savoury food ; it is as follows : Without scaling the fish, lay 

 him on a gridiron, over a slow fire, and strew on him a little flour; when he 

 begins to grow brown, make a slit, not more than skin deep, in his back, from 

 head to tail, and lay him on again : when he is broiled enough, the skin, scales 

 and all, will peel off, and leave the flesh, which will have become very firm, 

 perfectly clean ; then open the belly, and take out the inside, and use anchovy 

 and butter for sauce. 



Having promised the reader Mr. Barker's recipe for anointing boots and shoes, 

 (and having no further occasion to make use of his authority,) it is here given 

 in his own words. 



"Take a pint of linseed-oil, with half a pound of mutton-suet, six or eight 

 ounces of bees-wax, and half a pennyworth of rosin : boil all this in a pipkin 

 together; so let it cool till it be milk -warm ; then take a little hair-brush, and 

 lay it on your new boots; but it is best that this stuff be laid on before the boot- 

 maker make* the boots ; then brush them once over after they come from him ; 

 as fur old boots, you must lay it on when your boots be dry." 



