136 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [ PA RT I. 



and that it may turn nimbly, you must put it on a big-sized 

 hook, as I shall now direct you, which is thus : put your 

 hook in at his mouth, and out of his gill ; then, having drawn 

 your hook two or three inches beyond or through his gill, 

 put it again into his mouth, and the point and beard out at 

 his tail ; and then tie the hook and his tail about, very neatly, 

 with a white thread, which will make it the apter to turn 

 quick in the water ; that done, pull back that part of your 

 line which was slack when you did put your hook into the 

 minnow the second time ; I say, pull that part of your line 

 back, so that it shall fasten the head, so that the body of the 

 minnow shall be almost straight on your hook ; this done, 

 try how it will turn, by drawing it across the water, or 

 against a stream ; and if it do not turn nimbly, then turn 

 the tail a little to the right or left hand, and try again till it 

 turn quick : for if not, you are in danger to catch nothing ; 

 for know, that it is impossible that it should turn too quick. 

 And you are yet to know, that in case you want a minnow, 

 then a small loach, or a stickle-bag, or any other small fish 

 that will turn quick, will serve as well. And you are yet to 

 know, that you may salt them, and by that means keep them 

 ready and fit for use three or four days, or longer ; and that, 

 of salt, bay-salt is the best. 1 



And here, let me tell you what many old anglers know 

 right well, that at some times, and in some waters, a minnow 

 is not to be got ; and therefore (let me tell you) I have, 

 which I will show to you, an artificial minnow, that will 

 catch a trout as well as an artificial fly ; 2 and it was made by 

 a handsome woman that had a fine hand, and a live minnow 



point may lie downward, is quickly done, and as good a way as any. 

 BROWNE. Or put the hook through the back, just under the fin, in which 

 way the minnow, on a swivel hook, spins best. ED. 



1 Cotton (chap, xii., page 2) disapproves salting. ED. 



2 Artificial minnows are now so well made, that in a sharp stream they 

 may be used with almost as good effect as a real minnow, and they are 

 sold so cheaply at all fishing-tackle shops, that few amateurs will be at the 

 trouble of making them. The American editor, however, rejects them and 

 prefers the living bait ; but adds : "There is an artificial spinning bait 

 of later invention, called a kill-devil, which is made of leather, silk, &c., 

 somewhat resembling a caterpillar, and appears in the swift water like a 

 bright minnow. It is rigged with seven hooks cunningly disposed. This 

 bait excites the trout to such a degree that it is considered too murderous 

 for fair angling, and forbidden in many preserved waters, but my experi- 



