224 THE COMPLETE A^GLEE. [PART I_ 



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 lauded. 

 The carp is far stronger and more mettlesome than the bream. 



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

 fishing, but it is far fitter for experience and discourse than 

 paper. Only thus much is necessary for you to know, and 

 to be mindful and careful of ; that if the pike or perch do 

 breed in that river, they will be sure to bite first, and must 

 first be taken. And for the most part they are very large ; 

 and will repair to your ground-bait, not that they will eat 

 of it, but will feed and sport themselves amongst the young 

 fry that gather about and hover over the bait. 



The way to discern the pike and to take him, if you mis- 

 trust your bream-hook, for I have taken a pike a yard long 

 several times at my bream -hooks, and sometimes he hath had 

 the luck to share my line, may be thus : 



Take a small bleak, or roach, or gudgeon, and bait it ; and 

 set it alive among your rods two feet deep from the cork, 

 with a little red worm on the point of the hook ; then take 

 a few crumbs of white bread, or some of the ground-bait, 

 and sprinkle it gently amongst your rods. If Mr. Pike be 

 there, then the little fish will skip out of the water at his 

 appearance, but the live-set bait is sure to be taken. 



Thus continue your sport from four in the morning till 

 eight, and if it be a gloomy, windy day, they will bite all 

 day long. But this is too long to stand to your rods at 

 one place, and it will spoil your evening sport that day, 

 which is this. 



About four of the clock in the afternoon repair to your 

 baited-place ; and as soon as you come to the water-side, 



