146 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [part i. 



But first you are to know, that it must be either early or late ; 

 and let me tell you, that in hot weather, for he will seldom bite in 

 cold, you cannot be too early or too late at it. And some have 

 been so curious as to say, the tenth of April is a fatal day for 

 Carps. 



The Carp bites either at worms or at paste : and of worms I 

 think the bluish marsh or meadow worm is best ; but possibly 

 another worm, not too big, may do as well, and so may a green 

 gentle : and as for pastes, there are almost as many sorts as 

 there are medicines for the toothache ; but doubtless sweet pastes 

 are best ; I mean, pastes made with honey or with sugar : which, 

 that you may the better beguile this crafty fish, should be thrown 

 into the pond or place in which you fish for him, some hours, or 

 longer, before you undertake your trial of skill with the angle-rod ; 

 and doubtless, if it be thrown into the water a day or two before, 

 at several times, and in small pellets, you are the likelier, when 

 you fish for the Carp, to obtain your desired sport. Or, in a 

 large pond, to draw them to any certain place, that they may the 

 better and with more hope be fished for, you are to throw into it, 

 in some certain place, either grains, or blood mixt with cow-dung 

 or with bran ; or any garbage, as chicken's guts or the like ; and 

 then, some of your small sweet pellets with which you purpose to 

 angle : and these small pellets being a few of them also thrown in 

 as you are angling, will be the better. 



And your paste must be thus made : take the flesh of a rabbit, 

 or cat, cut small ; and bean-flour ; and if that may not be easily 

 got, get other flour ; and then, mix these together, and put to 

 them either sugar, or honey, which I think better : and then beat 

 these together in a mortar, or sometimes work them in your 

 hands, your hands being very clean ; and then make it into a 

 ball, or two, or three, as you like best, for your use : but you 

 must work or pound it so long in the mortar, as to make it so 

 tough as to hang upon your hook without washing from it, yet 

 not too hard : or, that you may the better keep it on your hook, 

 you may knead with your paste a little, and not too much, white 

 or yellowish wool. 



And if you would have this paste keep all the year, for any other 

 fish, then mix with it virgin-wax and clarified honey, and work 

 them together with your hands, before the fire ; then make these 

 into balls, and they will keep all the year. 



And if you fish for a Carp with gentles, then put upon your 

 hook a small piece of scarlet about this bigness [ I, it being soaked 



