27° THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [part ii. 



the point of the hook, by which means your arming will be left 

 wholly naked and bare, which is neither so sightly, nor so likely 

 to be taken ; though to help that (which will, however, very oft fall 

 out) I always arm the hook I design for this bait with the whitest 

 horse-hair I can choose ; which, itself, will resemble and shine 

 like that bait, and consequently will do more good, or less harm 

 than an arming of any other colour. These grubs are to be 

 baited thus : the hook is to be put in under the head or chaps of 

 the bait, and guided down the middle of the belly, without suffer- 

 ing it to peep out by the way (for then (the ash-grub especially) 

 will issue out waterrand-milk till nothing but the skin shall 

 remain, and the bend of the hook will appear black through it), 

 till the point of your hook come so low, that the head of your 

 bait may rest, and stick upon the hair that stands out to hold it 

 by which means it can neither slip of itself, neither will the force 

 of the' stream nor quick pulling out, upon any mistake, strip it 

 off. 



Now the cadis or cod-bait (which is a sure killing bait, 

 and for the most part by much surer than either of the other) 

 may be put upon the hook, two or three together ; and is some- 

 times (to very great effect) joined to a worm, and sometimes to 

 an artificial fly, to cover the point of the hook ; but is always to 

 be angled with at the bottom (when by itself especially) with the 

 finest tackle ; and is for all times of the year the most holding 

 bait of all other whatever, both for Trout and Grayling. 



There are several other baits, besides these few I have named 

 you, which also do very great execution at the bottom ; and some 

 that are peculiar to certain countries and rivers, of which every 

 angler may in his own place make his own observation ; and 

 some others that I do not think fit to put you in mind of, because 

 I would not corrupt you, and would have you, as in all things else 

 I observe you to be a very honest gentleman, a fair angler. And 

 so much for the second sort of Angling for a Trout at the bottom. 



Viator. But, Sir, I beseech you give me leave to ask you 

 one question. Is there no art to be used to worms, to make 

 them allure the fish, and in a manner compel them to bite at the 

 bait .? 



PiscATOR. Not that I know of; or did I know any such 

 secret, I would not use it myself, and therefore would not teach 

 it you. Though I will not deny to you, that in my younger days 

 I have made trial of oil of ospray, oil of ivy, camphire, asafoetida, 

 juice of nettles, and several other devices that I was taught by 



