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Scientific and Medical
Books, and all objects
of Natural Historv-
A, E. FOOTE, M. D
U-i3 Belmont Ave
Philadelphia Pa.

^W^

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HARVARD UNIVERSITY.

■^^

LIBRARY

MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY

Library of
SAMUEL GARMAN

VaaO, i I ^ X\

^., *.

V- A^wvs-

i ■*

JUN8 1929

,^sr

J^n-mJ/Jfi^'^

THE

British Angler:

O R, A ^-^L' ^^-

' ; I

POCKET-CO MF^^l'b'N

FOR

GENTLEMEN-FISHERS.

B E I N G A

New and Methodical Treatife of the Art of Angling •
Comprehending all that is Curious and Ufeful in the
Knowledge of tliat Polite Diverfion. As :

I. An lntrod«{iio7t

--_ : J containing

an Encomium on Rivers and
the Art of Angling, with ge-
neral Oblervations en the Na-
ture of Fifh.
11. The AnoUr''s jSpparatm :
Or, Direftions concerninc^

lain ; their Size, Shape,
Qualities, Seafons, Feeding,
Haunts, ^c. ^'

IV. p.e 11 hie Prance ef ^n-
gting : Teaching the Choice
and Preparation of proper
Stands ; the Method of Tak-
ing every Species, more par-
ticularly the fportive TroHt,
the voracious Fike^ and ot^er
Capital Game. With De-
fcriptions of our principal Ri-
vers, Oblervations relating to
the Weather, and other ne-
cefiary Remarks.

Together vith
Supplemental Discourses, i. On Fifh-ponds andRefer^
vatories. 2 On the Laws againll Poachers, and in
tavour of the Fair xAngler.

ALSO,

Excellent R e c e i p t f. for DrefTing of Fiili, and a
Complete Index, in which the Terms in Ufe amone
Angxers are occafionally explained.

^Embelliilied with Copper Plates Cur;oufy F.rgraved

J^ods^ Lines^ Hooks, Fleaa,
and the reft of the Tackle :
Aifo, of Xaits, Natural and
Artiikial,
III. An exa<!i Dejcription of the
fcveral Kinds oi Fifh th^t are
found in the Aivers^ and on
the Sea-Coajis of Great "Bri-

The Whole Compiled from approved Authors, and

above Thirty Years Experience,
l^yJOHN WILLIJ MSO N. Gent.

Who has added a Verfiiication of the principal Heads, at
the End of each Chapter, for the Help of Memory.'

L O N D O N:
Printed for J.Hodges, &t the LooAing-G /a fi on LoK^/on-
Bridge, Mdccxl.

[ iii ]

THE

PRE FACE.

F a Man 'xas to read over all the
Books of Angling that have been
puhlijhed for about a Hundred
Tears pafi^ he 'would be apt to think
that this Science was like Poetry j
fwt only for Mr, WaltonV Reafon^ becaufe Men
viuft be born with Inclinations to it^ but becaufe
it feems to have arrived at its highefl Perfeofion
almofl at once^ and to have been the fame in the
faid Mr, Walton as the other was in Homer.
A 2 The

jv P R E F A C E,

The Improvements that have heen made hy the
generality of Writers fi?2ce his Time are indeed Jo
few^ and for the moft Part fo trivial^ rather
adding to and -perplexing his Words^ like the
Commentators on the Greek Foet^ than either
d earing up or enlarging his Senfe^ that I could
7Wt but wonder at [eeing fo jnuch done to fo little
Purpofe. As I had refolved therefore to give
the Public a neiv Treatife on this Subjecf^ which
I knezv vjas very much wanted^ and not likely^
as 1 could hear^ to be undertaken by any abler
Hand^ it was my Bufinefs to confider what Me-
thods I fhould take to avoid the Imputation foge-
jierally thrown on others^ and compofe a Work
that fhould have in Fa5i what it promifed, an
Air of Novelty. ' How I have proceeded^
is what I aju now to inform th£ Reader.

All that was folid^ and had the Tefl of Expe-
.rienceto confirm it ^ in the Old Writers^ I have
retained \ leaving outy and fometimes briefly
refuting^ their falfe Reafonings^ idle fuperflitious
Obfervances, and weak fabulous Accounts of Na-
tural Caufes, The Improvements that have late-
ly been made in experimental Philofophy enabled
me to do tlns^ and will help every careful Wri-
ter to perform as much., or perhaps more ^ in a-
ny other Branch of Knowledge that depends
thereon. This was all I could promife myfelf in
the Article of rctvtnching ; and if I have given
any new Ornaynents to what is left^ by making
the Language either more modern or more per-

PREFACE. V

fpiciious, I believe it is all that can he expe^ed by
others,

'The great Bijficulty was to find fufficient to ^
add. For this^ heftdes my own Obfervatmis ,
which I was not Jo vain as to depend ?nucb on,
unlefs they had the Concurrence of others^ I have
gathered up all that 1 coiddfrom the Converfa-
tion of my Angling Friends , whofe good Nature
in this refpecl I cannot but acknowledge. I have alfo
found fotncthing in one or two of the mofi modern
Books ^ which however I have been fparing in the
life cf., as thinkittg it fairer to let their Authors
fpeak for themfelves. The moji I have borrowed
is on the Articles of Thames and Rock-fifhing,
and that I have fo much reduced^ that it can be
no Prejudice to any larger Account. Almoft eve-
ry Angler about London knows as much of the
Thames as is necejfary^ and very few have
either Opportunity or Inslination to purfue the
other.

But the great Advantage^ as well as Orna-
ment of this Book^ and which mufl eminently di-
fiingmfo it from all others^ is the Poetical Pa- ty
which cannot but be equally iifeful and enter taw-
ing. I dare fpeak fo highly of it^ becaufe a great
Number of the Lines are by Writers of the firfi
Rank, It was my remembring fo many ofthefe^
and at the fame Time lighting on an ingenious little
Book called Tht Innocent Epicure, whichmore
than doubled ??iy ^antity^ that firfl put me in

the

^1 P R E F A C E.

the Head of thus adding a Stmmary hi Verfito
mch Chapter. What -wai not n ready done, J
was obliged to attempt niyfelfy and even to alter
and adiuji much of what was, tomakeitcorrej-
pondwithmyPlan; -which, -with the Execution
of it I now leave to the candid and tmparttal

of it.
Reader.

J.W.

CON-

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION. Page i

Se6l. I. Tbe Beauty and Ufefulnefs of Rivers %
Seft. 2. y^« Encomium on the Art of Angling 5
Se(5l. 3. General Ohfervations on the Nature
9fFilh 14

Part I. Containing the Angler's Apparatus.

Chap. I. Of Angling Rods 31

Chap. a. Of Lines ^^

Chap. 3. Of Hooks, Floats, Plummets, Land-
ing-bookstand Landing-nets, with otherUtenfils 50
Chap. 4. O/" natural Baits 5 particularly of
Earth-worms^ Caterpillars^ Grubs, Cadews, and
Gentles 62

Chap. 5. ^ Continuation of natural Baits ;
particularly Blood, Grain, Fijh andFiJb-fpawn^
Fruits, Flies, and other Infers 8 a

Chap. 6. Of Paftes and Unguents p5

Chap. 7. Of Artificial, or Dub ff lies 106

Part- IL Containing a Defcription of the
fcvcral Sorts of Fiih,

Chap. I. 0//^<? Salmon 12S

Chap. 2. Of the Trout 139

Chap. 3. 0/ /^(? Umber f?r Grayling 1 53

Chap. 4. 0//-&<? Pike, Jack, cr Luce 156

Chap. 5. Of the Fetch 181

Chap. 6. 0///2?^Carp 185

Chap. 7. Of the Tench 193

Chap. 8. 0//^tf Barbel 197

Chap.

Vill

CONTENTS.

Chap. 9. 0//.6^ Bream iCi

Chap. 10. Of the Chub or Chevin aio

Chap. II. Of the Ed 216

Chap. 12. Of the Roach and the Rud 11^
Chap. 13. O/" //^^ Dace 226

Chap. 14. Of the Gudgeon 231

Chap. 15. Of the Pope or RufF 23,^

Chap. 16. 0//Z^^ Bleak 235

Chap. 17. 0/ the Minnov/ <?r Penk, the

Loach, //^^ Bull-head or Miller's Thumb, and

the Stickle-bag 236

Chap. 18. 0/ Local Fifhes, or thofe which

are peculiar to certain Waters 24O

Chap. 1 9. 0/ Flounders, Mullets, Smelts 242
Chap. ao. Of Fijh taken on the Rocks, and at

Sea 246

Part III. Teaching the whole Pradice of
Angling.

Chap. I. General Obfervations regarding the
Jngler and his Sport 250

Chap. 2. OJ the Seafons proper for Anglivg 262

Chap. 3. Of the principal Rivers in England,
and particularly of the Thames ' ' 27 1

Chap 4. Of the various Methods of Angling

279

Chap. 5. Of Rock and Sea-Fifhing 295

Appendix.

Dif. I. Of Fijh-Ponds ^ 3^^

Dif. II. Of the Laws of Angling ' ^^6

Receipts for the Brejftng of FiJh 3 1 2

THE

THE

Britijh angler;

INTRODUCTION.

ne Beauty and Ufefulnefs of Rivers, An En-
comium on the Art of Angling, General Oh-
fervations on the Nature of Fijh,

E F O R E I enter upon the
Theory of the Art of Angling,
it is neceflary that I fhotild en-
deavour to remove thofe Preju-
dices which are too commonly-
brought againfl it, and to recommend a Di-
verfion which is not only the mod innocent,
but may be made the moft advantageous,
both to the Body and the Mind, of any that
ever has been invented. And firft let us fur-
vey the Seat of this Diverfion, the Banks of
a River.

B SECT.

i r/^^ B R I T I S H A N G L E R.

SECT. I.

^e Beauty and Ufefulnefs of Rivers.

WH A T a delightful Scene,- fays a late
Author, is a foft murmuring Stream !
Whether we refledl on the gentle Motion of
its Waters, or on the various Benefits and Ad-
vantages arifing from it, or ufe our Endea-
vours to trace it to its Head i we are charm-
ed with its gliding in fuch beautiful Mean-
ders : The numberlefs Accommodations it
affords us, fill us with the moil grateful
Acknowledgments, and our Curiofity is excit-
ed, to the lall Degree, by the Obfcuricy of
its Original.

Let us confider it in its gradual Progreffion
and Increafe. It is at firfl nothing more than
a Vein of Water, iflliing from iome HilJ,
upon a Bed of Sand or Clay. The little
Stones that are difperfed round about, are
fufHcient to interrupt its Current. It turns
and winds, and murmurs as it rolls along.
At lail it clears its Way, falls in a Torrent
down upon the Plains, and fwells, by being
united with fome other Streams. It hollows
the Ground by the Rapidity of its Fall, and
throws up the Earth on each Side of it. It
infenfibly forces its way thro' every Thing
that obtlrudls its Paflage, and digs a Bed or
Channel for itfelf. The Overflowing of the
adjacent Ponds, the Snow that melts, and

trickles

INTRODUCTION. 3

trickles down the Hills, and the additional
Supplies of various Brooks and Rills that flill
into it, fortify and enrich it. Then it af-
fumes a Name, and fleers its Courfe along
the Sides of flowry Meads : It takes a Tour
all round the Hills, and graces, as it turns
and winds, the fpacious Plains.

'Tis the general Rendezvous of almoll all
Kind of living Creatures, A Thoufand little
parti-coloured Birds, dof various Notes, di-
vert themfelves upon its fandy Banks, fkiai
o'er its Surface, dip their Wings in its re-
frefhing Streams, and fometimes plunge to
the Bottom in purfuit of Game, This is their
favourite Place all Day ; and when the Ap-
proach of Night compels them to withdraw,
they quit it with Relu6lance. The nume-
rous Herds forfake their Paftures twice a Day
to pay their vifit to the Streams, in which
they quench their Thiril, or feek fome cool
Retreat. In a Word, the River is as de-
lightful to Man, as it is to the Birds and
Beads: We generally rejed the Hills and
Woods, and fix our Habitations on its Banks.

It enriches the Fifhermen with a Profufioii
of its Stores, and refreflies the Farmer's thir-
ily Soil. It adorns the pompo'js Seats of the
Nobility with the moft delightful Profpeds,
and makes the Country every way agreeable :
It pays a Vifit to thofe large Towns that are
indebted to its friendly Streams for all their
Wealth and Commerce : There it m.ajeftical-
ly rolls along between two Rows of coftly
B 2 Build-

4 TbeBRlTlSH ANGLER.

Buildings, which not only adorn, but are
adorned by it. The incelTant Concourfeof
People, the Multitude of Carriages of all
Sorts, that are for ever pafTing over its
Bridges ; the infinite Number of Boats, and
other Veflels, that are conftantly floating on
its Surface; in fliort, thofe agreeable, butcon-
fufed Sounds that are heard, not only over its
Waters, but all along its Kays, give us at
once the Idea of Trade and Opulence.

The principal Aim of Divine Providence
in the Formation of Rivers, was, no doubt, to
furnifh both Man and Beaft with one of the
inoft neceflary Ornaments of Life ; one that
will either refrelh us when we are faint and
thirfty, keep our Habitations as well as our
Bodies clean and wholefome, and not only
drefs our daily Provifions, but adorn our Ta-
ble with the mod delicate Part of them.
PalTing over the Golden Sands, that in fome
Countries roll down their Streams, we may
always apply to our Rivers for this other
Kind of Treafure, which we ihall find with
more Certainty, and procure with greater
Eafe. Tho' the infinite Variety of Fiih with
which the Sea abounds for our Refrefhment
and Delight, feems a perfed Prodigy ; yet
thofe which our Rivers nourifh and fupport
are dill more furprifing. And if the Fifhes
did not, by Inftindl, put in Practice a Thou-
fand artful Stratagems for the Prefervation of
their Species, which contribute at the fame
Time as much to our Advantage and Plea-

fure,

INTRODUCTION. 5

fure, as their own Safety, they would never
be able, in fo fmail a Compafs of Water, to
avoid the numberlefs Snares and Engines that
are every where planted, in order to furprife
them. Batofthefe Engines, which are moftof
them unfair, and highly prejudicial to the
Gentleman Angler, ilhall take no other No-
tice than to condemn the Ufe of them, and
proceed to the Confideration of the Art of
Angling, which is the Subject of this Trea-
tife.

SEC T. IL

jin Encovutitft on the Art of Angling,

I Call Angling an yfr/, and an Art it is
worthy a wife Man's learning. It is,
faid an excellent Angler, fomewhat like Poe-
try • Men niuft be born with Inclinations to
it ; tho* both may be improved by Conver-
fation and Pradice. He that experts to be a
good Angler, fhould not onlypofTefsa pene-
trating Wit, but a large Meafure of Hope
and Patience, and a Propenfity to the Art it-
felf: But having once acquired and pradlifed
it. Angling will then prove fo pleafant, that,
like Virtue, it will be a Reward to itfelf.

Some fay that Angling is as antient as Deu-
calion's Flood : Others that5^/«;, who was the
firft Inventor of virtuous Recreations, was alfo
the firft Angler ; and others again, that Setb^
one of the Sons of^^^;;2,taughtit tohisChildren,
B 3 and

$ neBRlTlSH ANGLER.

and that by them it was derived to Poflerity.
Laftly, there are fome who maintain that he
left it engraven on thofe Pillars, which he e-
redled, to perpetuate the Knowledge of the
Mathematicks, Mufick, and the reft of thoie
ufeful Arts, which, by God's Allowance,
and his own Induftry, were preferved from
periihing in Noah's Flood. PofTibly the Au-
thors of all thefe Opinions have endeavoured
to make Angling more antient than can juft-
ly be warranted : But of this we are certain,
that it was prafliied long before the Incar-
nation of our Saviour : For in the Prophet
./^mos mention is made of Fifh-hooks ; and
in the Book o^Joh^ which is thought to have
been written by iVf^j, they are again men-
tioned j which muft imply Anglers in thole
Times.

And as for the Utiliiy of this Diverfion,
we muft confider an antient Queftion, which
remains yet unrefolved. Whether the Happi-
nefs of Man in this World confifts more in
Contemplation or A6lion ? Thofe who main-
tain the firft Opinion, argue. That the near-
er v/e Mortals come to God by Way of Imi-
tation, the more happy w^ are. God, fay
they, enjoys himfelf only by a Contempla-
tion of his own Infinity, Eternity, Power,
Goodnefs, and other Attributes. Upon this
Ground many Perfons of great Learning and
Devotion prefer Contemplation before Ac-
tion : And feveral of the Fathers feem to ap-
prove

INTRODUCTION. y

prove this Opinion, as may appear in theii-
Commentaries upon the Words of our Sa-
viour to Martha, But then, on the contrary,
there want not other Men of equal Authority
and Credit, who prefer an active Life, efpe-
cially when it contributes to the Good of o-
thcrs, either of their Country in general, or
of particular Perfons. Adion, according to
them, is dodrinal ; it teaches both Art and
Virtue, and prefer ves human Society ; and
for thefe, and other like Reafons, is to be pre-
ferred before Contemplation.

Without pretending to determine between
thefe two Opinions, it is fuflicient to fay,
that both Contemplation and Adion here
meet together, and belong properly to the
honefl, ingenuous, quiet, and innocent Art of
Angling. The very fitting by the River's
Side, is not only the calmeiland fittefl: Place
for Contemplation, but will invite an Angler
to it. Hence the learned Peter du Moulin ob-
ferves, that when God intended to reveal any
future Events or high Notions to his Prophets,
he ufually carried them either to the Defart$
or the Sea-fhore, that having fo feparated
them from amidft the Multitude of People
and Bufmefs, and the Cares of the World, he
might fettle their Minds in a quiet Repofe, and
render them fit to receive the Revelation.
And this feems alfo to be intimated by the
Children of Ifraely who having in their Cap-
tivity banifhed all Mirth and Mufick from
their penfive Hearts, and hung up their mute
B 4 Harp

% neBRiriSH ANGLER.

Harps upon the Willows by the Rivers of
Babylon ; fat down upon thofe Banks bemoan-
ing the Ruins of Sion, and contemplating their
own fad Condition. An ingenious Spaniard
therefore very juftly fays. That Rivers and
It he Inhabitants of the watry Element were
made for wife Men to contemplate, and Fools
to pafs by without Confideration. Doubtlefs
it was for the fame Reafon that the Prophet
David expreffes himfelf thus : 7bey that oc-*
cupy thernfelves in deep Waters^ fee the wort'
derful IVorhs of God. Such Wonders in-
deed as the Land does not afford.

And that the Waters are fit for the Con-
templation of the moft prudent, pious, and
peaceable Men, feems to be teftified by the
Fra<5lice of fo many devout and contempla-
tive Perfons, as the Patriarchs, Prophets, and
Apoflles of Old. Of .thefe latter, we are
fure our Saviour chofe four of the twelve that
were fimple Fifhermen, whom he fent to pub-
lifh hi% Will to the Gentiles^ and infpired
with a Power to fpeak all Languages, and by
their mighty Eloquence to beget Faith in
the unbelieving Jews ; to preach Freedom
from the Incumbrances of the Law, and a
new Way to everlafting Life. This was the
Employment of thefe happy Fifhermen ; and
it has been obferved, that Chrift never re-
proved them on Account of their Calling, as
he did the Scribes and the Money- Changers.
He found that the Hearts of fuch Men, by
Nature, were fitted for Quietnefs and Con-

teni-

INTRODUCTION. $

templation ; that they were Men of mild,
fweet, and peaceable Spirits. Thefe our
bleffed Saviour, who loves to plant Grace in
good Natures, chofe to call from their irre-
proachable Employment of Fifhing, and con-
ftitute them his Difciples, enabling them to
follow him, and to do Wonders. Nay, thefe
four Fifliermen had a Priority of Nomination
in the Catalogue of his twelve Apoftles, which
are reckoned, i. St. Peler^ 2. St. Andrew^
3. Sc James^ 4. St. John^ and the reft in
their Order. And when our bleffed Saviour
went up into the Mount, and left the reft of
his Difciples, chufmg only three to bear him
Company at his Transfiguration, thofe three
were all Fifliermen. Nor do we want Argu-
ments to make it believed, that all the other
Apoftles, after they became Followers of
Chrift, became alfo Fifhermen : For it is cer-
tain that the greater Number of them were
found together Fifhing by Jefiis after his Re-
furre(ftion, as it is recorded in St. Jolnfs Gol-
pel. '■'

It has been judicioufly remarked, that tho*
God every where infpires the Matter of the
facrcd Writings, yet he fuffers the holy Pen-
•men to exprcfs his Will in fuch Stile and Me-
taphors as their former AfFecStions or Practice
had made familiar to them. Thus Solomon^
for Example, who before his Con^verfion was
remarkably amoroi]s,after hisRepentance wrote
that fpiritual Dialogue, or holy Love-iong,
thQCatakksy betwixt God and his Church-, in
B 5 which

10 fT^^BRITISH ANGLER.
which he lays his Beloved had Eyes like the
Fijb-pools £?/He(hbon. And if this Remark
will hold good in general, by the fame Rule it
may be probably concluded, that Mofes^ who
wrote the Book of Joh^ and the Prophet A-
pios^ who was a Shepherd, were both An-
glers. But this may more efpecially be pre-
fumed o{ A7noSj whofe humble, lowly, plain
Stile, when compared with the pompous and
lofty Eloquence of the Prophet Jfaiahy will
eafily induce us to believe him to be not only
a Shepherd, but a good-natured honeft Fifher-
man. And much the fame may be obferved
in comparing the affedlionate, loving, and
pathetic Epiftles of St. Peler, St. James, and
St. John, who we know were all Fifhers,
with the fublime Language and high Meta-
phors of St. Paul, who we are pretty certain
was not.

As for the Lawfulnefs of Fifhing to a Pro-
feflbr of Chriftianity, it may be maintained
from our Saviour's Pradice, who bade St.
Peter call his Hook into the Water and take
out a Fifh, for Money to pay Tribute to the
Roman Emperor.

We may even add the Dignity of this Art
to its other Advantages, it having been the
Amufement of mighty Kings and confecrated
Priefts. Mark Anthony and Cleopatra, in the
Midft of their dazzling Glory, ufed Angling
as a principal Recreation. And he that reads
the antient Ecclefiaftical Canons, will find
Hunting forbidden to Churchmen, as being a

tur-

INTRODU CTI ON. ii

Ujrbulent, toilfome, and fatiguing Recrea-
tion ; but that Angling is allowed to them,
as being a harmlefs Diverfion, a Recreation
that invites them to Calmnefs and Contempla-
tion.

Mr. ^^//^;^, from whom I have extradled much
of this Encomium on Angling (which is almoft
the only Part of his Book that has not been tran-
Icribed by all who fince him have wrote on that
Art) proceeds to mention feveral Men of our
own Nation who were accomplifhed Anglers.
The two he chiefly infifts on, are Dr. Nowell
and Sir Henry WoUon\ his Charadlers of whom
I fliall here infert, with little Variation from
his own Words. Dr. Nowell^ fometime Dean
of the Cathedral of St. PauVs in London^ where
his Monument (lands yet undefaced, in the
Reformation of Queen Elizabeth^ was fo not-
ed for his meek Spirit, deep Learning, Pru-
dence, and Piety, that the then Parliament
and Convocation, chofe, enjoined, and truft-
ed him to compile a Catechifm forpublick
life, to (land as a Rule for Faith and Man-
ners to their Pollerity. And the good old
Man, though he was very learned, like an
honeft Angler, made that plain, unperplex'd
Form of Words which is printed with our Ser-
vice Book. This excellent Man was as dear
a Lover and conftant Pradlicer of Angling as
any Age can produce : His Cuftom was to
fpend, befides his fix'd Flours of Prayer, a
tenth Part of his Time in that Diverfion, and
alfo (for I have converfed with thofe, fays Mr.

Waltotiy

12 ri^^BRITISH ANGLER.

Walton^ who have converfed with him) to be-
llow a tenth Part of his Revenue, and ufually
all his Fifh, amongft the Poor that inhabited
near thofe Rivers in which they were caught.
And at his Return to his Houfe he would
praife God that he had fpent that Day free
from worldly Trouble, both harmlefsly, and
in a Recreation that becaine a Churchman.
Nay he was even content, if not dcfirous, that
Poflerity fhould know he was an Angler, which
is evident from his Pi(5lure, now carefully kept
in Brafen-Nofe- College^ where he is drawn
leaning on a Defk with his Bible before him ;
on one Hand of him his Lines, Hooks, and
other Tackling lying in a Round *, and on the
other his Angle- Rods of feveral Sorts, with
this Infcription by them : That be died 13 Feb.
1601, aged ^^ Tears ^ 44 of which he had been
Dean ofSt» PaulV Church 5 and that his Age
had neither impaired his Hearings nor dimm'd
his Eyes, nor weakened his Memory^ nor made
any of the Faculties of his Mind weak
or ufelefs. 'Tis faid that Angling and Tem-
perance were two great Caufes of thefe inelU-
mable BlcfTings.

Our Author's next and lad Example is, that
Defpifer of Money S'w Henry TVotton^ with
whom he had often fifhed and converfed. A
Man whofe foreign Employments in the Ser-
vice of this Nation, and whofe Experience,
Learning, Wit, and Chearfulnefs, made his
Comp.iny to be eftesmed one of the Delights
of Mankind j and whofe very Approbation of

An-

INTRODUCTION. 13

Angling is alone fufHcient to outweigh all un-
jiift Cenfure. Sir He^iry was not only a mofl
dear Lover, and a frequent Pradlifer of the
i\rt of Angling •, but would often fay of it,
Jl was an Employment for his idle Time^ which
was not then idly fpent : For Anglings after
tedious Study y was a Reft to his Mind^ a Chear-
er of his Spirits ^ a Diver ter of Sadnefs^ a CaU
mer of unquiet Thought s^ a Moderator of Faf-
fionSy a Procurer of Content ednefs \ and that it
begat Habits of Peace and Patience in thofe who
profeffed and praElifed it. In a Word, he found
Angling to be like the Virtue of Humility,
which has a Calmnefs of Spirit, and a World
of other BleiTings attending upon it.

The following Lines, written by him at
above 70 Years of Age, may give an Idea
of his Temper.

^is Day Dame Nature feem^d in love^
'The lufty Sap began to move ;
Frefh Juice didftir th^ embracing Fines y
And Birds had drawn their Valentines :
ne jealous Trout, that low did lie^
Rofe at a well-difjernbled Fly.
There flood my Friend with patient Skilly
Attending of his trembling ^dll.
The Groves already did rejoice
In Philomel' J triumphing Voice:
^he Showers were floor t -, the Weather mild j
The Morning freflj ; the Evening fmil*d.
Thus all lookd gay^ and full ofChear^
To welcome the new-liverfd l^ear*

SECT.

14 «;^ BRITISH ANGLER.

SECT. III.

General Ohfervativns on the Nature of Fijh, ^

HAVING thus endeavoured to vindi-
cate the Reputation of Angling, and in
particular to fliew how very fuitable it is to a
contemplative Perfon. I proceed todiredt the
Gentleman Angler in the mofl natural
Road of Meditation, by pointing out to him
fo much of the Properties and Mechanifm of
Fifh in general, as may enable him to confider
them with Underftanding, and to form judi-
cioufly fuch Obfervations as may occur to him
in the Purfuit of his Diverfion. Every Thing
I fhall offer will be the Refuk of Experience,
and what has been communicated by the mofl
diligent Infpecflors into Nature. The Points I
ihali here chiefly infill on, are, The Element
peculiar to Fifh ; their Clothing^ their Num-
bers •, the regular Pafifage of fome Species ;
their Wars, and the Means of their Preferva-
tion •, their Fecundity, and thePurpofc of it •,
their Food \ the natural Caufe of their Swim-
ming, with the peculiar Ufe of their Tails,
Fins, Bags of Air, and Gills \ their other
Parts j their Cunning -, their Senfations, and
the extraordinary Share of Life in fome Kinds
of them.

The Univerfe abounds with an infinite
Variety of living Creatures, Some are In-
habitants

INTRODUCTION. 15

habitants of the Air ; others range around the
Fields, or crawl upon the Ground : Thoulands
refide in the inmoft RecefTes of Woods, in the
Hearts of Leaves, and under the Bark of Trees :
Some in the Chinks and Crevices of Walls; and
others in the moll gloomy Caverns. The very
Bowels of the Earth are hollowed, and filled
with Inhabitants. All thefe Animals, how diffe-
rent foever from each other, with refped to their
Nature and Way of Life, enjoy one Benefit
in common : They all breathe the fluid Air.
But we have, at prefent, another Element
under our Confideration, wherein all of them
are ftifled as foon as they are plunged into it.
Yet we therein difcover a vafl Variety of Be-
ings •, and obferve, that as Terrell ial Ani-
mals are fuflbcated in the Waves ; fo the In-
habitants of the watry Regions foon expire in
the Air, and cannot long fubfift out of that
Element, to which they are configned.

But it is hard to comprehend how their
Blood fhould circulate with that Freedom,
which it indifputably does ; for one would
think it fhould coagulate and condenfe by the
excefTive Chilnefs of the Waters. Such Ani-
mals as live upon the Earth, are either fur-
nifhed with Feathers, and a delicate Down, or
invefted with warm Furs, or long Hairs, to
defend them from the Inclemencies of the Air,
which is fometimes exceedingly cold : But no
Fifh, as we can find, have any fuch agreeable
Accommodations. How then has Nature
provided for them, that they are able to fub-

j6 The BRITISH ANGLER.

fift in an Element much colder than the Air?

Let us recolIe(5l: what we have often difco-
vered, as we have been accidentally handling
a Fi ill, Oi" cutting one open. The firfl Thing
that offers itfelf to our Touch, is a certain glu-
tinous Matter, with which the whole Surface of
the Creature's Body is duly moiftened. We
find, moreover, a Coat, confifting of flrong
and beautiful Scales ; and before we conRe to
the Animal's Flefh, we obferve a Kind of
Lard, or oily Subftance, which extends from
Head to Tail, and furrounds the Whole. Tho*
we cannot eafily conceive how thefe Scales are
formed, or how they gradually increale and
are fupplied, or what is the Origin and Refer-
voirof this Oil ; yet thefe Scales by their So-
lidity, and this Oil by its Antipathy to the
Water, keep the Firfi warm, and give him
Life and Vigour. He could not pofTibly be
furniflied with a lighter Veflment, or one more
impenetrable*

The Sea carries off from the Lands,
which it wafhes, a Vitriol and Bitumen,
that, like itfelf, being in a perpetual Mo-
tion, difperfe and incorporate in fuch a
Manner with the fmallefl Particles of the Wa-
ter, that no Filtrations, no Alembicks, or any
other Devices, how artful foever, have been
able to purify and free it from its brackifh
Tafte. It is in this naufeous and offenfive
Water however, that the all-wife Creator has
thought Rt to improve and bring to Perfec-
tion the Fiefh of thofe Fifh which the moft

Vol up-

IN TRODUCTION. 17

Voluptuous prefer before the choiceil Fowls.
In an Element that produces nothing, it is im-
pofTibk, one would imagine, that the Num-
ber or Fertility of the Inhabitants fhould be
any Thing confiderable ; yet what a prodigious
Quantity of Muibles, Crabs, Lobfters, and
other Filh of an enormous Size ; what Piles
of Cyders, whofe Whitenefs and Fat give a
Keennefs to the Appetite *, what a Profufion of
Turbots, Flounders, Dabs, Burts, Plaice, and
all the various Species of flat Fiili, whofe
Flefh is fo exceedingly admired, does it fur-
nifh us with ? We obferve, in the Seafon,
whole Fleets of Ships freighted with Herrings ;
and at other Times Shoals of Mackarel and
Whitings prefentthemfelves voluntarily before
us upon the Coafts •, infomuch that whole
Provinces are fupplied with afufficient Quan-
tity of them by the bare Capture of a fingle
Day. Legions of Smelts and Flounders for-
fake the Salt Waters in the Spring, and begin
to fwim up the Rivers. Shads follow the
fame Tradb, and grow to their full Perfe6lion
in the frefh Water. Salmons continue till
Jtdy^ and fometimes later, to enrich theFifli-
ers, though threefcore, and fometimes four-
fcore Leagues from the Sea. Every Seafon re-
gales us with freih Delicacies, without the ieaft
Interruption of their ufual Prefents •, fuch as
Lampreys, Smelts, Tunnies, Soles, Thorn-
backs, and a vaft Variety of other Filh that
adorn our Dilhes, and gratify the niceft Tafte.
What a Delicacy, what a Profufion of Pro-

vifions

18 The BRITISH ANGLER.

vifions do we receive from the Indulgence of
this Element!

This very Delicacy, however, might pof-
fibly fo enhance their Value, that none but the
Rich could purchale them ; or the Plenty
might be fo great, that the Corruption of the
Whole, or the greateil Part, might prevent
their timely Confumption. But both thefe In-
conveniences are effedlually prevented by a
little Salt. Thus the Sea is lavifh of her
Stores, and at the fame time furnifhes us with
that which renders their Communication eafy,
and their Conveyance fafe. We obferve like-
wife in this Profufion of the Sea, a Precaution
which enhances the Value of her Gifts, and
proves an additional Blefling. Such Fifh as
are wholefomeFood and agreeable to theTafte,
are exceedingly prolifick ; but thofc, on the
other Hand, whofe F\t^ is unpalatable, or
prejudicial to our Health, and whofe mon-
ftrous Size renders them formidable toothers,
for the Generality bring forth their Young
completely formed into the World, and feldom
more than one or two at a Birth. The fame
Wifdom that has regulated with fuch Indul-
gence the Bounds of their Fecundity, keeps
thofc at a wide Diftance from our Shores,
which we have the leaft Occafion for, and puts
others into our PolTeflion, which are of mod
Benefit and Advantage to us. Some Species
are with us all the Year long, and others
pay us an annual Vifit in prodigious Multi-
tudes. The exadt Time ot their Paflage, and

their

INTRODUCTION. 19

their peculiar Track, is well known, which
are very advantageous Circumftances, though
fometimes it may vary 10 or 13 Days, by
means of flrong Winds or bad Weather. Wc
may form an adequate Idea of other Fifh of
Pailage from the Herrings and Cods, The
former feem to have their principal Rendez-
vous between the Points o^ Scotland^ Norway ^
and Denmark. From thence the DaniJJo Co-
lonies take their annual Progrcfs, and, at diffe-
rent Seafons, crofs the Channel. Their Voy-
age is performed with the utmoft Exadlnefs :
TheirTrack is prefcribed, and their March re-
gelated. The whole Body move at once •, not
one of them prefumes to ftruggle, pillage, or
defert. When the Body of their Army is
once pafTed, not one of the fame Species ap-
pears again till the Year enfuing. An infi-
nite Number of Worms and little FiiGh are
bred every Summer in the Channel, with
which the Herrings regale themfelves. They
are a Sort of Manna, which thefe Animals
never fail of picking up \ and when they
have cleared the Seas in the Northern Parts of
Europe^ they defcend towards the South, to
which they are attracted by the pleafmg Prof-
pe(5l of a new Stock of Provifions.

We have but very few Cod-fifh in our Seas.
Their general Rendezvous is at the immenfe
Bank before Nezvfou?idland, There they are
fo numerous, that the Fifhermen, who refort
thither from all Parts, are conftantly employed,
and find their Labours attended with furpriz-

ing

20 The BRITISH ANGLER.

ing Succefs. One Man lliall fometimes catch
three or four hundred in a Day, When the
Suftenance that attrads them is cxhaufted in
thefe Parts, they diiperie, and proclaim open
War with the Whitings, which are their fa-
vourite Aliment. The latter fiy before them ;
and their frequent Returns upon our Coafts
are principally owing to this hollilc Chace.
As to thofe feveral Species of Fifh which are
theconftant Inhabitants of our Rivers, being
to treat of them diftindly in the Body of this
Book, I fliall not prevent myfelf by fpeaking
of them here. However, I cannot help giving
the Reader, for his Amufcment, the following
beautiful Lines of Mr. Pope^ in which he has
not only given a charming Defcription of An-
gling, but chara<5lcrifed five of our principal
Sorts of Filh.

In genial Springy beneath the quivering Shade ,
Where cooling Vapours breathe along the Mead^
The patient Fi/Jjer takes his filent Standi
Intent^ his Angle trembling in his Hand ;
With Looks un7nov*d, he hopes the fcaly Breeds
And eyes the dancing Corky and bending Reed.
Our plenteous Streams a various Race fupply :
The bright -ey^d Perch, with Fins of Ty rian Dye »
The /liver Eel, in Jhining Volumes rolled ;
The yellow Carp, in Scales bedrop'd with Gold j
^wift Trouts diverfiffd with crimfon Stains^
And Pikes, the Tyrants of the watry Plains.

Having

INTRODUCTION. i^

Having mentioned the Wars of the Cods
and Whitings, I muft take Notice of one Cir-
cumftance, which reigns thro' all the Species
of Fifh. TheMufcle lies in Ambufcade within
the Mud ; there flie opens her Shells, and
when a fmall unwary Crab prefumes to creep
in, llie claps them clofe together in an Inftanr,
and fecures her Prey. The Oyfter takes the
fame Meafures to enfnare fuch little Fifh as
are not on their Guard. The Sole, and moft
Flat-fifh lie conceal'd likewife in the Soil, to
the Colour whereof their Backs bear a near
Refemblance, and obferve, with the utmofl
CircumfpecStion, where the Females of large
Fifli fink commodious Lodgments for their
Spawn, whereon the Males afterwards diffufe
their impregnating Fluid, to render fuch Spawn
prolific. The Sole fprings inilantaneoufly
from her Ambufcade, and regales herfeJfwith
this delicious Food, which pampers her up,
and gives her an exquifite Flavour. The
fmall Soles, in their Turn, are equally an
agreeable Collation to the large Crabs ; and
when we open one of thefe latter, we feldom
fail of finding a Sole or two in the Belly of ir.
You may form an Idea of the other Species by
this. All the feveral ClafiTes of living Crea-
tures that breed in the Water, from the big-
geft to the leaft, are conflantly in Action, and
at War with each other. 'Tis one continued
Series of Artifices, Flights, Evafions, and
open Violence. They pillage and devour one
another, without Remorfe or Moderation.

But

22 27j^ BRITISH ANGLER.

But if the Inhabitants of the watry Regions
have fuch a watchful Eye upon the fcattered
Spawn, and are thus addi6led to devour one
another, this Element, one would think, muil,
in procefs of Time, ceafe to be replenifhed ;
for fince the lefTer Fifh are the proper Sufte-
nance of the larger, the former muft of Courfe
be all deftroyed ; and the latter, in their Turn,
perifh for want of Subfiftence. The Almigh-
ty, however, has taken .proper Meafures for
the Prefervation of Fiili, by giving Strength
to fome, Adlivity and Circumfpedion to o-
thers -, and by a Multiplication of them to
fuch a prodigious Degree, that their Fecundi-
ty exceeds their natural Inclination to prey
upon each other. Be the Number of Cods ever
fo great, that have been caught this Year, or
devour'd in the Sea by the Invafion of their
Enemies, there is flill a Remainder of that
Tribe, which is more than fufficient to furniih
us with as large a Quantity about two Years
hence. The Fadt is demonflrable by the fol-
lowing Inflance. A fine frefli Cod being pro-
duced before Mr. LeuwenhoecJt, he had the
Curiofity to count her Eggs, for which Pur-
pofe he took as many as weighed a Dram, and
told them over. After this he weighed the
whole Mafs of Eggs, which, allowing eight
Times the Number to every Ounce, amount-
ed to no Ms than nine Millions, three hundred
forty-four thoufand Eggs.

As incredible as this A^^count may fecm to
be at firft View, the Quantity of Eggs fo fre-
quently

INTRODUCTION. 23

quently found in a common Carp, tho' far
Ihort of the Number contain'd in a large Cod,
is fo furprifing, that we may be fully fatif-
fied Mr. Leuwenhoeck's Calculation is juft.
When we come to fearch into the wife End
of this amazing Fertility, we are immediately
convinced, that it is not to replenifli either
the Rivers, or the Sea, with the fame Quan-
tity of Fifh as there are Eggs : For were it
fo, the Ocean itfelf would fcarce be able to
contain them. 'Tis manifeft, however, that
that there is a double Intention in this Fecun-
dity ; in the firfl Place, to preferve the Spe-
cies, whatever Accidents may happen ; and
in the next, to furnilh the furviving Fifh with
a plentiful and fucculcnt Subfiftence.

Thus we perceive, in fome meafure, the
Manner in which the Fifh are nourifhed and
preferved. There are fuch an infinite Num-
ber of Weeds, Worms, Shell-fifh, Eggs,
Roes, and minute Fifli lodged within the
Waters, that we need be in no Manner of
Concern for the Inhabitants, with refpedl to
their Provifions. They have, we perceive,
their certain Allowance. — But then their Ali-
ment lies conceal'd, or flies before them ; and
we can difcern nothing in thefe Fifh but a
Head, a large inadlive Body, and a Tail.
As they have fo few Organs, we naturally
afk, how are they capable of advancing,
fwimming, and feizing on their Prey ? To
folve this we muft confider, that the Form,
or Figure, of all Fifh in general being ftrait,

an

24 r/^^ BRITISH ANGLER.

and growing always fomewhat taper at the
Head, enables them to traverfe the Water.
The Tail, by the Afllftance of the Mufcles,
is exceedingly pliant, ftrong, and adive ; in-
clines to the Right and Left, and, when re-
duced to a dired Line, repels the Water that
lies behind it : Immediately it refumes its play-
ing, and, by this alternate Motion, advances
the Head, and in fhort the whole Body, in a
much more agreeable Manner than an Oar,
work'd alternately to and fro at the Stern of a
Boat, conveys it up a River. The Fins, which
lie under the Fifh's Belly, are fometim.es of
fingular Service ; not only in repelling the
Water, and advancing the Body ; but in {top-
ping its Courfe, when they are extended, and
lie at reft. Their peculiar Office, however,
is to direct the Movement of the Body, by
keeping it in an equal Foife \ fo that in Cafe
the Fifh fhould only move the Fins on its
right Side, and bring thofe on its Left clofe
to its Body, all the Motion is in an Inftant
determined to that Side : Juft as a Boat, that
has two Oars, when but one is made ufc of,
will infallibly turn to that Side whereto it is
impelled by the Working of the other. If
you cut off a Filh's Fins, the Back, which
is heavier than the Belly, being no longer in
an Equilibrium, will either lie aflant, or be
turned dire6lly up ; as is the Cafe with dead
Fiih, whofe Fins lie always on the Surface
of the Water.

If

IN TRODUCTION. 25

It is eafy to conceive, from what iras l^een
fa id, how a Fifh is capable of advancing in a
direcfl Line : But the Difficulty that remains,
is, how they do to rife and fall in the Water.
Now mod Fifh, it muft be obferved, have a
Bladder, or fomething equivalent to it, the
Ufe of which is quite different from what moft
People imagine. This fuppofed Bladder is a
Bag of Air, by Virtue of which the Fifli are
enabled, according to its Enlargement or
Contra(5lion, to rife or fink.

Nothing is more eafy tO be conceived than
this, if we lay down as inconteftable Maxims,
equally confident with Experience and good
Senfe, i. That a Body will fwim upon the Wa-
ter when 'tis lighter than that Quantity of the
Fluid whofe Place it fills. 2. That a Body
is more ponderous, according as the Parts of
it are more compa6l, and contain in them a
lefler Quantity of Air *, and lighter, accord-
ing as they are porous, and contain in them a
larger Quantity of Air.

Thefe Pofitions allowed, the Body of a
Fifh, which is heavier than the Mafs of Wa-
ter whofe Place it poflefTes, would unavoid-
ably fink to the Bottom, had not the Filh in
its Inteftines a VefTel, or Bag, fill'd with Air,
which renders him capable of fuflaining him-
ic\t in what particular Part of the Water he
fees mofl convenient for his Purpofc. This
Bag dilates the Fifh, in feme JVIeafure, and
makes fbme fmali Improvement to its natu-
ral Bulk 5 without any Addition to its Weight.
C By

516 ri7^ BRITISH ANGLER, p. I.

By this Means he pofTefTes a larger Space than
he would do without it, and this brings him
to an equal Poife with that Body of Water
whofe Place he fills. Let us fuppofe the Fifli,
without his Bag, to weigh fixteen Ounces, and
the Water, whofe Place he occupies, to weigh
fifteen only, the Fifh muil unavoidably de-
fcend. If, however, you afterwards fupply
the Fifh with a fmall Bag of Air, which adds
nothing to his Weight, but enlarges his Di-
mcnfions, fo that the Mafs of Water, whofe
Place he fills, weighs fixteen Ounces ; the
Fifli will then be in an equal Poife with that
Mafs, and be fupported in any Part of the
River.

Now fuppofing the Fifli to extend his Bag,
he muil enlarge the Dimenfions of his Body,
without the Addition of any Weight : And if
he becomes lighter, he muft confequently rife.
On the contrary, /hould the Fifh contradl his
Bag, he will decreafe in his Dimenfions, with-
out any Diminution of his Weight •, whereby
he mull become heavier than the Water whofe
Place he occupies, and unavoidably muil fink.
How improbable foever this Dillention and
Contradlion may feem, they have been evinc-
ed by inconteftable Demonflrations. This
Bag of his, for the generality, has two fmall,
but diftind: Partitions : One, which is always
equally full of Air, in order to keep the Fiih
in an equal Poife with the Mafs of Water
whoff^ Place he fills : The other is dilated or
contraded, to enable the Filh to become light-
er

INTRODUCTION. 27

er or heavier, or, in other Terms, to rife or
fink, as Occafion requires.

The Water abounds with Particles of Air,
diffus'd through the Whole. What we gene-
rally call the G'llh of a Fifh, are a Sort of
Lungs, which he opens for the AdrnifTion of
Air, and which are formed with fuch a pecu-
liar Mechanifm, that they receive it without
the lead Intermixture of any Water. The
Air indifputably flows into the Bag through
them, and by Virtue thereof the Filh afcends :
But when he is inclined to fink, he has nothing
more to do than to contradl his Bag •, for the
Air immediately re-afcends to the Gills, and
has a free and uninterrupted PafTage. The
Fifli thereupon finks to the Bottom, and the
Rapidity of his Defcent is proportioned to the
(Quantity of Air that is ejedced.

Every Kind of Fifli has its Jaws framed
for the taking in and macerating its particular
Sort of Food. Such as feed upon Weeds and
Infe6ls, have feldom any Teeth ; but fuch as
prey upon other Fifh, have one, two, or more
Rows of Teeth, for the better grinding of
their Nourilliment •, in which, as in all other
Things, the Wifdom of Providence is mani-
feft. The Back-bones of Fifh, for the more
eafy bending of their Bodies, confift of very
fliort Vertebras, fo joined, that their Tail and
Head may be eafily brought together; and
their Scales, which in many Species are a-
mazingly beautiful, are fo regularly placed la
Rows one over another, that they never ob-
C 2 flruct

28 7^^ BRITISH ANGLER.

flru(5l their Motion. Some Kinds indeed have
no Scales, which ufually generate by Copula-
tion, and bring forth their Young alive, and
perfedlly formed.

Befides the Arms of Defence which Nature
has given feme Fifh, they have generally a
remarkable Cunning in forming their Nefts,
for the Prefervation of their Young. Of this
there is no Inftance more wonderful than the
Tickle-back, one of the fmalleft of Fifh. It
is compofed of little Fibres of Roots, fo plac-
ed together, as to leave a hollow Tube in the
Middle^ for the repofiting of the Spawn.

As to the Power of Senfation, Fifh fee m to
enjoy it as perfedlly as any other Sort of Ani-
mals. Their Sight, Tafte, and Smelling, in-
deed, are not difputed ; but many, who pre-
tend to be curious Obfervers, deny them the
Senfe of Hearing. This, however, is an Er-
ror, as appears from Experiment : For if you
life to feed Fifh in a Pond at any particular
Place, and pradife them to fome certain Call,
they may be brought to come together at that
Call, tho' you keep ever fo much out of Sight.
But this is the more likely to fucceed, if you
begin the Experiment when they are very
young. Whence the contrary Opinion had its
Rife I cannot determine *, but the Romans
were wifer in the Time of Domitian than to
entertain it, as appears from this Epigram
o^ Martial up on the Fifh-ponds of that Em-
peror.

Rafb

INTRODUCTION. tp

Rajh Angler^ here thy guilty Sport forbear^
^hsfe finny Natives are a Monarches Care.
The gentle Kind obey bis known Command^
And feed familiar from his fportlng Hand :
Each has his Name^ which fev' rally they hear.
And to their Owner's Summons ftrait appear.

In fine, the Share of Life which fome Filh
poHefs, is worthy the Notice of every curi-
ous Angler. The Eel being cut in pieces,
maintains Life and Motion for feveral Hours.
A Carp will move vigorouily fome time after
the Inteiiines are taken out of its Body : And
even what is faid ^^ the Herring, that it never
ftirs when out of the Water, has been found
on Trial to be fometimes falfe. But I fhall fay
more on feveral of thefe Heads, in fpeaking of
each particular Species of Filli, and therefore
will conclude this Introdudlion -, which I hops
has afforded the Reader fome Profit as well
as Delight, after turning his Thoughts to
fome other Topicks of Meditation, as they
are enumerated by J, DavorSy Efq; an old
Englijh Poet, whofe Verfes are preferved by
Mr. Walton.

Let me live harmlefly^ and near the Brink
Of Trent or Avon hav9 a Bwelling-Place ^
Where I may fee my Quill or Cork down fink y
With eager Bite ^/ Perch, or Bleak, c>r Dace j
And on the Wsrld and my Creator think :
Whilftfome Men (I rive ill got ten Goods t^ embrace ;
C 3 And

30 ^;^<? BRITISH ANGLER. P. I.

And others fpend their Thne in hafe Eiccefs
Cy Wine, or worfey in War and VVantonnefs.-

Let them that liji thefe Paftimesftill purfue^
And onfiich pkafin^ Fancies feed their Filly
So I the Fields and Meadows green may vieWy
And daily hy frefh Rivers walk at willy
Among the Daifies a7id the VioJets hlue^
i^(?iHiacynth, andyellowD^if^odily

Purple Narcifilis like the Morning RaySy
Pale Gandergrafs, and azure Culverkcys,

,/ count it higher Pleafure to hhold
*The Jlately Compafs of the lofty Sky,
And in the midft thereof (like burning Gold)
^he flaming Chariot of the IVorld's great Eye^
^he watry Clouds that in the Air uproll'dy
With fimdry Kinds of painted Colours fly ;
And fair Aurora lifting up her Heady
Still hlufhingy rife from (7/^Tithonus' Bed,

^e Hills ^«^ Mountains raifedfrom the Plains,
*The Fhins extended level with the Ground,
^^he Ground divided into fundryV e'lnSy
The Veins inclos'd with Rivers running round ;
Thefe Rivers making Wayfhro^ Nature^ s Chains y
IFi th headlong Courfe into the Sea profound j
The raging Seay beneath the Fa I lies lowy
iVhereL^k^Sy ^W Rills, ^WRivulets do flow.

The

INTRODUCTION. 31

The lofty Woods ^ the For efts wide and long^
Adorn d with Leaves mid Branches frefi^ and

green^
In whofe cool Bowers the Birds with many a Song^
Do welcome with their Choir the Summer'^

Queen :
ne Meadows fair ^ where Flora'j Gifts among
Are intermixt^ with verdant Grafs between :
The filver-fcaled Fifh that foftly fwim
Within the fweet Brook'' s chryft.al watry
Stream,

AUthefe^ and ?nany more of his Creation
That made the Ileav^ns^ the Angler oft dothfeei
Taking therein no little Delegation,
To think how ftrange^ how wonderful they he 5
Framing thereof an inward Contemplation y
To fet his Heart from other Fancies free ;
Ayid whilji he looks on thefe with joyful Eye^
His Mind is ratt above theftarry Sky^

C4 THE

THE

Bntijh ANGLER.

'■ ■ ■ I I ' I ■ nil I I !■ I III! I I I I ■ 111 *m— II I 11 III! I I- » I iii» .

PART the F J R g T.

Cmtmning tbi Jngkr's Apparatus.

CHAP. I.
0/ A NGLING-RODS,

E that would be an Angler, mud
carefully furnifh himfelf with Va-
riety of Rods, Liaes, Hooks,
Floats, Plummets, Baits accord-
ing to the Seafon and the Fifh he

angles for, and feveral other Appurtenances,

which I ^\d.\\ mention in Order.

The

Chap. i. ^j^ A P P A R A T U S. 33

The Time to provide JoinU for your Rods
is near the Winter Solftice, if polTible between
the Middle of November and ChriftmaS''D2.y^
or at furtheft between the End of Otfoher and
the Beginning o{ January, The Sap conti-
nuing to defcend till iQv^:ivdsNovemher^ and b^
ginning to rife again when January is over.
The Stocks or Buts fhould be of Ground Ha-
zle. Ground Alh, or Ground Willow ; tho'
very good ones are fometimes made of Juni-
per, Bay-tree, or Elder-Shoots. Stocks
ought not to be above two or three Feet in
Length, and every Joint beyond it ihould
grow gradually taper to the End of the Top.
Chufe the Wood that Ihoots diredlly from the
Ground, and not from any Stump, becaufe
thefc latter are never fo exadtly fhaped.

Hazle-tops are preferred to all others ; and
the next to them are Yew, Crab-treCjOr Black-
thorn. Some, indeed, ufe the Bambou Cane,
and fay it excels the bed Hazle. But as the
Hazle is freeft from Knots, and of the fined
natural Shape, it feems fitted for the Purpofe^
If they are a little warp'd, you may bring
them drait at a Fire ; and if they have any
Knots or Excrefcences, you mud take them
od'with a fharp Knife: Tho', if podible, a-
void gathering fuch as have either of thofe De-
ftds.

When you have got a Quantity of Joints,

bind them in Bundles, in the Middle of which

put a drait Pole, to keep them from warping,

and let them red 15 Months, at lead, before

' C 5 ufedj,

24 ^^^^BRITISH ANGLER. P.I

ufed, that the Pith maybe all confumed. If
you want them fooner, place them upright
in a Chimney, but not too near the Fire, nor
for above lo Days : Then boil them in a large
Copper •, llraiten and dry them again •, and in
two or three Months they will be fit for Ufe.
In the making up your Rods, obferve thefe
Dire(ftions.

For the Ground Ayigle^ efpecially in muddy
Waters, the Cane or Reed is preferred for a
Stock. It fhould be 3 Yards and a half long,
with a Top of Hazle, confifting of one, two,
or three Pieces, all of them together two Yards,
or one Yard and a half long at leaft, includ-
ing the Whalebone. Your Rod will then be
in all five Yards and a half or five Yards long,
at leaft. The Stiffnefs of the Cane is helped
by the Length and Strength of the Top, the
pliant and regular Bending of which preferves
the Line.

Having got an Hazle Top, made of your
defired Length, cut off five or fix Inches of
the linall End : Then piece neatly to the re-
maining Part, a fmall Piece of round, fmooth,
and taper Whalebone, of five or fix Inches
long, and whip it to the Hazle with ftrong
Silk, well rubbed with the beft Shoemaker's
Wax. At the Top of the Whalebone whip a-
narrow, but ftrong Noofe of Hair, with waxed
Silk, to put your Line to.

For the Vly- Anglings or Running Line, in a
clear Water for Trout, Grayling, or Salmon-
Smelt, the Rod fhould be of feveral Pieces of

Hazle^

Chap. I. r/^^ APPARATUS. 35
Hazle, and fix Inches of Whalebone, all
fmooth, round, and taper •, and fo neatly-
bound together, with fine Wax Thread be-
low, and Silk above, as to make it ply with
a true Bent to the Hand.

But the neatefi: Rod is thus made : Get a
white Deal, or Fir-board, thick, ft*ee from
Knots and Frets, and feven or eight Poot long :
Let a dextrous Joiner divide this with a Saw
into feveral Breadths : Then, with his Planes,
let him fhoot them round, fmooth, and Rufh-
grown, or taper. One ofthcfe will be feven
or eight Foot of the Bottom of the Rod, all in
one Piece : Fallen to it an Hazle of fix or i^c-
ven Foot long, proportioned to the Fir, and
alfo Rufli-grown. This Hazle may confift
of two or three Pieces ; to the Top of which
fix a Piece of Yew, about two Foot long,
made round, taper, and Imooth ; and to the
Yew a Piece of fmall, round, and fmooth
Wlialebone, five or fix Inches long. This will
be a curious Rod, if artificially worked : But
be fure that the Deal for the Bottom be llrong
and round.

The Rod for Fly, and Running Worm, in
a clear Water, mull by no means be top-
heavy •, but very well mounted, and exa6lly
proportionable, as well as fiender and gentle
at top : Otherwife it will neither cafi: well,
ftrike readily, nor ply and bend equally, which
will very much endanger the Line. Let both
the Hazle ar.d Yew Tops be free and clear

from

3<^ fi^BRITISH ANGLER. P.I.

from Knots, they will otherwife be often in
Danger to break.

As the Whitenefs of the Fir will fcare a-
way Filli, you muft colour your Stock in this
Manner : Warm the Fir at the Fire, when
finifhed by the Joiner ; and then, with a Fea-
ther dipped in !dqua FertiSy ftroak it over, and
with your Hand, chafe it intothe Wood, which
it v/ill make of a pure Cinnamon Colour.

If you have a Mind to paint your Rod of
an Afh- Colour, obferve thefe Diredlions.
Make a Size with Glue and Water, boiled to-
gether till the Glue is dilTolved, and the Mix-
ture of a Lye-Colour. Strike this over the
Wood with a Brulh or Pencil, while it is hot.
When it is quite dry, take White-Lead, Red-
Lead, and Lamp-black, in fuch Quantities
as, when ground together with Linfeed-Oil,
produce the Colour you defire. Lay it on
thin with a Brufh, and this will not only
ferve for a Colour itfelf, but for the Ground
of any other Colour. To inftance in the
Green : Take Pink and Verdigreece, and
grind them together in Linfeed-Oil, as thin
as you can, and then lay it fmoothly on with
your Brufh. Once doing will ierve after the
Ground Colour,which muft be thoroughly dry.

As to Canes, they may be made of what
Hue you pleafe, by covering them artfully
with thin Leather or Parchment, dyed of the
Colour you affed.

It is found very ufeful to have Rings or
Eyes, made of fine Wire, and placed upon

your

Chap. I. r/6^ A P P AR A T US. 3^

your Rod from one End to the other, in fuch
a Manner as that when you lay your Eye to
one, you may fcQ through all the reft. Thro'
thefe Rings your Line muft run, which will
be kept in a due Pofture by that Means : And
you muft have a Winch, or Wheel, affixed
to your Rod, about a Foot above the End,
by which you may, if it Ihould be proper,
give Liberty to the Fifli.

Rods for Roch, Dace, Tench, Chub,
Bream, and Carp, ftiould not have the Top
fo gentle as thofe for Fly, but pretty ftiff", that
fo the Rod may exactly anfwer the Motion of
the Hand : For Roch and Dace only nibble,
and if you ftrike not in that very Moment,
efpecially if you fifti with Pafte or any very
tender Bait, you mils them ; and a flender
Top folds and bends with a fudden Jerk.

In a Time of Drought, fteep your Rod in
Water a little before you begin to angle.
Faften to the Top of your Rod, or Fin, with
Shoemaker's Wax and Silk, a Noofe or Loop
of Hair, not large, but ftrong and very
ftraight, to fix your Line to.

Your Length of Rod is generally to be
governed by the Breadth of the River you
angle in ; but always ufe a Rod full as long as
the River will bear ; and if, though you angle
in a fmall River, you conftantly ufe a Rod
fire Yards and above long, you will experi-
mentally find Advantages thereby.

Your Top for the Running Line muft be al-
ways gentle, that the Fifh may the more in-

fenfibly

33 «^BR1TISH ANGLER. P.I.

ienfibly run away with the Bait, and not be
Icared with the StifFnefs of the Tackle,

To preferve Hazles, whether Stocks or
Tops, from Worm-eating or rotting, twice
or thrice in a Year, as you think fit, rub them
all over with Sallet-Oil, Tallow, or fweet
Butter, chafing it in with your Hand : But a-
bove all, keep them dry to prevent their rot-
ring, and not too near the Fire, left they grow
brittle : And in the Spring, before you begin
to angle, fteep them at leaft 12 Hours in.
Water.

That the Reader may remember what has
been delivered in thisChapter concerning Rods,
I /hall give him a Summary of it in Verfe :
Which Method I fhall obferve throughout
this whole Book, having myfelf found great
Advantage from fuch Memorandum Verfes.

When now the Sun to Capricorn retreats.
And rural Hinds feek out the artful Heats,
Awhile th^ approaching Winter-BJaftsyz//?^^/;^:
ne future Blifswill quit the prefent Pain.
^hen tender S hoots /rt^;/? the old Hazle take,
Strait^ fniooih, and even, free fro7n Knot or

Break,
Search all the Copp'ce, nor fp are the fair e§f

Tree *,
The loaded Roots you of their Burthen free.
Prune ihe?n, if notched i z/ crooked, 7nake

them flrait :
The KrAk does this y a gentle Flame does that.

Then

Chap. a. rhe APPARATUS. ^^
7hen let fome Pole their fetter" d Bodies hear^
Andlongpreferve them with the tttmoft Care.
Nor when you fit them for your Sport and Ufe,
Slight Rules of Art, or any Pains refufe :
Joint fx'd on Joint, look with attentive EyeSy
^he taper Rod Jhould in proportion rife.

CHAP. IL
Of LINES.

I Come now to the Preparation of Lines, in
which the following Rules are to be ob-
ferved. Seledl not your Hair from lean or
difeafed Beafts, much lefs from thofe that are
dead; but from a Stone-horfe, that is fat,
firong, and luily, of four or five Years old,
and, if poflible, at the very Time of his cover-
ing a Mare. That which grows from the in-
moftand middle Part of his Dock, and fo ex-
tends downwards to the Ground, is common-
ly the biggefl and flrongefl Hair about the
Horfe, and better than that upon the upper
Part of the Tail. Generally the beft Horfes
have the beft Hair.

Hair of a Sorrel, Chefnut, or Brown
Colour, are beft for Ground Angle, efpe-
cially in muddy Water, they being not
only the Colour of the Gravel or Sand,
but of the Water itfelf. The white and grey,
or duskifh white Hair, is for clear Rivers and
Waters. Your Hair thus fuited is not dif-
cernable by the Filh, and confequently will

not

40 ri^^BRITISH ANGLER. P.I.

not fcare them from your Bait, if your Lines
are but of a juft and due Thicknefs.

Some ufe the pale watery Green, but not the
deep Green, for Weedy Rivers in Summer.
A Black may do well for Rivers that imme-
diately flow from MofTes, and are thereby
rendered very black.

It being impoilible always to have natural
Hair of a Colour faitable to the Seafon and
Water, ingenious Anglers fupply this Defecfl by
dying it to their Minds. To make a Brown^
boil Walnut-Leaves in Chamber-lye ; or take
Water, anddiifolve fome Alum in it; or mix
ftrong Ale and Salt: la either of thefe foak
the Hair well.

The Inner Bark of a Crab-Tree boiled in
Water with fome Alum, makes a pure Tellotv
Colour, which is good when the Weeds rot,
for thereby the Line looks like the Weeds.

Another Tellow may be made with two
Quarts offmallAle, and three Handfuls of
Walnut Leaves ftamped therein. Let the
Hair remain till it is as deep as you defire it.

Tazvny Hair is made with Lin and Water
mixed together, by fteeping for the Space of
four or five Hours, and then foaking it a
whole Day in a Tan- pit.

For a Rtiffet Colour, take a Pint of ftrong
Lee, half a Pound of Soot, a little Juice of
Walnut Leaves, and a Quart of Alum: Put
them all together in a Pan, and boil them
well, and when the Liquor is cold, fteep your
Hair in it till it is as dark as you defire.

To

Chap. a. T^tf APPARATUS 41
To make Hair green^ take a Quart of Ale,
and put into it a Pound of Alum : Then put
in your Hair, and boil all together in a Pan
foftly for half an Hour : Then take out your
Hair, and let it dry. — After this take two
Quarts of fair Water, and put in it two Hand-
fuls of Wax, covering the Pan with a Tile,
and foboil it for half an Hour gently. When
the Scum is yellow, put in your Hair, with
half a Pound of powder'd Copperas, and let
this too boil half an Hour •, after which let it
ftand five or fix Hours, and then take out the
Hair and dry it. — This will make a fine Wa-
ter Green, which you may heighten by adding
more Copperas.

Another Greefi is thus made : Take a Pottle
of Alum Water, a large Handful of Mari-
gold Leaves, and boil them till a yellow Scum
arife j then take half a Pound of green Coppe-
ras, and as muchVerdigreece*, beat them to fine
Powder, and having put thofe into the Alum
Water, fet all to cool : Then put in the Flair,
and let it remain till it is deep enough colour-
ed, perhaps, ibout 12 Hours; then take it
out, and lay it to dry. The longer you per-
mit the Hair to be in it, it will be deeper co-
loured.

N. B. The Hair you ufe for dying Ihould
be the befl White you can get. And in order
to know the Seafons when thefe Colours are
proper, obferve, that as the Weeds rot away
in the Autumnal Months, September^ OBoherj
and November^ the Tellow is then beft. The

Rujfet

42 r^^BRITISH ANGLER. P.L

Rujfetkrvts all the Winter, and till the End
of ^pril, as well in Rivers as in Pools and
Lakes : At the fame Time the Brown fliould
be ufed in blackilh, and the Tawny in heathy
and moorifh Waters. The bright natural
Hair is for the Summer Sea Ton.

When you get any Hair fit for your Pur-
pofe, immediately deep it la Hours in cold
Spring Water : Then wafh it very well from
Dirt, without draining any of the Hairs ', and
hang it up to dry 3 or 4 Days in a Kitchen,
but not too near the Fire. When perfedly
dry, put it in a Bag or Cafe, made of Parch-
mentj or Paper -, which lay in a Box, or Defk
placed in an upper Room,

You mufl furnifli yourfelf with an Inflru-
ment for twijling your Lines : Then cut off
near an Handful of the bottom Part of the
Hair, which is generally weak, if not rotten.-
Turn the Top of one Hair to the Tail of ano-
ther, which will caufe every Part to be equal-
ly ftrong. When you make Lines, efpecial-
]y 4 or 5 of the lowermoft Links, Lengths,
Gildards, or Toughts, (for they are ftil'd by
all thefe Names indifferent Places) let them be
of the beft Hairs, fuch as arc of equal Bignefs,
even, round, and clear, and free from Galls,
Scabs,and Frets : For one fuch Hair will prove
as ftrong as 3 uneven fcabby Hairs, that are ill
chofcn, and full of Galls, or uneven ; the for-
mer commonly ftretching or breaking alto-
gether, which Hairs of an unequal Bignefs
never do, but fnap fmgly, and betray the An-
gler

Chap. 1. t;6(? A P P A R A T U S. 43

gler that relies on them. You may make the
Top of your Line, and indeed all of it, ex-
cept a Yards next txhe Hook, of a coarfer
Hair. Always let the Top of your Line,
whether in muddy or clear Waters, be made
of white Hair-, becaufe the Motion of the
Line, when the Fifh bite, will be far more
difcernible, than if they were either of black
or brown Hair.

Never ftrain your Hairs before they are
made into a Line, as feme do ; for then they
will fhrink, when ufed. The flrongeft and
befl are eafily feleded by the Eye.

To make the Line handfome, and to twill
the Hair even and neat, gives it Strength : For
if one Hair is long, and another fhort, the
fhort one receiving no Strength from the long
one, confequendy breaks *, and then the o-
ther, as too weak, breaks alfo. Therefore
twifl them llowly, and in twifting, keep them
from entangling, which hinders their right
plaiting or bedding together: Twift] them
neither too hard nor too flack, but even, fo
as they may twine one with another, and no
more. Your Links may be tied to each other
with a Fifher's Knot, or, as fome call it, a
Water-knot, which every Angler knows how
to make.

The mixing Hair and Silk is no ways good
for Lines : But if your Lines mufl be very
ilrong, make them all of Hair, or all of Silk
that is white ; becaufe white Silk is ilrongefi,
and will not rot fo quickly as the coloured.

Hay^

44 ^^BRITISFIANGLER. P.I.

Having twifted "^your Links, Jay them in
cold Water for one Hour, and then twiil thcrn
over again before you tie them into a Line :
Otherwife a Hair or two will poflibly fhrink,
and be fliorter than the reft, at firft fifhing
with it ; whence fo much of the Strengthofthe
Line is loft, for want of firft watering, and
then re-twifting it.

When you have tied your Lengths together
with the IFater-Knoty cut off the fliort Ends
about the Breadth of a Straw from the Knot,
that it may not undo in the ufmg.

Do not arm, fix, or whip Hooks to any
Line, either for Ground or Fly Angling, that
confifts of more than three or four Links, ac
the moft : But if the Hair be long, and the
lowermoft Link confift's of three Hairs, then
you may whip to one that confifts of two Links
only. The Top of the uppermoft Link hav-
ing a fmall Loop, or Water-noofe, you may
iix It to any Line, and as eafily remove it ;
there being another Water-noofe at the Bot-
tom of your Line.

The Line for Diih-fly^ Caji-flv, ox Artifi-
cial-fly^ ftiould ba about 3 Yards longer than the
Rod, or almoft twice the- Length of it, if the
River be not incumbered with Wood or Trees
on its Banks : If fo, let it be fo me what fiiorter,
but ftill longer than the Rod -, and let
the Hair be of a white, or darkiih white Co-
lour.

To angle for Trouts, Graylings, and SaU
mon SfneltSy with the Buh-fly , let the two

firft

Chap. 2. r/^^ A P P A R A T U S. 4^

firft Links next the Hook be but of one Hair
a-piece : But the Hair mufl be ftrong, and of
the thick Ends only, and chofen for the Pur-
pofe. The next two Links of two Hairs,
and next to thefe one of three Hairs ; at the
Top of which havea Water-noofe, or Loop,
to put your Line to ; which lowermoft Link
confifts of three Hairs, and has another Wa-
ter-noofe at Bottom, or Hook-link, to fix
your Fly to. Then let two of the next Links
of your Line be four Hairs, and fo proceed,
by] increafing one or two Hairs till you come
to fix or {tvcn Hairs at the Top. Let the
fingle Hairs, or three or four of the next
Links, be of a white, or darkifh white Co-
lour.

There are many indeed, who think this
Line too fmall, efpecially where there are very
large Trouts, and therefore for Caft-fly An-
gling, advife two of the firft Links next the
Hook to be of tvv^o Hairs a-piece, the next a-
bovc them of three Hairs, to which have a
Water-noofe •, then two of three Hairs a-piece,
and then proceed with four, five, fix, feven,
and more, to the topmoft Link. Others a-
gain, and good Anglers too, advife the two
Links next the Hook to confifl of three
Hairs a-piece: Then one Link of four, at the
Top of which to have a Water-noofe : Then
four, five, fix, feven, eight, and fo on to the
topmoft Link. And indeed, this Advice is
not amifs, if the River abounds with large
Trouts, and the Water either be clearing af-
ter

46 ri;^BRITISH ANGLER. P.L

ter Rain, or fwclled more than ufually. Nay,
it will even turn to Account in cafting your
Lines, efpecially the artificial Fly-Hne, if you
make the uppermofl Link or Gildard to con-
fiil of twelve or nine Hairs, with one or two
Hairs lefs in the next Link, and fo abate pro-
portionably in every Link, till you come to
the Hook. By this means any young Angler
will caft a Fly well, and quickly become an
accurate Artift ; and if he chances to fallen his
Hook, and cannot come to loofen it, he will
not lofe above one Link, or two at mod,
though he pull to break it ; becaufe the Line
is fo ftrong at the upper End. You may an-
gle with ftronger Lines at the Caft-fly than at
Ground, in a clear Water for the Trout. For
in a clear Water at Ground for Trouts, Gray-
lings, and Salmon Smelts, never ufe a Line
made otherwife than with a fingle Hair at
Hook, and fo on as above direded; only never
have above four Hairs in any one Link of the
Line.

Your Lines being thus made, the Rod and
Line will be in a manner taper, from the ve-
ry Hand to the Hook, and the Line will fall
much better and ilraiser, and caft your Fly or
Bait to any certain Place your Hand or Eye
fhall dired, with lefs Weight and Violence
then otherwife, and fo neither circle the Wa-
ter, nor fright away the Filh.

ThQ Runnmg Worm Line ^"m a clear Wa-
ter, for Trouts, Graylings, and Salmon Smelts,
fliould be ufually two Yards ihorter than the

Rod,

chap. 2. 72^.? APPARATUS. 47

Rod, altho* an equal Length, and fometimes
even a greater, may in fome Rivers and Sea-
fons be more proper : As for Inftance, the
Line longer than the Rod, when the Water is
exceeding bright and low, is bed. For Thick-
nefs, let the two or three lowermoft Links be
one Hair a-peice, and no Part of it above four
or five Hairs in Thicknefs, in any one Link.
Let the Hair be of a white, or rather a duf-
kifli white Colour.

For the Running Worm in muddy Water,
the three lowermoft Links, at leaft, fhould be
of chefnut, brown, or forrel Colour, and
from the Hook upwards, the Thicknefs of the
Line may increafe in the largeft Proportions.

The Line for Float Angling fhould be of the
ftrongeft Sort, and as long or rather longer
than the Rod for Rivers *, but fhorter than the
Rod for Ponds, Pits, Mears, and ftanding
Waters. The Colour of the three or four
lowermoft Links, ftiould be agreeable to the
Colour of the Water \ that is, a chefnut, for-
rel, or brown, for a muddy Water •, but a
dark white, or grey, for clear Rivers.

The Bibhing Line ftiould be of the fame
Length and Thicknefs as the Line for Run-
ning Worm^ in a muddy Water ; or it may
be a Hair or two thicker, becaufe little of
the Line comes into the Wattr. In this Way
of Angling you may ^xptd tne biggeft Fifti ;
and wanting Length co give him Line, after
he is ftruck, you niaft be forced to tug for it :
Yet fome times this Line may be as long 1 the

Rod,

48 «;(? BRITISH ANGLER. P.L

Rod, or near it, if a gentle Wind blow from
the Bank you (land on.

Many, for the Ground Angle^ make their
Links of three Hairs to confifl of two forrel,
brown, or chefnut Colour, and one white •, or
two white, and one chefnut, fofrel, or brown
Hair -, both which do very well.

At the Bottom of every Line have a fmall
Water-noofe, or Loop, thatyoumay hangon
a Hook of any Size, whip'd to a Line, con-
fiding of two or three Links ; or change your
Hook, and two or three of your lowermofl
Links, as often as you pleafe. If it be a Line
of one Hair next the Hook, let the Noofe be
at a Link of three Hairs : If a Line of^^three
Hairs next the Hook, let the Noofe be at a
Link confining of four Hairs.

Let the Growling Line be made of four or
fix Twines ofLinnen Yarn, finely fpun of the
beft Hemp or Flax, and let the Folds be neat-
ly twifted together. Its Length fliall be 20
or 30 Yards, with three Yards, next the Hook
of ftrcng white Silk neatly made. Some ufe
green or Iky-colour'd Silk, and others make
the Trowling Line all of Silk, either green
or sky-colour'd.

The Barbel and Chub Lines mud be very
ftrong, feven Hairs at leaft next the Hook, and
twelve at the Top of the Line. Some ufe
a Line of white, others of green or sky-colour'd
Silk. Others again ufe Indian Grafs next to
the Look, which fhould be chofen round and
full, without Flaw or Blemifh.

I

Chap. 2. r/6^ A PPARATUS. 49

I have been thus particular in my Direc-
tions concerning Lines, becaufe it is a Matter
of the utmofl Confequence to an Angler, and
what is feldom fufficiently underflood. Not
that I think it neceffary to be fo very
exa6b as fome are, who prefcribe a cer-
tain Number of Hairs for evsry Species
of Fifli,Tas if either a Hair more or lefs would
ruin the Sport : (For the fmall Roacby the
Bleak^ the Gudgeon^ or the Ruff^ they order
one Hair only ; for Bace, or large Roacb^ three
Hairs ; for Perch^ Flounder, or ftnall Bream^
four Hairs •, for fmall Chub, Carp, "Tench, or
Eel, fix Hairs \ for Barbel, large Trout, and
large Bream, nine Hairs -, for Salmon, x.vi€[Y^
or fifteen Hairs :) I would only have him to
ad with fuch Regard to thefe Proportions as
the Seafon, the Place, and his own Judg-
ment may dired, which after a little Expe-
rience he will find no Difficulty in doing.
The following Verfes contain only the princi-
pal Rules, which ought never to be forgot.

Chufe well your Hair, and know the vigorous
Horfe
Not only reigns in Beauty^ but in Force.
RejeEl the Hair of Beafts^ ev'n newly ^ dead.
Where all the Springs of Nature are decayed.
But when the rampant Brute with Vigour^
flies, ?

To force the timorous Mare to genial Joys, y.
Obtain your Wijh^ and glory in the Prize. ^

D T'hen

so The BRITISH ANGLER.

^ben for your fingleLinks thefaireft chufe ;
(Such fingle Hairs will hejifupplyyour life)
And of the Reft your fev'ral hines prepare^
In allftill lejf^ning ev^ry Link a Hair,
If for the Fly, he long and flight your Line %
^be Fijh is quick, aud hates what is not fine :
If for the Deep, to ftronger we advife ;
i'bo'' fill the Fineft takes the Fineft Prize.
Before you twift your upper Links, take care^
Wifely to match in Length and Strength your

Hair,
^wift flow your Links, and fee they plait with

Eafe p

Hair left with Hair, and Silk with Silk a (

grees; ^ ^ {

But mix^d, have both great Biconveniemies, J

CHAP. III.

Of Hooks, Floats J Plummets, Landing -Lines
and Landing Nets^ with other Utenflls,

TH E Wire of Hooks fhould be fmall,
and fo well tempered as not to ft retch :
^The Points fo hard, as not to be eafiJy blunt-
ed in the Water. I know not whether it
may be worth while to give Diredions for
making them, fince very good ones of all
Sorts may be purchafed at a moderate Price.
However, as this Book may come into the
Hands of fome who have not always the Con-
veniency of fending for them to Town, and

of

Chap. 3. T^^ A P P A R A TU S, jt

of others who may out of Choice wifh to a-
mufe them in preparing all their pwn Tackle,
I will juft obfervc, that in order to make a
good Hook, there are requifite a Hamtner^ a
Knife y a Pair of Pincers^ an Iron Semi-deamy
a File, a Wreft, a Bender, Tongs both long
and fhort, an Jnvil, and Steel Needles of dif-
ferent Sizes.

Heat a Needle of the Size you want in a
Charcoal Fire, and raife the Beard with your
Knife, and then let it cool. Sharpen the
Point either with a File, or on a Grind-ftone ;
and then put it into the Fire again, and bend
it into what Shape you pleafe : Make the up-
per Part of the Shank four-fquare, and file the
Edges fmooth ; Then put it into the Fire a
third Time, and give it a gentle red Heat ;
whence taking it out fuddenly, and plunging ic
into Water, your Operation is finifhed.

The Diredions which follow are equally
ufeful, whether you buy your Hooks or make
them yourfelf.

Let the Hooks be long In the Shank, and of
a Compafs inclining to Roundnefs ; bat the
Point mull iland even and flrait, and the
Bending muft be in the Shank : For if the
Shank be flrait, the Point will hang outv/ard ;
and tho', when fet on ir, may fland right ; yet
after the taking of a few Fiih, it will caufe the
Hair at the End of the Shank to ftand bent,
and confequently the Point of the Hook to-
hang directly upwards.

D z Where

p 51)^ BRITISH ANGLER, p. L

Whether you angle at Top or at Bottom,
proportion your Hooks for Strength and Com-
pafs to the Number of Hairs you angle with
next your Hook ; and ufe not a fmall Hook
to great Baits, nor a great Hook to fmall
Baits. Barbels and Chubs muft have large
Hooks •, but Pearcbes, Carps^ ^enches^ Breams^
and Eels^ Hooks of a confiderably lefs Size.
Trout s in clear Waters, and Graylings^ Sahnon
Smelts^ Roaches^ Dace^ Ruffs^^ and Gudgeons^
mud be angled for with fmall Hooks: And
tho' many ufe great Hooks for 'TroutSy in mud-
dy Waters efpecia] ly, yet it is not fo fure a
Way as to angle with fmall ones ; and Expe-
rience will convince one of itslnconveniencies.
The great Salmon^ however, muft have a hrge
and ftrong Hook.

When you {tt on your Hook (which is cal-
led by the feveral Terms of arming, f^i^^g^ or
^hipping) do it with fmall but ftrong Silk,
well rubbed with Shoemakers Wax. If for a
fmall Hook, ufe the Silk fingle ; if for a large
one, double and twift ir. Lay your Hair or
Grafs on the Infide of the Hook j for, if in
comes on the Outfide, the Silk will be apt to
cut and fret itafunder ; and it is not fo conve-
nient to ftrike Fifn : And to avoid the fretting
of the Hair by the Hook on the Infide, fmooth
all the Shank on a Whetftone. From a Straw's
breadth below the Top of the Hook, wrap
the Silk about the bare Shank, until you come
to the Top of it : Then lay your Line on the
Infide, and whip with your Silk downwards,

till

ehap.3. ^^^APPARATUS 53

^ill you come almoft to the Bent of the Hook,
and then fallen it by turning over three or four
Times, and drawing it clofe ; which done, cut
off the End of the Gildard or Link as nigh
as you can to the Twift.

Tho' perhaps the Colour of the Silk you whip
with is not very material, yet it may not be
amifs when you angle with Worms, to ufe red
Silk ; but for Fade, Cod-bait, and other whi-
tjfh Baits, to ufe white. Some do it with a
white or red coloured Hair, and fome with
Flax or Hemp : But ftrong and Imall Silk is
undoubtedly the bed.

How to arm a briftled Hook we dnU fee
hereafter, when we difcourfe of Cod-baits'.
And as to Hooks for the Dub-fiy, they gene-
rally fhould be fmall,and t he fa m e for Cod ^ bait;
but larger for Worms, tho' not fo large as fom.e
pradife, efpecially in clear Water.

Floats for rapid Rivers Ihould be of Cork ;
Quills not being able to bear up againfl ftrong
Streams jbut then they are bdl for Pits,Pondsi
Mears, and (landing Waters, and angiing near
the Top m very flow Rivers, efpecially^with
Pailes or tender Baits.

Having procured a Piece of the befi; Cork
you can, without Flaws or Holes, bore ir
through with a fmall hot Iron; then put into i^
a Quill of a proper Proportion, neither fo
large to fplit it, nor fo fmajl to flip out, but
luch as may fl:ick in very clofcly : Then, ei-
ther with a fliarpPen-knife or aRazor, pare the
Cork into the Form of a Pyramid, fmall Pear,
^ 3 Egg,

54 y^^BRITISH ANGLER. P. I-

Egg, or Nutmeg, making it of what Bignef^
you pleald : Then, upon a fmali Grind-ilone'
or with a Pumice-Sone, fmooth and make it
complete •, for you cannot pare it fo fmooth
as you may rub or grind it. Have always
Fjoats of every Size, from a Pea to a large
Walnut, which you may fuit to the Water,
the Size of your Line, or the Fifh you angle
tor.

Some ad vife the Boring of a Cork after it is
tliaped ; but I think it much fafer to do it be-
fore, both becaufe the Cork will be then Jefs
apt to fplir, and becaufe it may be better pro-
portioned to the central Hole. After it is fhap-
cd, cut the Quill off even with the Cork at
fach End, and thro' the Qiiill draw the Line,
faflening them both together with a Wedge of
the uppermofl hard End of the Goofe QtiilJ,
the Feather being dripped off. A very ;mv
Jngle7\ indeed, may do with ^nlls only,
in aim oft all Waters, dying the Caps at the T^/>,
^N\i\\Red^Green^ &c. Place the fmaller End^of
the Cork towards the Hook, and the bigger
towards the Rod, that the fmaller End fink-
ing down with the Hook, the bigger may
float aloft, and bear the Wedge di-
redly ere6l \ which, when pulled under the
Surface of the Water, is the certain Signal of
the Fifl=i's biting, unlefs by Accident the
Hook or Line become entaagled, or ftop-
ped by fom.e Stone, Piece of Wood, or
Weeds.

Cork

1

Chap. 3. ^T^&f A P F A R A T US. ^5

Cork in the Form of a Nutmeg or Egg,
being biggefl in the Middle, and fmall ac
each End, is a little apter to fink, and will
not carry fo weighty a Plummet of Lead : Yet
on clear Bottoms, and angling with the Bait
feme Diilance from the Ground, and in flow
running Rivers, it will do very well, and bet-
ter than others.

Furnilli yourfelf Vv^ith Corks and Quills 6f
all Sizes, and Itt the Cork be lb poized with
Lead, on the Line, that the Quill which is in
it, being about two Inches long, will fwim
upright, and that the lead Bice or Nibble will
fmk the Cork.

When a Float is fplit or bruifed, there is
no Remedy for the Mifchance but getting a
new one ; only you may fave the Wooden
Plug with the Brafs Wire at the End of it, and
it will ferve for another. But if the Water
get in at the Top of your Float, that Defet^l
may be amended with a little Sealing-wax. If
thePlug of your Float be loofe, pull it out,
or if it come out itfelf,in either of thefe Cafes,
fallen it in with one of the following Ce-
ments.

Td.ke Bees Wax bruifed fmall, Chalk fcrap-
ed fine, and black Rofin powdered, of each art"
equal Quantity : Melt them in a Spoon, or
any fmall Tin Veflel, and fee they are well
mixed.

Or, Take Brick-duft fifted very fine, and

common Rafm pulverifed : Fut one Part of

D 4 Brick-

S6 r^^ BRITISH ANGLER. P.r.

Brick-duftto two Parts of Rofin^ and melt
them as before dired:ed. Dip your Plug in
either of thefe, and put your Float immedi-
ately upon it, becaufe the Cement cools in an
Inftant.

When you join two Floats together, let the
Plug be a little thicker in the Middle than at
the Ends, which Ends are to go into the
Mouths of the Quills. Dip one End in the
Cement, and put one Quill upon it •, then do
iht like by the other, and you have a double
Float. — Or you make it by dipping the Ends
of both Quills, when prepared, in the Ce-
ment, and Hxing them together, which, when
rhe Cement is cold^ will be very flrong.

To dye Quills red, which for flill Waters
are better than any other Floats, take what
Quantity youpleafe of Urine, and put in it as
nfiUch Powder of Brazil H^ood as will make it
redden a Piece of white Paper : Then take
fbme fair Water, in which put a Handful of
Salt, and a little yfr^^/, and ftir them till dif-
folved ; then boil them well in a Sauce-pan*
When the Water is cold, fcrape your Quills,
and let them lie a little in it: Then fleep them
in the redden'dUrine for ten ortwelveDays, and
having dried them, rub them witha Linnen
Cloth.

For Leading of Lines, the fmall round Pel-
let or Lead-fhot is beft, efpecially for ilony
Rivers, and the Running Line. Let it be clo-
ven, and neatly clofed about your Line.

Put

Chap. 3. 77^^ A P P A R A TUS. 37

Put not above two Plumbs on the Line at
once, an Inch and half, or two Inches dif-
tant from one another, and the lowermoft a-
bout feven or eight Inches diftant from the
Hook, for a Running Line, bwt nine or ten
Inches off theHook for a Float Line. But if the
River run on a flmdy Bottom, and be full of
Weeds, with few Stones, Leaden Plumbs in
the Shape of a Barley Corn, or of an oval
Form, are befl, the Ends being fmooth and
clofejaid down, either for a muddy Water or
Float Angling. Many, when they angle a-
raongft Weeds, place their Lead on the
Shank of the Hook, and believe it then not fo
apt to entangle.

When you angle with the Running Line,
let the Line have more Lead in a troublefome
rough Water than in a Stream that is calmer
and quieter -, as near as may be, fo much as
will fmk the Bait to the Bottom, and permit
it to be kept in Motion, by continually rol-
ling on the Ground, and no more. This
Rule is to be obferved in Float Angling in
Rivers. Some cover the Lead on their
Lines with Shoe- maker's Wax, as thin as
may be.

As the T)iy advances, your Pellet or Plumb
may be lefTer -, for that will fometimes carr/y
readily at live o*Clock in the Morning at Run-
ning Line, v/hich will fink and faften the
Line at nine o'Clock ; becaufc in Droughts
Rivers generally abate, as the Heat increafes.

D ^ When

58 r/^^ B R I T I S H A N G L E R. P. I.

When you angle in a very llony River that
is clear, with the Running Line, the Stones
are apt to rub the Pellets bright, which fcares
away the Fifh : When it does fo, remove the
bright Lead, and put on other that is black.
For a Lead Plummet^ make a Hole in a
Piftol Bullet, and put therein a ftrong
twifted Thread •, and, when Occafion is,
hang this on the Hook, to try the Depth
of the River, or Pond, efpecially when
you angle v/ith the Float, and the Bait
is to be near the Bottom, or but jufl touch
i^

Prudent Anglers procure a little Whetfto^ie^
about two Inches long, and one Quarter of
an Inch fquare, which is flir better to iharpen
Plooks on than a File, tho* never fo fine or
good : For the File either will not touch a
well-temper'd Hook, or leave it rough, but
not iharp.

Tho' the Angler is not confined to any par-
ticular Form for his LhieCafes^ yet the follow-
ing is thought as convenient as any. Get a
Cafe made of red Leather, with twelve or
fourteen Partitions therein, made of the fined
thin Parchment, and a Flap to cover over the
Edges, to prevent the lofing any Thing out
of them. In the feveral Partitions keep Hooks
ready whipt to Lines of two or three Gildards
in Length, and ready leaded: Likevvife, fpare
Links, Lines of all Lengths or Sorts, Silk
of all Sorts and Colours, and fingie flpong
Hairs. Thefe Cafes lie in a fmall Room in the

Pocket,

Chap. 3. ^3^ APPARATUS. 59

Pocket, and yet in one of them you may put
all your Tackle ready fixed for the Running
Line in a muddy or a clear Water ; in ano-
ther, all theTackling for Ground singling with
theFloat ; in another, which muft be large, the
angling Tackle for great Fifh, as Chub, Bar-
bel, great Salmon ; in another, your angling
Tackle for Pike, which mufh likewife be ve-
ry large : So that when you travel from
Home, you may angle any where for moft
Sorts of Fifh at Ground, if you carry with you
but a good Rod made of Hazle, and the Pieces
put into each other, which will ferve you alfo
for a Wal-king-fiaff.

Provide Ba^gs of Linnen and Woollen, to
keep and carry all Sorts of Baits in ; alio a
Piece of Cane, with Holes bored therein, to
keep Caterpillars, Palmers, Woolbeds, na--
rural Flies, Bobs, or- any Sort of Infeds -, a
Horn for Gentles ; Boxes of divers Sizes, to
carry Hooks,Silk, Lead, Thread, Corks, Quills,
Shoemaker's Wax, and Dub-fiies in : Alfo
have a neat and fliarp Pen-knife. The fol-
lowing is eileemed the belt way to carry and
keep Cod-baits, Caterpillars, Clap-baits, na-
tural Flies, and Oak-worm -, becaufe to give
Cod-baits Water is foon to rot them. Cut a
round Bough of fine green bark'd Withy, or
Willow, about half the Thicknefs of one's
Arm, and taking the Bark clear of, about a
Foot in length, turn both Ends together
from the Middle, and let the Sides fold with-
in each other y then tie it v/ith a String on

the

6o 5'/^^BRITISHANGLER. P.I.

the Top, and ftop it with a Cork or Piece of
Wood : In this put your Baits, and at Night
lay it in the Grafs, where let it lie till youhavc
occafion for them. The Dewpreferves them,
and makes them fcour and thrive \ and the
Moifture of the Bark contributes much to their
Prefervation ; yet it is convenient to bore
fmall Holes in it for their better Perfpiration,
tho' the Bark of itfeif be very porous.

It is proper to carry a light Pannier or
Basket, made on Purpofe for the Uk^ and
neatly worked.

Plave always ready a fmall long Pole^ with
a Loop at the End, like a Water-noofe, to
which faften a fmall Net to land great Fifh,
without which you will be in Danger of lofing
them : But if you angle for Pike, Barbel,
Chevinj or great Salmons, get a large Hook
called a Landing Hook^ with a Screw at the
End to fix into a Socket at the End of your
Pole, in order to llrike into the Mouth or a-
ny Part of the Filh, and fo draw them to
Land. You may alfo fit to the fame Soc-
ket and Pole two other Hooks, one fharp to
cut Weeds away, the other to pull out
Wood.

Not to be tedious on thisHead, I will fum up
the Angler's Materials in a few Lines, which
the young Sportfman may always have in his
Memorv.

Hooks J

Chap. 3. Ihe APPARATUS. 6i
Hooks, Plummets, Floats, and Penknife you

muff get.

Bags, Panniers, Landing-Hook, and Land-
ing Net ',

Tour Whetftone, Line-Cafe, Boxes, Gentle-
Horn,

Links, Hairs, and Thread, and Silk that
may adorn.

All ready over-night, lejl you forget at Morn,

CHAP. IV.

Of natural Baits ; particularly of Earth-worms ^
Caterpillars, Grubs, Cadews, and Gentles,

rTTIHE firft Obfervation I fliall make upon
JL natural Baits, is that Earth-worms are
good for all Sorts of Fifh, and that they and
Gentles continue in Seafon the whole Year.
ThtEarth-hoh is in Seafon from the Beginning
of November till almoft May-Day •, and the
CoW'turd-hoh, or Clap-bait, from May- Day
till Michaelmas. FlieSy Palmers, or f^'^ooi-
teds, Caterpillars, Cod-baits, and Worms bred
on Herbs, Plants, or Trees, continue good
all the Summer. When one Sort of Bait
comes in Seafon, you ought not however to
think the preceding altogether ufelefs -, therefore
when you angle at Ground in clear Water, have
both Earth-worms, Cod-bait, Gentles^ and Bobs
in Readinefs with you, and in more Likeli-
hood Succefs will attend your Labours. But

if

62 2^^BRITrSH ANGLER. P, I.

if you angle for Trouts in a muddy Water
with Running Line, you need only izktErand-
lings ^ Gilt- 1 ails y i'ag-tailsy and Meadow-
worms with you. If the three laft are not to
beeafily got, then Brandlings only: And you
may have fome fcoured in Mofs and Water
only ; others, as will be directed, with
Ruddle, and others with Grave Earth : For
fometimes the Trout takes the Worm kept
one Way, and fometimes the other •, and that
all on the fame Day, and in two Hours
Space.

I now come to the feveral Species oiWorms^
of which there are divers Sorts : Some bred in
the Earth, and therefore called Earth-wonns^ or
Worms fimply, without any Addition •, fuch
are the Dew^worm^ Red-worm^ Brandlings
Gilt-tail^ Tag'taily and Meadow-worm : O-
thers arc bred on Herbs, Plants, or Trees •, as
Palmers or IVoolheds^ Caterpillars^ Oak-wor7n,
and Cabbage or Colewort-zvorin : Others on
Excrements, or in dead Flefn, as Gentles^
TFafps^ bcc. of all which in their Order.

Dew-izorm^ Garden-worm^ hob- worm ^ or
Twatchel^2St but differentNames for one and the
fame Worm, according tothe Dialers of feveral
Places. It is the principal Worm for Salmon^
Chevins, Trouts ^ Barbels^ and Eels of the largeft
Size ; but for fmaller Fifli, though of the fame
Species, not fo proper. Some of them are
called Squirrel- 1 ails, which have a red Head, a
Streak down the Back, and a broad Tail; and
thefe are efteemed the befi:, becaufe they are

tougheil

Chap. 4. 're^ A PPAR ATUS. 6j

toughed, moil lively, and live longell in the
Water : For with a dead Worm, in all pro-
bability, you will catch little or nothing. This
Worm is moft certainly found in a Garden ,
Field, by a Path Side, or in a Church-yard j
late in a Summer's Evening, with a Lant-
horn : Or in great Droughts, pound Walnut-
Leaves, and put the Juice thereof, mixed
with a little Sak Water, into their Holes,
or upon the Ground where they ufe to rife,
and it drives them out upon the Surface.

By^andlings^ Gilt -tails, and Red-wor7ns, are
the principal Worms for all Sorts of Fifh, and
are generally to be found in old Dunghills, or
fome very rotten Earth that lies near them *
but ufually in Cow-dung or Hogs-dung rather
than Horfe-dung, which is fomewhat too hot
and dry for them. The befl, however, are to
be found in Tanner's Bark, which they call-
up in Heaps after they have ufed it about their
Leather. Thefe, efpecially the two iirft, are
the prime Worms Anglers ufe for fronts y
Grayling, Salmon- Smelts, Giidgton, Terch^
Tench^ and Bream \ which three lall take the
Red-worm, well-fcoured, exceeding well.
The Brandlings and Gilt-tails are taken by
Trout s and Graylings both in muddy and
clear Waters ; but the Red-worm bed in
muddy Waters. Some fay the Brandling is
the bed Worm for a 7rout ; and others the
Gilt-tail : But if you angle with two Worms
;U once, as is generally ufed for Trouts in muddy

Waters^

64 7^^ BRITISH ANGLER. P.L

Waters, put both a Brandling 201^2^ Gilt -tail on
the Hook together, but the Gilt-tail h^.

The Marflj or Meadow-worm is got out of
Marfh-ground, or the fertile Banks of Rivers.
It is a little blewifh, and fhould be well fcour-
ed, in order to render it both tough and
fprightly. It is a choice Worm in March,
Jprily and September^ for Trouts, Salmon-
Smelts^ Gudgeon, Grayling-^ Flounder, Bream,
and Ferch \ and fome will conftantly ufe it
from Candlemas till Michaelmas, and prefer
it before either Brandling or Gilt-taiL It re-
quires more Time to be well-fcoured in than
either of thefe latter, and ihould be kept in
Mofs and Water fifteen Days at leaft, before
ufed.

"Tag-tails are of the Colour of a Man's
Hand, or a pale Fleili Colour, with a yellow
Tag on their Tail, almoft half an Inch long :
They are found in Marly Lands or Meadows,
after a Shower of Rain, or in a Morning in
Weather that is calm and not cold, chiefly in
March and AprlL There are Anglers who
affirm, that there is not a better Bait in the
World for a Trout, if you angle with them
whilft the Water is difcoloured by Rain : Some
commend it likewife for a Grayling, This
Worm will not endure long fcouring ; where-
as the Devj-worm^ Red-ivorm, and Meadow
worm, will bear more fcouring than any of the
other Sorts before- mentioned^ and are the better
for long keeping.

To

Chap.4. r/^i? APPARATUS. dj

To order^ keep, and Jcour Worms of every
Sort, put them into very good long Mofs :
Whether white, red, or green, is not very
material ; but the foft white Mofs that grows
on fome Heaths is accounted bed, only it is
difficult to be found in many Countries, The
next in Goodnefs is what grows on the Buck-
thorn. Wafh your Mofs well, and cleanfe it
from all Earth and Filth, wringing it very
dry : Then put your Mofs and Worms into
an Earthen Pot, which cover clofe, that they
crawl not out : Set the Pot in a cool Place in
Summer, and in Winter in a warm Place,
that the Froft may not deftroy them. Every
fourth Day in Summer change the Mofs, and
once a V7eek in the Winter •, or, at leaft, let
the Mofs be taken from themi, and clean
waftied in frefh Spring Water, and fqueezed
again betwixt your Hands till it be pretty dry,
and then you may put it to them again. The
longer you keep them, efpecially the Loh-
worm, Mar[h-worm, and Red-worm, before
you ufe them, the better. Some mingle Ca-
momile or Fennel with the Mofs, and not
unproperly. The fcouring Worms well makes
them redder, clearer, tougher, fprightlier,
longer*lived on the Hook, and confequently
more defirable to the Filh. If you are in
hade for your Worms, a little Bole- Armoniack
put to them will further your Defire, and make
them fcour in a fhort Time : Or you may put
the Dew-worm^ or Red -worm ^ three or four

Hou?s

66 T^^BRITISH ANGLER. P.I,

Hours in Water, and they will fcour them-
ielves, but be very weak, which a few Hours
in good Mofs will recover.

Obferve when the Knot near the Middle of
'the Brandling begins to fwell, for then he is
fick, and if not well looked to, is near Death :
To prevent which, you may feed them with
Crumbs of Bread and Milk, or fine Flour
and Milk, or the Yolk of an Egg and fweet
Cream coagulated over the Fire ; Give them a
Iktle at a Time, and often.

If you want to have your Brandlings and
Gilt'tails quickly fcoured, put them into
Mofs that is exceeding wet, and it will an-
fwer your Purpofe, but not keep them long.
But when you go to angle, remove them into
Mofs, out of which the Water is very well
wrung, or fqueezed.

Some wet their Mofs very well in fweet
Milk^ or, which is far better. Ale-wort^ in
which there has been no Hops, and then
fqueeze it pretty well, and Over-night put in
the Worms they intend to ufe the next Day :
But the Worms muft not continue long in the
Mofs thus wetted in Milk or Alewort, in re-
gard it will greatly fwell, and in twenty-four
Hours fpoil them. However, if you put them
in frefh Mofs and Water when you have finifli-
ed your Day^s Angling, it will revive and'
recover them again.

Others, perhaps a little fuperflltioufly,
keep them in Mofs^ intermingled with Earth
eaft out of a Graue. The lefs Time the

Chap. 4. ^j^ A P P A R A T U S 67

Party hath been buried, fay they, the better:
And they put them intofrefh Mofs, with fome
of this Earth, when they go to angle. Others
again, in the Spring, and for a muddy Water,
iliave Ruddle or red Oker, (with which Coun-
try People mark their Sheep) into the Mofs
they keep their Worms in, and fometimes
thofe Baits will be taken eagerly, when the
brighter, which are kept in Mofs and Water
only, will not be taken at all: And perhaps
within an Hour again the bright ones will be
taken, and the ruddled Worms refufed. Since
all Ways therefore are here noted for the
keeping and ordering your Worms, chufe that
Way which Experience afllires you to be the
beft : Only this you may obferve, that if you
can otherwife help it, never have your Brand-
lings or Gilt-tails kept in Mofs, having the
Water well fqueezed out of it, lefs than 48
Hours, or above ten Days.

There is yet another Way of cleanfing and
freferving Worms ^ recommended by modern
Anglers, and found extremely good for
every Kind of them, except the Lob-worm,
It is only this : Take a Piece of very coarfe
Cloth, which has never been fhrunk in the
Fulling-Mill, walli it very clean^ and let it
dry : Then foak it in the Liquor which a
Piece of fat frefli Beef has been boiled in, and
wring it out, but not fo hard, as to prefs out all
the Liquor. Then Jay it in a deep Earthen
Pan, which has a large Bottom, and put your
Worms thereon, that they may crawl in and

our,.

68 r/^^BRITISH ANGLER. P. t

out, and fo fcoiir themfelve?. When they have
remained there twenty-four Hours, wafh out"
your CJoth, as before, but do not dry it ; and
then wet it again with fome of the fame Li-
quor, and having placed your Worms there-
on, keep them in a clofe Cellar. Repeat this
every other Day during the Heat of Summer*
and you will not only preferve your Worms
alive for three Weeks or a Month, but make
them very red and tough. When you take
out any for angling, put them into Mofs that
has been well waflied, and not wrung dry- and
when you come home at Night, put them again
into your Pan, by which they will recover them-
felves, and gather frelh Strength. Re fare that
there is no Salt in your Beef Liquor \ for if there
be,it will certainly purge your Worms to Death.

I proceed now to the Palmer-worm^ Pal-
mer-fly^ fFool'bedy or Canker^ which are all
one Worm, bred on Herbs, Plants, or Trees,
and if not a perfed Caterpillar, is certainly a
Species of it. Thefe are rough and woolly on
the outward Parts, whence they have the
Name of Wool-beds. They are good Baits
either for Trout, Chub, Grayling, Roach, or
Dace, Palmer fly and May fly are the ^^ry
Foundation of all Fly- Angling.

Caterpillars, Oak-worfn, Cabbage-zvorm,
Colewort-worm or Grub, Crabtree-worfn or
Jack, are all bred on Herbs, Plants, or Trees,
and may be kept with the Leaves of thofe
Trees, Herbs, pr Plants on which they are
bred, by renewing the faid Leaves often in a

Day.

chap. 4. 7^^ A P P A R A T U S. 6p

Day. The Boxes they are kept in fhould have
a few ftnall Holes bored in them, to let in
Air ; but you may keep them beft in withy
Bark, asdireded in Chap. III. Thefe are good
Baits for Chiih^ Roach ^ Dace, and Trout, Fifh
bite much better at the Oak-worm, or any
Worm bred on Herbs, Plants, or Trees, if
you angle when they fhew themfelves on the
Top of the Water, as with the natural Fly,
than if you ufe it at Midwater or Ground : For
when a Gale of Wind lliakes the Trees, the
Worms fall into the Water, and prefently rife
and float on the Top, where the Fifh fpring
at them as at Flies. They never fink, till be-
ing toft and beaten by the Waves, they die
and lofe their native Colour, and then the Fifh,
as you may perceive by thofe on your Hook,
value them not. But though thefe Sort of
Baits are taken by Roach^ Dace^ and Chub at
the Top of the Water, yet you may angle 18
Inches, or lower, within the Water, with good
Succefs. For a Trout you may put one on the
Pointof aDub-fiy-Hook, and dib with it, or
with the Afli-fiy and one of thefe together. The
Oak-worm is a very good Bait, of a line Co-
lour, and in Ponds is a Murtherer of Roach and
Dace. To get thefe Baits, beat on an Oak, Crah-
tree, or Hawthorn, that grows over an High-
way or bare Place, and when they fall upon the
fmooth Ground, you may gather them up; or
go to Cabbages or Coleworts, and there hunt
ior them carefully.

Ic has been a general Notion, that the PaU
mer-worm^ or Caterpllar^ and others of this

Kind,

70 The BRITISH ANGLER. P.I.

Kind, are bred from a Dew left on the
Leaves of Trees, Herbs, Plants, or Flowers,
which being condenfed by the Sun's generative
Heat, in three Days become living Creatures,
of feveral Shapes and Colours : But this is evi-
dently aMiftake, they being bred of the Spawn
of their particular Species, which, in Time,
turn to be Butter-flies of various Kinds. In-
deed all Flies, tho' bred of Eggs or Seed, re-
ceive Life, or vivify, as the Sun's Heat fur-
thers or difpofes the feminal Virtue to Anima-
tion : But none of them will ever be produced
by that Heat, in a Place where the Eggs were
not before difpofed,

jB(?^jare of two Sorts. The Firft is found
in mellow, heathy, fandy, light Soils, and
gathered after the Plow when the Land is firft
broke up from Grazing. This is called the
Earth-hob^ JVhite-gruh^ or White-hait, It is
a Worm as big as two Magots, hath a red
Head, and is all foft, and full of whitifh Guts.
You may eafily difcover in what Grounds they
moft are *, for there the Crows will be watch-
ing, and follow the Plow very clofe : Or you
yourfelf may dig one Spade-graft deep in Tan-
dy, heathy Ground, that has lain long fallow
from the Blow, and find a fufficient Quantity
of them. Thefe are a choice Bait from the
Beginning of Novernher until after the Middle
of ApriU for Chuh^ Roach ^ Dace^ Salmon Smelt Sy
^roiit^ Bream^ ^ench^ and Carp,

When you gather thefe, put them into a
Pot or Firkin, with fome of the Soil they

were

Chap.4. r^^ A PPA R ATUS. 71

were bred in, to preferve them : Then ftop
the VefTel exceeding clofe, or all will fpoil.
Set them where neither Wind nor Frofl may
in the leaft offend them, and they will keep
all the Winter for your Ufe, fo that you may
always be ready furnilhed.

Some, in the Morning they go to angle,
boil thofe they intend to ufe that Day in Milk
or Water, one or two Minutes, and then
pour them on a Sieve to flrain off the Liquid ;
but they will not keep after boiling above two
Days. In like Manner you may boil thtyoung
Brood of fFaJps^ Hornets, Humble Bees, &c.
and they will become fomething the tougher,
and look more plump and white on the Hook.
Others put thefe Baits in a little Earth and Ho-
ney, the Day before they angle with them :
For Carp or Br earn, into a Box with Gtm-
Ivy.

Cow-iurd-hoh, or Clap-hait, the other Sort
of Bob, is found under a Cow-turd, from a-
bout May-day until Michaelmas. It is an ex-
cellent Bait for Trout, if you angle with it as
Cod-bait is ufed, on the Top of the Water
with a briflled Hook -, only you may fome-
times put a Pair of artificial Wings and Head,
fuch as is ufed for the Dub-ily, on the Top of
the Hook. This Bait is almofl like a Gen-
tle, but bigger, and is kept in wet Mofs, but
not above three or four Days. Therefore if
you would preferve it longer, have rccourfe
to your Withy Bark, as you are diredled for a
Cod-bait, at Chap. 3.

Fifh

7a «;^BRITISH ANGLER.P.I.

Filh of all Sorts likewife take the Clap-bait
within the Water, as the Trout^ Sahnon Smelt ^
Graylings Chuh^ Roach^ Dace^ Carp^ Breain^
"Tench, 6cc. For Trout and Salmon SmeJt,
you may imitate it with yellow Bees-wax, and
angle on the Surface \ having an artificial
or Dub-head, and Wings at the Top of the
Hook.

There are divers Sorts of Cod-baits^ Cadews^
or Cafe-worms^ which are to be found in fe-
vera! particular Counties, and in little Brooks
that have Communication with larger Rivers.
The firft I fliall mention is called a Piper^
whofe Hufk or Cafe is a Piece of Reed about
an Inch long, or fomewhat more, and as big
round as the Compafs of a Silver Two-pence,
Thefe Worms being kept three or four Days
in a Woollen bag, v/ith Sand at the Bottom
of it, and the Bag wet once a Day, will turn
yellow, and become a choice Bait for
the Chub or Chavender^ or indeed for any
great Fifli.

The lefler Cadews-worm^ c^.\kd3.Cock-fpur^
being in Shape like the Spur of a Cock, fharp
at one End, hath a Cafe made of fmall
Husks, Gravel, and Slime, moft curioufly
intermixed. This is good Bait for any FloaC
Fifli, being much lefs than the Piper-Cadews 5
but muft be ordered in the fame Manner, and
may be preferved ten, fifteen, or twenty Days,
and fometimes longer.

The

Chap. 4. 7^^ A P P A R A T U S. ^^

The Straw-worm, or Ruff-coat, is another
Kind of Cadews, whofe Houfe is made of
little Pieces of Bents, Rufhes, Straws, and
Water-weeds, and fo knit together with con-
denfed Slime, that they flick about her not un-
like the Briftles of a Hedge-hog. This Ca^
dews, as well as the two former, is commonly
taken in the Beginning of Summer, and is good
to take any Kind of Fifh, with Float or other-
wife. But in order to know the feveral Kinds
of Cadews, and to what Flies every particular
Species turns, and then how to ufe them firfl
as Cadews, and afterwards as Flies, is an Arc
that every one who profefles to be an Angler
has not leifure to fearch after, and if he had,
IS not capable of learning. I fhall only ob-
ferve therefore in general of the Reft, that as
leveral Countries have their feveral Kinds, fo
they are all ufually bred in the little Rills or
Ditches that run into larger Rivers, and are a
more proper Bait for thofe very Rivers, than
any other.

In flaort, one Kind 0^ Cadews are bred un-
der Stones that lie a little hollow in fhallow
Rivers, or fmall Brooks: Thefe ^rt yellow,
when ripe -, and are the beft Sort of Cod-
bait. Others are found in Pits, Ponds
flow-running Rivers, or Ditches. Both thefe
Sorts are excellent Baits for Trouts, Graylings
and moil Sorts of Fifh ; as Carp, Tench,
Bream Chub, Roach, Dace, Salmon Smelts,
and Bleak. The green Sort breed in Pits
Ponds, and Ditches, and are found in March,

"E before

74 .^^ BRITISH ANGLER. P.I.

before the yellow ones come : The other yel-
low Sort come in May, or the End of ^n7,
and are out of Seafon in July : A third Sort,
but fmaller, come in again in Auguft.

Thefe Cod-baits cannot endure the Wind
and Cold : Therefore keep them in a thick
Woollen Bag, with fome moift Gravel or
Sandamongft them, got out of the fame Ri-
ver, or Brook, which the Cod-baits you get
were bred in. Wet them once a Day if in the
Houfe, but oftner in hot Weather. When
you carry them abroad, fill the Bag full of Wa-
ter, and then hold the Mouth clofe, that they
drop not out, while the Water runs from them.
Thus they have been kept three Weeks. Or,
you may put them in an earthen Pot full of
Water, with fome of the Gravel they were bred
in at the Bottom, and take them from thence
into your Bag as you have Occafion to ufe
them. But the befl Way of keeping them is
in the Withy Bark, as before direded in
Chap 3. To which I will only add, that
fome are fo dextrous in making their Cafe of
Bark, as to leave one End of it clofcd up by
a Piece of its own Wood, and to make a Stop-
per for the other End with another Piece of
the fame.

One may T^n^t feveral ^ays with Cod-bait; y
either at Bottom with a Float, or within a
Foot of the Bottom at Mid-water, or at
Top : But if in a clear Water for the Trout j
Graylings or Salmon Smelt, ufe fine and fmall
Lines, never above one Hair for two or three

Lengths

Chap.4. ^i'^ APPARATUS. 75
Lengths next the Hook. Your Lines are to be
almoftthe Length of your Rod, and very light
leaded, if you angle within the Water. Some-
times, when you ufe a Float, you may put
on two or three together -, and frequently a
Cod-hait^ to very good EfFed, is joined with
a fVor?n^ and fomctimes with an Artificial Fly^
to cover the Point of the Hook. At other
times it is put on the Point of a Hook after an
Oak-fly^ and then they dib with it; or, which
is better, let them fink nine or ten Inches
within the Water, continually raifing, and
gently moving it up and down, both withia
the Water, and at the Top. Some fay Cod-
hait^ when ufed by itfelf, is always to be an-
gled with at the Bottom, and with the fineft
Tackle ; and that it is for all Times of the
Year the moft lafting of all Baits whatever,
both for Trout, Salmon Sfnelt, and Grayling.
Others affirm that the befl way to angle with
the Cod-bait, is to fifh with it on the Top of
the Water, for Trout, Grayling, or Salmon Smelt,
as you do with the Fly •, and that it mufl fland
on the Shank of the Hook, like the Artifi-
cial Fly ; becaufe if it comes into the Bent of
the Hook, the Fifh will not value it, nor if
you pull the blue Gut out of ir. To make
It keep that Place, you mufl, when you whip
your Hook, fallen a fliff Horfe-hair or
Hog's-briftle, under the Silk, with the End
ftandmg out about a Straw's Breadth at the
Head of the Hook, from under the Silk, and
pointing towards the Line, This, by the
^ ^ way.

76 77^^ BRITISH ANGLER.P.I.

v/ay, is called a hrijlled Hook^ and will keep
the Bait cither from flipping totally off, or
from Aiding back into the Bent of the Hook,
by which means your whipping would be left
naked : To remedy which, when it fo falls
out, fome always whip the Hook they defign
for this Bait with the whiteft Horfe-hair,
which itfelf will fhine like the Bait,and confe-
quently do more good, or lefs harm, than whip-
ping with Silk, or Hair of any other Colour,
Thusufed, it is an excellent Bait for a Tr^^//,
Salmon S?nelt^ or Grayling, You may, if you
pleafe, place a fmall flender Lead upon the
Shank of the Hook, to fink the Bait, and
draw the Cod-bait over the Lead. You may
alio angle with a Cod-bait as with a Bub-fly\
if you put on the very Top of the Shank of
the Hook, a Pair of artificial Wings, and a
little below, a Briftle, to keep up the Bait
from flipping back.

There are fome that prepare, for "Trouts and
Salmon Smelts^ an Artificial Cod-bait^ by mak-
ing the Body of yellow Bees-wax, and the
Head of black Dubbing and black Silk : Or,
you may do it by making the Body of yellow
Wafli-leather, or rather Shammy, or Stufi^,
and the Head of black Silk.

Others make the Counterfeit Cod-bait of yel-
low Bees-wax, with an artificial black dubb'd
Head, and a Pair of Wings at the Head, and
angle with it as at the Dub-fly. If you imi-
tate the Cod-bait artificially, it is an incompa-
rable Bait for Trcuts and Salmon Smelts, Thefe

you

Chap. 4. r^^ A P P A R A T US. 77

you may often Jet fink to tht Bottom; and
immediateJy raife them again to the Top
Some melt yellow Bees-wax, and therein dip'
yellow Crewel often, and then wrap the Crew-
el about the Shank of the Hook, and put a
Head on : And others make Ufe of a Piece
of fmall yellow Wax-candle, to imitate the
Cod-baa, and put a dubb'dHeadand Wings on
thQ Top of the Hook.

Thofe Cod bails that are mtural, are mod
excellent Baits for Trouls, Graylings, Salmon
Smelts, Chubs, Roach, Dace, Perch, Carp,
Tench Ruff, Bream, ^nd Bleak -, but the i--
tifcial Cod-bait IS for Trout s and Salmon Smelt,
only. Note, That Trouts take the Cod-baic
in clear PFatersonly.

Cod-baits, when they are full ripe, turn in-
to Mies of feveral Sorts, efpecially into the
Green-drake, Sec.

ThQ Bark-worm, or Afhgruh, which are
Names for one and the fame Infed, is plump
milk white, bent round from Head to Tail*
and exceeding tender, with a red Head, re-
lembling a young Dore, or Humble-bee
it IS in Seafon all the Year, efpecially from*
Michaelmas till the Middle o{ May ox June
it IS the moft proper Bait of any, except only
the Fly ^nd Cod-bait, for the Grayling-, and
Chub, Roach, and Dace will likewife take

jI^"^,,?^^ ^"'^ '^ ""^^i" ^^^ Bark of an Oak,
^A ^ider, or Birch, efpecially if they lie a

E 3 Year

yS TZ^^ BRITISH ANGLER. P.I.

Year or more after they are fallen. -It is Irke-
"wife found in the Body of a rotted Alder^ if
you break it with an Ax : But be careful only
to fhiver the Tree in pieces with beating, fo
as crufh not the Worm. Laftly, you may
find it under the Bark of the Stump of any
Tree, when decayed.

The Bark-worm is very tender, and there-
fore to be baited on fuch a Iriftled Hook as be-
fore is dire6ted for the Cod-haiL The Hook
Ihould be put in under the Head or Chaps of
the Bait, and guided down the Middle of the
Belly, without fuffering it to flart out by the
"Way, till the Point comes fo low, that
the Head of the Bait may flick on the Briftle
that comes out to hold it ; by which means it
neither flip off itfelf, nor will the Force of the
Stream, nor fudden pulling it out on any Mif-
take, flrip it off. If the Hook once comes
thro', there will iflue out fFaler and Aliik, til]
nothing but the Skin remain, and the Bent of
the Hook will appear black thro' it. This
Bait is ufualiy kept in Wheat-bran, and there-
by grows tougher.

For Grayling you are to angle with this Bait,
with the fmalleft Lines, fuch as are direded
for a Trout ^ with a Running Line in a clear
Water. You are always to ufe a Float, and
the leafl Weight of Lead you can, that the
Swiftnefs of the Stream will allow ; and your
Bait is to be always fcven or eight Inches from
the Bottom. But for other Fi&Xi ^^Chub^Roachy

and

Ckap.4, t;^^ APPARATUS ^y

and Dace, you may life Lines and Tackle pro-
per for them, and angleasis fuitabJe for their
Humour.

The Flag.ivorm, or Bock-worm, may be.
found thus : Go to an old Pond or Pit, where
there are Plenty of Flags or Sedges ; pull them
up by the Roots •, then fhake thofe Roots in
the Water, till all the Mud and Dirt is waihed
away from them, and then, amongft thefmall
Strings or Fibres that grow to the Roots, you
will find U\t Husks or Cafes o^^r^Mi^^ or
yellowifh, and lometimcs of other Colours:
Open thefe carefully with a Pin, and in them
hes a little Worm, pale, yellow, or as white
as a Gentle, but longer and flenderer, with
Rows of Foet all down his Belly, and a red
Head This is an exceeding good Bait for
i^'aj,ings. Tench, Bream, Carp, Roach, and
Dace. \i may, upon Occafion, do well like-
wife for Lhuh, Bleak, and Verch.

If you pull the Flags afunder, and cut open
the round Stalk, you will find another Worm
like the former in the Husk, but tougher, and
in that Refped better. Both thefe Worms are
to be kept in Wheat-Iran, and baited on the
yrifiledHook^ as the Afh-grub-, and when you
anele for Graylings with them, ufe a Float,
and the fmalleft Lines, and let the Bait be
eight or nine Inches from the Ground A
Trc^t rarely takes either Jfi-grub, or Fkg-^
worm, ^

GV;///^/, ox Maggots, are kept with dead

i^lelh, Beads Liver, or Suet : Or, which is

E 4 better.

8o ^^BRITISH ANGLER. P.I.

better you may both ke^p and fcour them in
Meal or Wheat-bran. In order to breed them,
prick a Beaft^s Liver full of Holes ; hang it in
the Sun in Summer-Time, and fet under it an
old Barrel, or fmall Firkin, with Clay and
Bran in it ; into which they will drop, and
cleanfe themfelves, and be always ready for
Ufe. In this Manner Gentles may be pro-
duced till Michaehnas : But if you would fiili
with them from Michaelmas to May-Day^ you
muft get a dead Cat^ Kite^ or other Carrion^ at
the latter End of Seple7nber^ and jet it be Fly-
blown •, and when the Gentles begin to be alive
and flir, bury it and them together in moifl
Earth, deep in the Ground, that the Froft
may neither kill nor injure theni, and they
will ferve for Ufe till March and Jpril fol-
lowing, about which Time they turn to be
Flejh-jnes,

Gentles are fometimes added to a IVorm^ and
fometimes put on the Point of a Dub-fly Hook
for Salmon-S??ielts \ but mod commonly they
areufed by themfelves, frequently two or three
on a Hook at a Time. When you go to fi£h
with GentleSy you m.ay put them in a Horn,
wherein there are fmall Holes bored to let in
Air, either with fome Wheat-hran only, or a
few Shavings of a Barber's yk'^^/^^y^j-^*^// a-
mong the Bran : But the bed Way is to put
them the Day you angle in a Box with fome
Gum-Ivy^ and you will find it of no fmall Ef-
fed.

Others

Chap. 4. r^^ A P P A R A T US. 8x

Others anoint their G^^«//^-//<?r;z with Honey »
and others again perfume it with Musk an^
Civet. You may imitate a Genik with white
Jerfiy Wool, if you are defirous to join it to
another Bait for Salmon- Smelts, when you
angle at top for them.

Gentles are excellent good Baits for Roach^
Dace^ Chub, Carp, Tench^ Barbeh Breain^
and Bleak ; and in fome Rivers and Seafons,
if the Water be clear, even a Gudgeon or Trout
will take them.

As it would be tedious to recapitulate m
Verfe all that may be faid of the feveral Kinds
ol Baits, I fhail content myfelf with the fol-
lowing Diredlions concerning fome of the
principal Species in this and the remaining
Chapters of the firft Part of this Book . They
are extrafled chiefly from the Bifcatory Ec-
clognes of Mr. Mofes Browne, to whom I fliali
have other Obligations in the Courfe of my
Work.

If, Anglers, while the Summer Sports perfuadcy
Ton hope your Toils with kindly Hours repaid.
With mingling Threads he artful Flies defign\ly
And chufe, of various Sorts, the native Kind j
Fro7n [edgy Brooks the husky Cadews bear.
And from the Sord the bedded Worm prepare ;
Or watch where Wafps their Infant Brood

dtfplay,
And from the Hives thejlinglefs I'oung convey :
Nor lefs may in the blended Choice avail,
To.hoard tJf Autumnal Bee, and dewy Snail :
E s -^^''

Sa fZ^^ B R I T I S H A N G L E R. P. I.

For oft* invited by the varied Baif,

The heedlefs Firti are lur\i to tempt their Fate \

Whether in Depths retired fecure they lie^

Or lejpy exposed, to f natch the plunging Fly.

jB///, if in wintry Hours you rather chufe^
By lonely Floods the bending Reed to ufe^
Obfervein Autumn, when the labVing Swain
The yielding Green-ford plows, or flindy Plain ;
Jf Crows in Troops attend the paffmg Share,
Purfue the Track, and eye the Turfs with Care:
A Worm within the parted Clods yotiHl jindy
Of whitifh Hue, /i?^Beetle'j early Kind :
Of thefe be careful in your Stores to place,
A Food delicious to the wat'ry Race :
Or, hurfd deep^ with Eggs prolific Jlor'^d,
Preferve the Carrion-Cat, of Gentles a furc
Hoard,

CHAP. V.

A Continuation of natural Baits ; particularly
Blood, Grain, Ftjlj, and FiJJj-Spawn, Fruits^
Flies, and other Infers.

TH E Variety of natural Baits made ufe
of in Angling, and the Manners of ufing
them are almoft infinite, and therefore much
mud be left to Experience in treating of this
Subjed. However, as I have already been very
copious upon the Vermicular and Caterpillar
Kinds, 1 fhall in this Chapter enumerate all
the other Sorts commonly known, and more

than

Chap. 5. r^^ APPARATUS. 23
than ever were tried by any one Angler -, re-
ferving only the Paftes and Ointments to be
treated of by themfelves.

To make a Bait with Sheep' s-Blood you muft
dry it in the Air upon a Board or Trencher,
till it becomes pretty hard : Then cut it into
fmall Pieces, proportioned to the Size of the
Hook. Some add a little Salt to it, which
keeps it from growing black. This is a good
Bait for Chub, Roach, and Dace, if rightly
ordered.

When you ufe any Sort of Grain^ as IVheat
or Malt, boil it foft in Milk^ or, which is
liked better, in Sweet-wort, and peel off the
outward Rind, which is the Bran, It is then
fit for Ufe •, though fome afterwards, and in-
deed not without Reafon, fry it in Honey and
Milk^ or fleep it in fome flrong-fcented Oils, as
/iinber. Spike, Polypody, Ivy, Annife, turpen-
tine, or Oil of Peter. Grain is a good Bait,
either in Winter or Summer, for Chub, Roachy
Dace, and Bleak, That Fifh can fmell, few-
er none doubt ; but what Sort of Smells they
moft delight in, is the great Queftion, that is
not yet perfedly decided, nor can be any
otherways than by long Experience, and the
Trial of various odoriferous Oils.

The Ant-fly is mod plentiful in the End of
June, July^ Augu^i, and moft of Septefnber,
During that Seafon, go to the Ant-hills or
Mcle- bills ^ where they breed, and take a great
Handful of the Earth, with as much of the
Roots of the Grafs that grows on thofe Hil-
locks :

S4'ne B.RITISH ANGLER. P.I.

]ocks : Put all into a large Glafs Bottle^ and
then gather a great Quantity of the blackeft
Ant-flies, handling their Bodies and Wings
tenderly, as not in the lead to bruife them :
Put them into your Bottle (or into a Firkin^ if
you would keep them long) firft waflied with
Honey^ or Water and Honey, Thefe, in any
Stream and clear Water, are a mortal Bait
for Roach ^ Dace^ and Chub -, and you muft
angle with them under the Water, no lefs than
a Handful from the Bottom.

Take an Ant-fly or May-fly^ and fink him
with a little Lead to the Bottom, near the Piles
of a Bridge, Pofts of a Wier or Flood-gate,
or any other deep Place, where Roaches lie
quietly, and then pull your Fly up very lei-
furely, and ufually a Roach will follow your
Bait to the very Top of the Water, and gaze
on it there, and then run at it eagerly, left the
Fly efcape him. Perhaps any other Fly may
have the fame EfFedl, but 1 have tried only
thefe. The Ant-fly may be kept alive, as is
before direded, two or three Months, Ant-
flies are not always of the very fame Colour,
fome being Z'/^^/^i/^, oihQxsreddiJhy and others
of other Hues.

It will be no unpleafant DigrefTion in this
Place, to make a few Obfervations on that
fmally but naturally wife^ induftrious^ and po-
litick Creature, the Ant^ or Pifmire^ of which
our Ant-fly is bred. It is obferved to gather
its Food in Summer, in the Full, and to reft
in the New Moons. They live together like

Chap. 5. 5^Z^^ A P P A R A T U S. Ss

a Co7n7?ioriwealth, When they gather Grain,
they dry and bite it at both Ends, that it
may not grow. They wear away Stones by
their AfTiduity, and make beaten Roadways.
They help one another in drawing their Bur-
dens, damming out Water, and burying their
Dead. The Greater lead the Way, and the
LefTer drag the Corn : And, when dirty, they
cleanfe themfelves before they enter into their
Habitations. They teach the Young to labour,
but expel the Idle and Slothful : And when
they move their Scores, it is faid to be a Sign
of foul Weather. They caft up the Earth over
the Mouth of their Caves, that the Water may
not enter them. In thefe Habitations they have
three Cells ; in the one they live, in another
they breed and bury, and in the third they keep
their Corn. They generate in Winter, and
bring forth Eggs, which, in the Spring,
are Ants. When old, they grow winged, and
then fuddenly after die.

To angle with the young Brood of Wafps^
Hornets^ and HumUe-lees^ you mull dry them
on a Fire-fliovel or ^ile-ftone^ in an Oven that
has cooled after baking. To avoid their being
burned, lay them on a thin Board or Chip,, and
cover them with another, fo fupported as not to
crulh them. This Way they will keep long,
and ftick on the Hook well. If you boil them
a Minute or two in Water or Milk, they grow
black in three or four Days, but are good for
prefent Ufe. Thefe are fmgular good Baits
for Roach^ Dace^ Cbuh^ Ecl^ Bream^ Flounder-,

and

86 77^^BRITISH ANGLER. PJ.

and you may try them for Carp^ Tench^ Barbel
and Bleak^ which will feldom refufe them.
Some ufe Wafps^ Hornets^ and Humhle-hees^
when their Legs and Wings are a very little
grown forth, efpecially for the Chub,

According to an old Angler, the Sting
of Hornets ( which muft fometimes be
expeded) is cured by Venice Treacle taken
inwardly, and applying outwardly Cow-
Bung and Fafting Spittle, The Sting of
TVafps is worfe than that of Bees^ and is cured
by the Application of Cow-Dung mixed with
Barley-meal^ or Leaven mixed with 0/7 and Vi-
negar. The old Hornets and Wafps only can
fting, and frequently do fo when their Neils
are taken •, but t\\Q young Brood o^ them, which
are for the Baits^ are not capable to do any
Injury.

Salfnon-Spawn, a very good Bait for Chub, and
in fome Rivers for Grouts. The common Way
of ufmg it, is to take the Spawn, and boil it
fo hard as to ftick on the Hook, though fome
ufe it without boiling it at all. Others put a
good Quantity of Salt to their Spawn, and hang
it in a Linnen Bag, in the Kitchen, far from
the Fire, where it will become hard ; and then
they deep it the Night before it is ufed in fome
fpirituous Liquor. Some preferve Salmon
Spawn, by laying it upon TVool, in a Pot, one
Layer of Spawn and another of Wool, It is a
lovely Bait for the Winter and Spring, efpe-
cially if ufed where Salmons ufe to Ipawn •, for

thither

Chap. 5. Ihe A P P A R A T U S. 87
thither the Filh are gathered, and there ex«
pedl it.

The Mnnow^ Loach ^ and Bull-head^ are
Baits for the Pikey the Perch^ the C^^^, the
Eel^ and the ^r^^/ Trout. The 7>*i?/^/ takes
thefe Baits about a Foot within the Water,
and fometimes lower in the Deeps, in the
Day-time, in March^ Aprils and Septernher,
when the Wind is in the South, Weft, or
South-well, and blows ftrongly, curling the
Waters. In Summer Months, from the
Middle of April till the End of Auguft, he will
not take them in the Day-time, unlefs the
Weather be dark, and the Wind high and
bluftering ; and then you muft add fome Lead
to the Line, and fink thefe Baits to the Bot-
tom. But in the Night, at Night-Hooks, he
takes them freely from the Beginning of ykf^/*^/&
till Michaelmas, Pike, Perch^ and Cbuh^ will
take them either by Day or Night •, only the
Chub values them not fo much in the Day as
the Night, in the four hot Months of May,
June^ July^ ^nd Aug uff. But both P//^^, Perchy
Chub, Trout, and Eel, take them exceeding
well in the Night, at Night-Hooks, from the
Beginning of March till after Michaelmas.
Minnows of a middle Size, and whitifh, are
the beft. But though Minnows are good Baits,
yet Experience affures us, that a fmall Loach o^
Bull-head^ his Gill Fins being cut off, are
better than Minnows by many Degrees. When
you angle mthMinnoWyfmallLoach or Bull- head,

for

88 ri^^BRITISH ANGLER. P.I.

for ^rout^ be fure that the Bait turn quick,
and be always in Motion, and in a clear Water,
for which we fhall give Directions in its
proper Place.

Lamprey^ Pride, or Seven- Eyes y are like
fmall Eels, no thicker than a Straw, and may-
be found in fandy muddy Heaps, near the
Side of Rivers, almoftas eafily as Worms in a
Dunghill. They are good Baits, either by
Night or Day, for Chubs and Eels, and fo are
likewife the fmall Brood of Eels for Chubs.

Both the white and the black Snail, his Belly
being flit, that the white may appear, are good
Baits for the Chub, very early in the Morning ;
but in the Heat of the Day he cares not for
them. Trout s and Eels will likewife take them
at the Night-hook.

The Graf shopper is a Creature having no
Mouth, only a Pipe in the Breaft to fuck in
Dew, of which it is fuppofed to live. The
Antients ufed to eat them. There are two,
if not three Sorts of them, alike in Shape, but
differing in Colour : The one is green coloured,
the other dun, and the third of a yellowijJj
green on the Body. They are principally
found in green Meadows and Grafs ; and Fifh
take them bed in the latter End of June, all
July, and Auguji, The middle- fized are befl ;
but you mufl cut off their Legs and outward
Wings. For Trout or Grayling you may lead
your Hook on the Shank, with a Plate of Lead,
made narroweft and flendereft at the Bent of
the Hook, that the Bait may come over it ;

then

Chap, s, The AFF ARATVS. 89

then draw him over the Lead ; after put a lefler
Grafshopper or a Cod- hail on the Point, and
keep your Bait in continual Motion, lifting it
up, and finking it again. A Chub will like-
wife take this Bait very well.

There are fome Anglers who with good
Succefs ufc only the Tail, or half of the Grafs-
boppery putting on the Hook firfl a young
Beetle y or S ham-bud ^ which is found in a
Cow-turd of a Day or two old. If you take
off the higher and hard Wings, flie puts forth a
long Pair, coloured like thofe of the Pad- fly.
This, in a clofe Water, and which breeds a
large ^rout^ is as killing a Bait as any what-
ever : But it is not fo good in a fhallow,
very clear, and open River. You may dib
with a Grafshopper^ either for Chub or Trent,
The green Grafshopper is generally ufed.

The Hoiife-crickety a winged Infedt, like a
Grafshopper, that lives in Chimneys and warm
Places, and fings almoft continually, is faid
by fome to be a good Bait for Chubs, if you
dib with it, or permit it to fink within the
Water.

Water-cricket, Water-loufe^ or Creeper y
which are all one, are excellent good for a
Trout, in March and Aprils or fometimes in
May in fome Rivers. They are found under
Stones that lie hollow in the Water, and you
may fi(h with them within half a Foot or a
Foot of the Bottom. Others let their Bait drag
on the Ground ; and other good Anglers af-
firm, that if you dibble with it in the Streams

about

go ^/^(fBRITISH ANGLER. P.L

about Noon, on a Sun-fhiny Day, two or
three Hours in the Month of J^rf/, for Tronts^
it will prove a murdering Bait. *Tis always to
be ufed in a clear Water, and is to be found
only in very (lony Rivers, not in thofe that
calmly glide on Sand, and champaign Grounds.
Thefe Creepers always turn into Stone^fiies a-
bout May 'Bay.

Lip-herries^ Aron-berries^ or Berries of
Cuckow-Pints^ or JVake-RoUn^ Bare erries pro-
ceeding from the Herb AroUy and are ripe and
fit for Ufe in July and Auguff. They are of a
lovely tranfparent red, or Orange Colour.
They are good Baits for Roach and Cbub^ ef-
pecially the latter. Any Apothecary or Herb-
woman will fhew you the Herb in May^ and
you mud look for the Berries or Fruit in July
and Auguft, You may put four or five on the
Hook at a Time for the Chtih,.

Cherries^ Rasherrus^ Blackberries^ and MuU
berries, [are all Baits for Chubs, which will
take them bed in Ponds or Rivers where fuch
Trees grow near the Water, and fuch Fruit
frequently drop into them. Sometimes a Carp
will take them.

Oat-cake, or Cheefe, are good Baits to angle
with for Chub, Roach, Dace, and Barbel, when
you ufe a ledger Bait. Your Cheefe may be
kept a Day or two (if it be not new, which it
ought to be) in a wet Linnen Cloth, or fteeped
a little in Honey,

Whea

Chap. 5. The A? FAR ATVS. 91

When you would keep Bails for the Pike,
or Night-hooks^ fuch as fmall Roach^ Bace^
Giidgeon^ Bleak^ Loach ^ Sahnon- Smelt ^ Minnow^
Smelts fmall Trout^ fmall Ferch^ and fmall
Eels^ carry them in Wheat-hran^ which will
dry up the flimy Moifture that is on them, and
fo preferve them longer, and caule them to
ftick more firm on the Hook. Befides, there
is a green watery Humour that iflues out of
Fiili, which will infedt and rot them ; but the
Bran dries it up, and prevents that Mifchief.

Oak-fly^ A[h-fly^ ox Woodcock-fly^ an Infedb
called by allthefe Names in different Places, is
a very good Fly from the Beginning of May
till the End of Auguft, It is of a brownifli
Hue, and found on the Body of an Oak or
AJh, It flands frequently with the Head down-
wards, towards the Root of the Tree.
It is very proper for a Trout ; and the
Way to ufe it, is to put one on the
Hook length- ways, and fometimes two, or to
follow theDiredion for baiting \kit May-fly for
dibbing, which fee. If you put it on length-
ways, fix a Cod-bait at the Point of the Hook,
and let them fink fix Inches or a Foot into the
Water -, and then raife them again gently,
having a fliort dibbing Line, and it will prove
a flital Bait for a Trout in clear Water. Some-
times inftcad of a Cod-bait ufe an Oak-ivorm^
or green Gruby got ofi^of an Haw-thorn.

There are feveral Sorts of May-flies^ which
indeed are the Foundation of all Ply-Afrgling ;

but

92 TZ^^BRITISH ANGLER. P.I,

but thQ.Greeri'drake and Stone-fiy have the Pre-
heminence.

ThtGreen-drake is taken both in Streams and
ftill Waters, at all Hours of the Day, while
in Seafon -, the Stone-fly chiefly in the Morning
and Evening.

The Green-drake, when at full Maturity,
has high Wings, cjofed exadlly upon his Back,
like the Butter-fly, which he alfo refembles in
his Motion. His Body is yellow, fometimes
paler and fometimes darker, ribbed with Rows
of green, long and flender, and growing fharp
towards the Tail ; at the End of which he
hath three long fmall Whisks, of a very dark
Colour. This Tail turns up towards his Back,
like a Mallard's^ whence he has the Name of
Green-drake. He comes in ufually about the
Middle oi May, and is in Seafon till M^-
fumtner : Though his Time of coming in and
going out is fometimes fooner or later in diffe-
rent Years.

The Stone-fly lies under hollow Stones, at
the River-fide. His Body is long and pretty
thick, and almoft as broad at the Tail as in
the Middle. He is of a fine brown Colour,
ribbed with yellow, which predominates more
on his Belly than on his Back. He hath two
or three Whisks at the End of his Tail, and
two little Horns on his Head. His Wings,
when full-grown, are double, and flat down
his Back, near the fame Colour, but rather
darker^ than his Body. He feldom flies, but

often

Chap. 5. 7^^ A P PA R AT US. ^^

often fwims and paddles with feveral Feet he
has under his BelJy : Whereas the Drake will
mount very high in the Air.

The Stone-fly comes in Seafon about the
Middle o^ April, and continues till Midfummer
or the End o^ June. He is more proper for
Streams than flill Waters, except when there
is a brisk Wind. You may angle with him
within Water, at Bottom, or near it ; or at
Mid- water,, if you pull off his Wings ; and he
is fometimes bed taken in this Manner.

The yellow Mayfly and Gray-drake are
fhaped like the Green-drake, and the Camhlet-
fly refembles a Moth. They are all good in
the fame Seafon.

The Hawthorn fly is black, and to he found
on every//^^e;/^or;^-bu[h, foon after the Leaves
are fprung forth. Jt is ufed for dibbing in
fome Rivers for Trouts,

If you pull out the Eyes of thofe Fifli you
catch, and put them on the Hook, they are
an excellent Bait for mofl Sorts of Fifh ; The
like is remarked o^ Fifi- Livers,

The yellowifh bright Frogs that are found
in June and July, in green Meadows, are good
Baits for Chubs, Pikes^ and Perches. Put your
Hook through the Skin of the Leg, towards
the upper Part of it. Ufe a fmall Frog for
Perch and Chub,

T\it great Moth has a very large Head,
not unlike to an Owl, with v/hitifh Wings,
and a yellowifh Body. You may find them

flying

94 ir7^^ BRITISH ANGLER. P.I.

flying out in Summer Evenings, in Gardens,
when fome Wind is ftirring. This Fly the
Chub delights in very much, and you are to
dibble with it.

Fat Bacon is affirm'd by fome to be a very
good Bait for Chub and Pike^ at Snap efpeci-
ally, in the Winter Months, that is, from the
End di Augiift^ till the Beginning of y//jn7.

The Earwig is a good Bait for Salmon Smelts,
They are to be got by laying a white Linnen
Cloth, or a Cow's Hoof, in a Garden Hedge,
a Night or two : Ufe them within the Water,
near the Bottom.

The black Bee is a great black Infed, that
breeds in Clay Walls, and is good for
the Chub, Some cut off his Legs and upper
Wings.

Fern-fly^' or Fern-bud^ is a thick fhortFly,
to be found on Fern, from about May-day^
till the End o{ Augufi^ or later. This Fly
hath a thick Ihort Body, and two Pair of
Wings ; the uppermoft are hard and red on
one Side ; but the undermoft are tender, dia-
phanous, and blackilh. We often take off
the uppermoft Wings, and dibble with this
Fly. A Trout will take it about ten Days to-
gether, in fome Part of May \ but the Chub
takes them all the Summer.

Pith, or Marrow^ in an 0;^*, Cow,, Calf^ or
Sheep^ sBack'boneAS\\^t(\ by fomeAnglers. They
advife you to be very tender in taking off the
tough outward Skin of that in an Ox or Cow's
Back-bone, but to be fure you leave the inward

white

Chap. 5. 57j^ A P P A R A T U S. 55

white Skin fafe and untouched, or your Labour
is loft. This, they affirm, is an excellent Bait
for a Chub all the Winter long : And fo is the
Brains of an Ox or Cow, either for Winter or
Summer. The aforefaid Pith is alfo a good Bait
for Eels at Night Hook.

Fifh take all Sorts of Baits moft eagerly
and freely, and with the leaft Sufpicion, when
you prefent them in fuch Order and Manner as
Nature affords them, or as theFifh themfelves
ufually take them. Some are peculiar to cer-
tain Countries and Rivers, of which every An-
gler may in his own Place make his proper
Obfervation. Several of the foregoing Baits
will be taken in fome particular Rivers, and
not in others 5 and the fame Baits are taken
earlier in fome Rivers than others, andfooner
or later in fome Years than others, according to
the Quality andScafon of the Year. Ground-
baits in general are indeed ufeful and certain al-
moft in every River •, but it is otherwife with
the Fl}\ which varies in Colour, Kind, Shape,
or Proportion, almoft in every River, nay,
in the very fame River, at five or fix Miles dif-
tance.

In the River 2l?^w<f J Anglers for Roach ufc
a Perriwinkle^ which they gather in Shells.
They break the Shells, and take the Perri win-
kle whole. Shrimps taken out of the Shell are
good Baits for Pike and Chub. The white
^//7^ with much Seed, by fome called /f//-
Seedy is a very acceptable Bait to Fifh, fay
fcnae Authors.

Let

g6 r/je BRITISH ANGLER. P. I.

Let all the Baits for the Pike be alive the
fame Morning you ufe them ; for, if they are
ftale, and not fweet, he refufes them.

1 have done with this Chapter, after giving
in Verfe one general Rule for the baiting with
Natural Flies,

io fifh with nat'ral Flies whenever you chufe^

Ohferve the Seafon^ and provide for tffe :
Ohferve the Filh, as round for Prey they rove^
And take your Baits where hefi they fe em to love.
For fear ch all Nature^ and this 'Truth youHV

find^
Variety, that Miftrefs of Mankind^
Is 7i0t to species, nor to Sex confin\i,

CHAP. VI.

Of Pajles and Unguents,

PA S T E S are a Species of artificial Baits,
to be angled with at Ground or within
the Water. There are, or may be, as many
diftindl Sorts of them as the Luxuriancy of e-
very Fancy will fuggeft •, but the fubfequent
are in the higheft Efleem.

Take Bean-flour^ or, if that be not to be
got. Wheat-flour^ and the [tendered Part of
the Leg of a young RMet, Whelp, or Kitten ;
as much Virgins-Wax and Sheep-Suet: Beat
them in a Mortar till they are perfedly incor-
porated ; then, with a little clarified Honey,
temper them before the Fire into a Pafle.

Some

Chap. 6. t;3^ A PPARATUS. 97

Some omit the Bean and IFhe at -flour ^ others
the Virgins-wa^ and Sheep Suet y only when
they ufe it for Carps.

With Crumbs of White-hread and Honey a-
lone, you may make, with clean Hands, a
Pafte for Carp and T>;/<r^.

And of the fame Crumbs with only a little
Water, you may make a Pafte for Roach and

For Barbel in Auguft^ beat Mutton Kidney
Suet and foft new C^^^/^- into a P^^.

Take the ftrongeft Cy^^^f/? pounded in a Mor-
tar, with fo much Butter and Saffron^ as be-
ing beaten fmall will turn it to a Lemon Co-
lour, and make a Pafte for Chubs in the
Winter.

Take iS'^d'^/j Bloody Cheefe^ fine ^Fbite^hread
and clarified Honey : Make all into a P^/?(?.

Take Cherries without Stones, Sheeps Bloody
fint Bread, and Saffron to colour it with, and
make a P/t/?^.

Take fat old Cheefe, ftrong Rennet, Mut-
ton Kidney Suet^ Wheat -flour, and Annifeed-
water \ beat them all into a P^y?^. If it be for
Chub^ add fome roafted Bacon.

Take the fatteft old Cheefe^ the ftrongeft
Rennet, Mutton Kidney Siiet^ and Turmerick
reduced into a fine Powder ; v/ork all into a
P^^/d*. Add the Turmerick only till the P^^
become of a very fine yellow Colour. This
is excellent for Chub^ as are alio the two fol-
lowing.

F Take

9? The BRITISH ANGLER.P.L

Take fome of the oldeji and ftrongeft Chejhtrs
Cheefe you can get, the Crumb of a fine Man-
chet^ or French Roll^ and fome Sheep* s Kidney
Suet : Put thefe in a Mortar, and beat them
into a Pafle, adding as much clarified Honey
as will be fufficient to fweeten it.

Take a few Shrimps or Prawns, pull off
thtir Shells ^nd Skins, and beat the clear Meat
in a Mortar, with a little Honey, till it becomes
a P^?^. When you bait with a Piece of
this, let the Point of the Hook be but lightly
covered.

Take ?int Flour znd BuUer, v/ith Saffron
to colour it, and make a Pafle for Roach and
Dace.

But among all the Variety of Pajles, there
is none fo often ufed as that fimple and plain
one made with White-lread and Milk, which
requires only clean Hands.

The following Ohfervations concerning
Paftes, may be of Ufe to a young Angler, be-
ing all founded on Experience.

In September, and all the Winter Months,
when you angle for Chub, Carp, and Bream
with Pofte, \t\. the Bait be as big as a large
Hazle-fiut, : But for Roach and JDace^ the
Bignefs of an ordinary Bean is fufficient.

You may add to any Pafte, Affa-fcct'ida,
Oil of PoUpody of the Oak^ Oil of Ivy, Oil of
Peter, Gum Ivy, and many other Things,
which fometimes wonderfully increafe your
Sport,

Into

Chap. 6. T/3^ A P P A R A T U S. pp

Into all Sorts of Pajles whatfoever, beat a
little Cotton-fFooll, Jbaved Ltnt, or Jine Flax^
which will make it//V^ well on the Hook, and
not eafily walh off : And if you would have
the Pafle keep long, put Firgins Wax and
clarified Honey into it.

When you angle with Pafte^ or any tender
Bait^ have difmall Hook^ a quick Eye, 2i fiim-
hie Hand and Rod, and the latter pretty /i/f
too, or both Bait and Fijh are in danger to
be loft. You muft firike at the vtry firfi
1'i7?ie you perceive them bite or nibble, Paftes
are to be ufed in Pits^ Ponds, Mears, or flow
running Rivers only. ]<^ote, this Rule is
general, and holds in all very tender Baits.

When you angle with Pafte, or any very
tender Bait, ufe a Float of ^dll, rather than
of Cork ', becaufe Cork will not fo eafily
dip under Water, nor the Bite fo foon be pre-
ceived.

Paftes are very good Baits for Chi^, Roach^
Dace, Barbel^ Carp, Tench, Bream, and
Bleak, When you would have your Paftes
o^z yellow Colour, always mix into it a little
Turmerick ; but when you defire it of a Flejh-
Colour, tincture it with a little of the beft
Vermilion,

^ As to Ointments or Unguents, many inge-
nious Anglers efteem them fo, for the effedlual
Furtherance of this Sport, that they affirm
they will not only ^//.^/r^ but even compel Fidi
to bite. For my own Part, I honeftly cop-
fefs, that though I have found them in fome
F 2 mea-

lOo The BRITISH ANGLER. P.I.

meafure advantageous to my Recreation, yet
far from fo high a Degree, as has been pre-
tended. However it is worth every Sportf-
man's while to be acquainted with fome of
them, that if they are willing to be at the Ex-
pence and Labour of a Trial, they may fe-
ledl thofe for their daily Ufe, which on Ex-
perience they fhall find to be the beft. One
or two of thofe that are mofl highly com-
mended, would, I own, be more pleafing to
me, were they more fimple, and lefs fuperfU-
tioufly compounded : In particular this by
Monfieur Char r as. Apothecary Royal to the
late French King, Lewis the Fourteenth.

Take Man's Fal 3.nd Cat's Fat, of each half
an Ounce •, Mum7ny finely powder'd, three
Drams j Cummin-feed finely powdered, one
Dram ; diftilled Oil of Jntfe and Spike, of
each fix Drops ; Civet ^ two Grains *, and Cain-
fhire^ four Grains : Make an Ointment accord-
ing to Art. When you angle with this, anoint
eight Inches of the Line next the Hook,
Keep it in a Pewter-Box^ made fomething ta-
per : And, when you ufe it, never angle with
lefs than two or three Hairs next the Hook •,
becaufe if you angle with one Hair, it will not
Hick fo well to the Line. If you mix fome
of this Ointment with a little Venice ^urp eyitine ,
it will flick the fader \ but clog not your Line
with too much on at a Time.

T'dk.tGum-Ivy, and put a good Quantity
of it into a 5(?;^ made o^ Oak, like thofe the
Apothecaries ufe of white Wood for their Pills.

Rub

Chap.6. Tbe AFPARATUS loi

Rub the Infide of the Box with this Gum,
and when you angle, put three or four Worms
therein, letting them remain but a fhort Time :
for if long it kills them : Th^n take them
out, and ufe them, putting more in their
^tead, out of the IVonn-hag and Mofi j and
continue to do this all Day.

Gum- Ivy is a Tear which drops from the
iiodyof the larger /z;y, being wounded. It
IS of a yellowiili red Colour, of a flrong Scent
and Iharp Tajle. That which is fold in the
^lops ]3 often Counterfeit and AduUerate :
1 herefore, to get true Gumlv^^^ at MkhaeU
j;;^j or Spring, drive feveral great A^-./z/j into
large Ivy Stalks, and having wriggled them
till they become very ioofe, let them remain,
and a Gum wiil iffue out of the Hole. Or you
may flic feveral great Ivy Stalks, and vific
them once a Month, or oftner, to fee what
Gum flows from the wounded Part. Th^s
Gum IS excellent for the Angler's Ufe • per-
haps nothing more fo under the Form' of an
Unguent,

Take AJfa-fcEtida, half an Ounce; Com^
phre two Drams ; bruife them well together
with fome Drops of Oil ofOHve, and pu" it in
a Pewter-hox, to ufe as the Receipt from Mon -
fieur Cbarras. Some, inftead of Oil of Olive,
ufe theChymicalO/Z./Z^z;.;,^,. and Caml
mle •, and fonie add the Qtiantity of a Nut-
meg o^^emce Turpentine to it. But for a Trout
m a muddy Water, and for Gudgeons in a

3 clear

T02 ^f BRITISH ANGLER. P.I,

clear Water, the beft Unguent is thus com-
pounded, vtz»

Take Affa-ftBtida^ three Drams ; Camphire^
one Dram \ Venice Turpentine^ one Dram •,
beat all together with fome Drops of the Chy-
mical Oih cf Lavender 2ind Camomile^ of each
an equal Quantity j and ufe it as in the firfl
Direction.

Campbire is a refinous Gum^ partly flowing
of its own accord, but chiefiy by Incifion,
from a tall Tree growing in /;/J/(^. ThQ^Bor-
;/^<^;/ Camphire is bed. Chufe that which is
while and clear Yike Qry^dX^ ftrong fcented^ will
eafily rr^;;z^/V between the Fingers, and being
fired will fcarcely be quenched. There is a
counterfeit or faoiitious Sort, that put into a hot
Loaf will parch ; but the true will melt. Ic
will keep many Years in Flax-feed^ if it be not
expofcd to the Air ; otherwife it will evaporate
and confume to nothing.

Jljjh'fcetidagx'owi in Media^Lyhia^ and Syria^
and is a gummy Juice of Lafer^ Laferpitiiim^
or Sylphion^ gathered from the Root or Stalk
cut open. Chufe that which is piire^ fine^
claynmyy "^Vi^ fmclling ?\v{\QiftX\)Lt Garlick, It
will keep good many Years, but ic is often
counterfeited or adulterated^ by mixing Meal^
Bran^ and the Gum Sagapennm together.

Take Venice Turpentine^ the beft Hive -ho-
ney^ and Oil of Polype dy of the Oak, drawn
by Retort ; mix all together, and ufe it as th^
firfl Ointment,

Take

Ghap. 6. 51^^ A P P A R A T U S. loj

Take Oil of Ivy-berries ^ mad* by Expref-
fion or Infufion^ and put fome in a Eox^ and
ufe it as is direded for the Gum-Ivy in the fe-
cond Receipt".

Difiblve Gum-Ivy in the Oil of Spike ^ and
anoint the Bait with it. Mr. IValton preicribes
this for a Pike.

Pat Camphire in the Mcfs^ wherein are your
Worms, the Day you angle.

Diilblve two Ounces of Gum^Ivy in a Gill
of Spring-water \ mix them together with the
like Quantity of the Oil of Sweet Almonds \ then
take what Quantity of Worms you intend to
ufe that Day, being firfl well fcoured in Mofs^
and put them in Lirmen "Thrums (the Ends of
the Weaver's /Fixrp when he has finifhed his
Piece) well waflied in Spring-water, and
fqueezed : Then wet the Thrums in this Com-
pofition, and put them and the Worms in a
Linnen-hag^ out of which ufe them.

Take Affa-fcetida^ three Drams ; Spikenard
of Spain y one Dram : Put them in a Pint of
Spring- water ^ and let them ftand in a iliady
Place fourteen Days in the Ground : Then
take the Solution out, and having drained it
thro' a Linnen Cloth, put to the Liquor one
DTcim of Sperma Ceti, and keep it clofe in a
Urong Glafs-bot tie. When you go to angle,
take what Quantity offVorms you intend to
ufe that Day, (they being firft well fcoured in
Mofs) put them upon a Pewter Saucer^ and
pour a little of this Water upon them •, then put
them in the Mofs again, and ufe them.

F 4 Take

104 "^e BRITISH ANGLER. P.L

Take Juice of Camomile, half a Spoonful ;
Chymical Oil of Spike, one Dram ; Oil of Com-
frey by InfufionjOne Dram and an half; Goofe-
greafe, two Drams : Thefe being well ^ilTolv-
cd over the Fire, let th^milatid till they are
cold •, then put them in a flrong Glafs-botde,
which keep unftopped three or four Days ;
Stop it afterwards very well^ and when you
angle, anoint the Bait with this Compofition.

6ome add to it three Drams of the Spirit of
Vitriol^ and call it the univerfal and infallible
Bait.

Take a Handful of Houfelesk, and half a
Handful o^ inner green Bark of the Ivy Stalk :
Pound thefe well together, and prefs out the
Juice, and wet your Mofs therewith. When
you angle, put fix or eight Worms therein out
of the other Bag.

Some ufe the Juice of Nettles and Houfeleek
?.s the lafl Receipt, and fome only the Juice of
Houfeleek.

Some anoint their Bait with the Marrow
got out of a HerorHs nigh-hone \ and fome ufe
the FoA and Greafe of a Heron*

Some advife to take the Bones or Scull of a
dead Man, at the Opening of a Grave, and
beat them into Powder^ and to put of this
Powder into the Mofs wherein you keep your
Worins \ but others like the Grave Earth as
well, and perhaps both may be as well let
alone.

Take of Man's Fat, Cat's Fat, Heron's Fat,
and of the b^i^Jfa-fc^tida, of each two Drams ;

Mum--

Chap. <J. r^^ APPARATUS. 105

Mummy finely powdered, two Drams *, Cum-
f»/«-y?^J finely powdered, two Scruples; Cam-
phi?€^ Galbanum^ and Venice ^urpenme, of each
one Dram; C/x'^/, two Grains : Make them, all
according to Art, into an indifferent thin Oint-
menty with the Chymical Oils of Lavender^ An-
nife and Camomile^ of each an equal Quantity,
Keep this Ointment in a narrow-mouthed and
well-glazed Gaily -pot ^ clofe covered with a
Bladder and Leather •, and when you go to an-
gle, take fome of it in a fmall Pewter-bo^^y
made taper, and anoint eight Inches of the
Line next the Hook therewith, repeating it
as often as wafh'd ofi.

This Ointment y which, for its Excellency,
fome call Unguentmn Pifcatortim mirabile^ pro-
digioutly caufes Fifh to bite, if in the Hand of
an y^rtifr that angles within Water, and at pro-
per Izmes^ and with fuitable Tackle and BaitSj
fit for the River^ Scafon, and Fijh he defigns
to catch. The Man's Fat you may get of a-
ny Surgeons who are concerned in Anatomy ^
and the Heror^s Fat from the Poulterers In
London : The reft of the Drugs are to be had
from the Druggifts or Apothecaries, And this
Compofition will ferve you for two or three
Summer's Angling,

All Arts, (^//Shapes, the wiley Angler tries.

To cloak his Frauds and tempt iheVinny Prize:

Their Sight, their Smell, he carefully explores^

And blends the DruggiiPs and the Chy milt's

Stores \

icSThe BRITISH ANGLER. P.I;

Devifingftill^ with Fancy ever new^
Faftes, Oils, and Unguents, of each Scent
and Hue.

CHAP. VII.

Of Artificial^ or Duh- flies.

According to Mr. Walton^ (whofe Cata-
logue, though often copied, has never,
that I know of, been mended, for the Length
of it ) there are twelve Kinds of Artificial
Flies made to angle with upon the Water.
The fitteft Seafon, fays he, of ufmg thefe, is
in a bluftering windy Day, when the Waters
are fo troubled that the natural Fly cannot be
feen, or reft upon them.

The firft is the Bu?pfly^ in March^ whofe
Body is made of Dun-woolly and the Wings of
the Patridge'*s Feathers.

The fecond is another Dun-fly \ the Body
made of Black-vjooll, and the Wings of the
black Drake's Feathers, and of the Feathers
tjnder his Tail.

The third is the Stone-fly in Jpril ; the Body
of Mack Wocll made yellow under the Wings,
and under the Tail, and fo finifhed with
Wings of the Drake,

The fourth is th^ruddy^Fly in the Beginning
o^ May ', the Body made of red Wooll wrapt
about with black Silk, and. the Wings of the
Feathers of the Drake^ with thofe of a red Ca-

pny

Chap. 7. r^^ A P P A R A T U S. 107

pn^ which hang dangling on his Sides nexc
to the Tail.

The fifth is the yellow or gremfi Fly^ inMay
likewife, whofe Body is m3,dQoi yellow Woolly
and the Wings of the red Cock's Hackle or Tail.

The fixth is the Black- fly y in May alfo ; the
Body made of black Woolly and lapped about
with the Herl of a Peacock\ Tail •, the Wings
made of the Wings of a brown Capn with tte
blue Feathers in his Head.

The feventh is tht fad yellowFly in June", the
Body made of bla,ckWoolU with zyellozv Lift on
either Side, and the Wings taken off the
Wrings of a Buzzard, bound with black He?nf.

The eighth is the rnoorijh Fly, made, the
Body o^ duskijh U^ooll, and the Wings of the
hlackijh Mail of the Brake, ^

The ninth is the tawny Fly, good until the
middle of Junes the Body made of tawney
IVoolly the Wings placed contrary againft onea-
nother^ made of xhttvhitifb Mail o[ tlKwildDrake.

The tenth is the ^i^ajb-fly in July ; the Body
made*of ^/<:z^i^ IFool, lapped about yf/'ith yellow
Silk ; the Wings made of the JFeathers of the
Drake^ or of the Buzzard.

The Eleventh is xhtS bell- fly, good in the Mid-
dle of \July\ the Body made of greeniflo Woolly
bpped about with the Herl Qi{ iP eacocl^ ^Tz\\ \-
and the Wings made of theWingsofa Buzzard,

The twelfth is the dark Drake-fly, good in
AiiguH ', the Body made with black JVooll, lap-
ped about with hlackSiik -, his Wings made with
the Mali^ of the black Drake^ with a black
Head. Thu^

JOB 5'i?.-BRITISH ANGLER. P. I.

*' Thus, fays that facetious and ingenious
Angler, have you a Jury of Flies, likely to
betray and condemn all the Trouts in the
River."

His general Dire6]:ions for Fly- Angling are,
that your Rod be light and very gentle, con-
fiding of feveral Pieces. Your Line, efpe-
cially for three or four Links next to the Hook,
Ihould not exceed three or four Hairs at the
mod, though you ought to fifh with it gradu-
ally flronger above, in the upper Part of your
Line : But when you can attain to angle with
one Hair, you will have more Rifes, and catch
more Fijh, Never encumber yourfelf with too
long a. Liney as moft do: And before you
begin to angle, obferve to have the Wind on
your Back, and the Stin, if it fhines, to be
before you, and to fifh down the Stream.
Carry the Point or Top of your Rod down-
ward, by which Means the Shadow of yourfelf
and Rod will be leafl ofFenfive to the Fiih, for
the Sight of any Shade amazes them, and fpoils
your Sport, of which you muft take the uf moft
Care.

In the Middle of March, (before which
Time a Man fhould not in Honefty catch a
^rout)^ or in April, if the Weather be dark,
or a little windy or cloudy y the befh Fifhing is
with the Palmer^fly, of the natural Sorts of
which I have already fpoken. But of thefe
there are alfo artificial Kinds of divers Colours.
The Palmer-fly and the Mayfly^ it has been

obferved.

Chap. 6. 7)b^ APPARATUS. 109

oblerved, are the Ground of all Fly- Angling,
The former are to be thus made.

You mud arm your Hook with the Line in
the Infide of it ; firil whipping your Silk two
or three Times about the bare Hook : Then
take your Sciffars^ and cut fo much of a brown
Mallard's Feather as in your own Judgment
will make the Wings of it ^ having regard
to the Bignefs or Smallnefs of your Hook :
Then lay the outmoft Part of your Feather
next to your Hook, and the Point of your Fea-
ther next the Shank of your Hook ; and hav-
ing fo done, whip it three or four Times about
the Hook with the lame Silk, with which your
Hook was armed, and having made the Silk
fad, take the Hackle of a Cock or Capon's
Neck, or a Plover's Top, which is ufually
better ; ftrip^ off one Side of the Feather,
and then take the Hackle^ Silk, or Crewel,
Gold or Silver Thready and naake thefe tall at
the Bent of the Hook, that is, below your
Arming. You mufl take the Hackle, the
/liver or gold Thread, and work it up to the
Wings, fhifting or flill removing your Finger,
as you turn the Silk about the Hook : And
ftill looking, ateveryTurn, that your Gold, or
what Materials foever you make your Fly of,
lies right and neatly, which if you find they
do, when you have made the Head, faften all,
and then work yowr Hackle up to the Head,
and make thatfaft alfo : Then with a Needle
or Pin divide the Wing into two, and with the
arming Silk whip it about crofs-ways betwixt

tlie

no TheBRlTlSH ANGLER.P.I.

the Wings *, and laftly, you mud with your
Thumb turn the Point of the Feather towards
the Bent of the Hook •, then, having viewed
the Proportion, if all be neat, faften, and you
have done •, or trim off the Superfluities with
your Sciffars.

It is in reality true, what Mr. TValton fays,
that no Diredions can be given to teach a Man
of a dull Capacity to make a i7>'well : And
yet, even thefe Diredlions, with a little Prac-
tice, will help an ingenious Angler in a great
Degree. But to fee a Fly made by an Artjfl,
is the beft Inllrudlion ; after which the Angler
may walk by the River, and mark what
Flies fall on the Water that Day, and catch
one of them, if he fee the Tr<?///j leap at a i^/y
of that Kind ; And then, having always
Hooks ready hung with him, and alio a Bag
with Bears Hair^ the Hair of a brown or fad-
coloured Heifer^ Hackles of a Cock or Capon^
feveral Colours of Silk and Crewel to make the
Body of thf Fly^ and Feathers of 3, Drake' i
Head^ black or brown Sheep's JVoolU or hlog^s
WoolU or Hair, Threads of Geld and of Sihcr^
and likevvife other coloured Feathers, both of
littl? Birds 3iud fpeckled Fowl -, having thefe, I
fay, with him in a Bag, let him try to make a
Fly^ and though he mifs at flrft, yet with a
little Pradlice he will hit it better, and even
to great Perfedlion. When he can once make
his Fly right, and have the Luck to light where
there is Store of Trout s, a dark Day, and a
right Wind, he will catch fuch Qiiarstities

ot

Chap. 7. ^^ A PPA R ATUS. irir

of them, as will encourage him to grow more
and more in Love with the Art of F/jy-;;?^^/?/^.
Obferve then, for a May-fly, that you make
his Body withgreenifh or willowifh coloured
Crewel, darkening it in mod Places with
waxed Silk, or ribbing it with black Hair,
and fome of them with filver Thread. The
Wings, for the Colour, mud be fuch as you
fee the Fly to have at that Seafon, and even
at that very Day, on the Water.

You may make the Oak-fly with an O-
range-tawny and black Ground, and the
Brown of a Mallard's Feather for the Wings.
Several Sorts of the Palmer flies are com-
mended, not only thofe ribbed with Silver
and Gold, but others that have their Bodies
all made of b|ack, or fome with red, and a
red Hackle.

You may alfo make thtHawthornfly, which
is all black, and not big, but the fmaller the
better; or a Fly with zPeacock's Feather, which
is excellent in a bright Day.

Be fure you want not, in yom Magazine- hag ^
the Peacock's Feather, and Grounds of fuch
Wooll and Crewel as will make the Gr a/shop-
fer. And obferve, that ufually the fmalleft
Flies are the bed. Alfo, that the light Fly ufu-
ally makes the mod Sport in a dark Day, and
the darkeft and leaft Fly in a bright Day. But
whatever the Day may be, you are to repair
upon any Occafion to your Magazine-bag, and
make your Flies lighter or /adder according
to your Fancy or the Weather.

In

ua 77^^ BRITISH ANGLER. P.L

In a Word, as the great Difficulty is to ob-
tain the Colour of the Fly which the Fifh take
at the Inftant of your Angling, it is impoffi-
ble to give any certain Diredions on that
Head ; becaufe feveral Rivers and Soils are
haunted by peculiar Sorts of Flies, and the
Flies that comes ufually in fuch a Month of
the Year, may the fucceeding Year come al-
moft a Month fooner or later, as the Seafon
proves colder or hotter.

Tho' fometimes Fip change their Fly once
or twice in one Day, yet ufually they feek not
for another Sort, till they have for fome
Days glutted themfelves with a former, which
is commonly when thofe Flies are near Death,
and ready to go out.

Having mentioned the Angler's Magazine-
hag^ with a Word or two of its Furniture, I
Ihall here fet down more at large the Particu-
lars of what may be ufcful on thefe Occafions,
of which the diligent Angler will know how
to make his Advantage.

I. Bears Hair of diverfe Colours and
Shades; as gray, dun, light coloured, fiid
coloured, bright lliining, and bright brown.
2, Camels Hair, fad, light, and of a middle
Colour. 3. Badgers Hair, or the brownilh
loft Fur, which is on fome Part of the Badg-
er's Skin, after it is in the Skinners Lime-pits.
4. Spaniels foft Fur and Hair, from divers
Parts of the Body, and of various Colours,
as particularly all Sorts of Browns and
Blacks. J. Procure froin the Butchers,

■ or

€hap,6. r/^^ APPARATUS. 113

or others, black, red, whitilh, and fanded Hog's
Down^ fuch as is combed from the Roots of
t\\t Hair, or Bridles of Hogs of thofe Colours.
And you may get white Hogs Down dyed of
any Colour you judge convenient, becaufe It
both fhines well, and is ftiff and lively. 6.
Sbeeps JVooll of all Colours, both natural and
artificial. 7. Mohairs of all Colours, efpeci-
ally black, blue, purple, white, violet, Ifa-
bella and Philomot Colours, yellow and taw-
ny, 8. Get Hairs and Furs from the P'Janks
and other foft Parts of a hlack Cotu, red Cozt'^
znd br ended Cow, and of thefe have brown,
fad brown, light brown, and perfect black,
p. Get Pieces of Camlets, both Hair and Wor-
Ited, of all Colours you can. 10. You may
get moil excellent Dubbing from Cajllin^ Skins
of Calves and Colts, and feveral Colours and
Shades oH' one Skin. ii. Furs of Squirrels,
and Squirrels-Tail, black Cat's-Tail, yellow
dun Cat, Hare's Neck, white Weafel's-Tail,
Mole, Rabbit, Down of a Fox Cub afh-co-
louredat the Roots, Fur of an old Fox, Fur
of an old Otter, Fur of an Otter Cub, Hair of
a Badger's Skin that has been ina Lime Pit,
Marterns yellow Fur, Ferret's Fur, &c. 13.
Hackles (which are Feathers about aCb^/^or
Capo-iUs Neck, and fuch as hang down on each
Side next their Tail) of all Colours, as the
red, dun, yellowifh, white Orange-coloured,
and perfecft black. Thefe are of efpeciaJ Ufe
to v\\^V.^l\\t Palmer-fly . 13. Feathers of all
Sort of Fowls, and of all Colours*, as Fea-
thers

ii4 5l^^BRITISH ANGLER. P.I,

thers on the Back, and other Parts of the wild
Mallard or Drake -, Feathers of a Partridge,
of a brown Hen, of a Hhrofile-wing^ thofe got
from the Quills in the Wings of iS/^^^^^rfj,
Ssares or Starlings, Feldfares and Throftles \
t\\t Peacock^ s Herle ; Feathers of 2i Heron's
Neck ; the Top or Cop of a Plover or Lap-
wing, which will make the black Gnat •, the
black Feather of an Oftrich, and thofe of va-
rious dyed^Colours, which Children and others
wear in Caps ; Feathers from Quills in a
Blackbird's Wing and Tail *, the black Down
of a Heater-coot, and, in a Word, Feathers
of any other Colours and, Birds. 14. Silk of
all Colours, fmall, but very ftrong. 15. "Twift
and Wire, both of Gold and Silver. 16.
A Pair of Sci£'ars, 17. IVa^c of divers Co-
lours.

The Diredlions already given for the Pal-
mer-fly will teach the Ufe of thefe Materials on
every Ocaafion : The Learner will obferve on-
ly in general, that in making any Fly, he is
Firft, Toholdfaft his Hook and Line: 6"^-
condly. To make two or three Whips about
the bare Hook : 'Thirdly, To join the Hook
and Line : Fourthly, To put on the Wings :
Fifthly^ To twirl and lap on the Dubbing :
Sixthly, To work it up towards the Head :
Seventhly, To part the Wings : Eighthly^ To
nip off the fuperfluous Dubbing from the
Silk: Ninthly, To fallen : ^enthly. To trim
and adjuft the Fly. I fhall now add a few o-
chcr general Inftrudions.

I. In

Ghap. 7. r/^^ A P P A R A T U S. 115

1. In making Artifieial Dub-files^ chiefly
obferve and imitate the Belly of the Fly \ for
that the Filli moft take notice of, as being
moft in their Sight : And let the Wings of the
Fly always be of an equal Length, tVi^ it will
not fwim right and true.

2. When you try how to fit the Colour of
the Fly, wet the Dubbing, left you be mifla-
ken •, for tho', when dry, they exadly fuit the
Colour of the Fly, yet the Water alters moll
Colours.

3. Always make your Dub-flies on a Sun-
fhiny Day: And to know the exact Colour
of your Dubbing, hold it betwixt your Eye and
the Sun.

4. Never let the Tail of your Dub-fly de-
fcend lower than till you come to the Bend of
the Hook, and not into the Bent itfclf, as fome
pra6life.

5. W^hen Trouts often fhew themfelyes at
your Fly, and yet do not take it, be afTured
rhat either the Day or Water is improper for
Fly-i\.ngling; or, which is fiir more probable,
that your Dub-fly is not of the right Colour
and Shape they then covet.

6. Tho' fome always dub with Silk of the
moft predominant Colour of the Fly ; yet o-
ther good Anglers dub Duns with yellow,
and Browns with red Silk, and in Sepemher
with violet-coloured.

7. Flies made of the Hairs of Bears, Hogs,
Squirrels Tail, Camels, Dogs, Foxes, Bad-
gers,

n6 ^^BRITISH ANGLER. P.I.

gers, Otters, Ferrets, Cows, Calves Skins, &fr.
are more natural, lively, and keep Colour
better in the Water, than Flies made of Crew-
els and Worfled StufFs, unlefs you mingle
Plair therewith.

8. The Feather got from the Quill of a
Shepftare^ Stare^ or Starling's Wings, is the
befl Feather generally to ufe for Dub-fly Wings.
Next are the Feathers got from the Quills of
Tbroftles^ Field-fares^ Black-hirdsy and thole
from the Back of the wild Mallard or Brake,
Thefe latter are ufed by fome for moft Sort of
Flies, U you defire a black Wing, ufe the
Feather of a Black-bird ; if a red Wing, Fea-
thers out of a Partridge's Tail •, if a brown
Wing, Feathers of the 'rioroftle •, if a greeni/h
Wing, Feathers from a Lapwing, or Plover :
But many ufe only the Feathers of Shepjlure
Quills, for almoft all Sort of Flies^ and fay
they afford great Variety of Shades.

9. The Palmer-fiy^ Gold-hackle^ Silver-
hackle^ Great-dun, Dark-brown, Early-bright^
brown. Latter-bright-brown, Little-whirfTing^
dun^ Thorn-tree fly, Great-whirling-dun, Tellow-
dun. Dun-cut, Green-drake, Stone-fly, black
^^y-fiy^ yellow May-^y, Ant-fly, and Ca7nlet-
fly, are Flies flifficient* to be furnifhed with :
But that nothing may be wanting on this
Head which can be delivered in Writing, I
fl:iall add another and more copious Catalogue
of Dub-fltes to that of Mr. TValton's before in-
ferted, which the experienced Angler may

vary

Chap. 6. Tie AFFARATUS. 117

vary and improve according to his own Judg-
ment.

InFehruary are, i .The LittleRed-hrown^ made
of the Fur of the black Spot in a Hog^s Ear
wrapp'd on with red Silk, the f'Fi}igs of the
Male of a Mallard dmoi\: white. 2. The Pal-
mer-fly^ or Plain-hackle^ made with a rough
black Body, either of black Spaniels Fur^ or the
Whirl of an OJlrich Feather, and the red
Hackle of a Capon over all. 3. The Silver-
hackle^ made with a black Body, Silver Twift
over that, and a red Feather. 4. The Great"
hackle s the Body black, and wrapped with a
red Feather of a Capon untrim'd, that is the
whole Length of the Hackle on the Top or
Back of the Fly ; which makes it fwim better,
and, on a whirling Water, kill great Fifli.
5. The Gold-hackle^ the Body black, ribb'd
over with Gold Twift, and a red Feather over
all, does great Execution. 6, ThQ Great-dun,
made with dun Bears Hair, and the Wings of
the grey Feather of a Mallard near his Tail.
This is the very beft Fly this Month, and
makes admirable Sport. 7. The GreatMue-
dun, with Dubbing of the Bottom of Bears
Hair next to the Roots, mix'd with a little
blue Camlet *, the Wings of the dark grey
Feather of a Mallard. 8. ThQ Dark- brown,
with Dubbing of the brown Hair of the Flank
of a brended Cow, and the Grey-feather of a
Drake for Wings. Thefe Flies are fome for
one Water and Sky, and fome for another ;
and accordingly the Size and Colour are al-
tered

ii8 rhe BRITISH ANGLER. P.L

tered : Ufe a fmall Hackle^ if the Water be
clear ; or a bigger, if fomething dark ; efpe-
cially when you cannot know certainly, in this
Month or any other, what FJy is taken.

In March ^ ufe all the fame Flies with Fe»
h'uary^ but make them lefs. The Names are
now, I. The Little-Whirling-dim^ made of the
Bottom Fur of a Squirrel' s-tail^ and the Wings
of the grey Feather of a wild Drake or Mai'*
lard, 2» The Early-hright-brown^ made either
of the Down of a Spaniel^ or the Hair of a
red Cow's Flank^ with a grey Wing. 3. The
JVhitiJlj-dun^ made of the Roots of Camels
Hair, and the Wings of a wild Mallard' % grey
Feather. 4. The Thorn-tree-fly ^ made of an
absolute hlack^ mix'd with eight or ten Hairs
of Ifabella- colour td Mohair ♦, the Body as little
as can be made *, the Wings of a bright wild
Mallard's Fc^ihtr. It is an admirable -Fly, and
a great Killer. 5. The Blue-dun^ made with the
Combings of the Neck of a black Grey-hound.
It is a fine blue. The Wings _can fcarce be too
white. It is taken befl in the latter Part of the
Month. 6.TheZi///c'-^/^(7/^-^;2^/,taken at the fame
Time, and made of the Fur of a Hack Water-
Dogy or the Down of a young black Water-Coot :
The Wings of the Male of a wild Mallard^ as
white as can be : The Body as little as you can
pofTibly make it, and the Wings as fhort as
the Body. Some make the Body of the Cop^
or Top Feather on the Head of a Plover. 7.
The Latter-bright-browHy taken from the Mid-
^ die

Chap. 7. r/j^ A PPA R ATUS. 119

die of March to the Middle o^ Aprils and made
withDubbing got out of a Skinner's Lime-pits,
and of the Hair of an abortive Calfy which the
Lime will turn as bright as Gold. Wings of
the Feather of a brown Hen is beft.

All the CsLmQ Hackles and Flies that are taken
in March, will be taken in Jpril alfo, with
this Diftindlion only, that all the Browns be
lapped with red Silk, and the Duns with
yellow Silk. The Names peculiar to this
Month, are, i. Tht Sfnall-bright-brown m^idQ
of Spaniel's Fur ; with a light grey J-Fing, to
be ufed in a bright Day and clear Water. 2.
The Little - dark - brown, the Dubbing of
dark Brown, and Violet Caj-nlet mixed -, the
grey Feather of a wild Mallard for Wings.
3. The Great-whirling-dun, ufually taken
from about the twelfth of this Month, all the
Month through, about Noon, and by Fits
from thence to the End of June. It is one of
the bell Flies we have, and commonly made
of the Down of a Fox Cub, which is of an
Afh-Colour at the Roots, and ribbed about
yellow Silk : The Wings of the pale grey
Feather of a wild Mallard, 4. The Violet- fly y
taken only a fhort Time about the Beginning,
and made of a dark Violet- Stuff, and a very
little dun Bears Hair mixed therewith ; the
wild Mallard's grey Feather for Wings. 5,
The Tellow-dun, made of Camels Hair, and
yellow Camlet \ or yellow fVooll of a Blanket,
well mixed, and a white grey Wing. Others
make it of Dun Hair of a Bear, and fome

yellow

120 r/^^ BRITISH ANGLER. P.I.

yellow Fur of a M^r/^r;/ mixed, and dub it
with yellow Silk. The Wings from the
Quill of a Shepftare's Wing. It is an excel-
lent Fly both for April and May, 6. The
Horfe-flejh-fly^ taken beft in an Evening, from
two Hours before Sun-fet, till Twilight, and
the whole Month through. His Dubbing of
MueMobair, with PM- coloured, and red
Uammy mixed •, a light-coloured Wing^ and a
dark brown Head. It begins to be taken beft
about the twentieth of the Month.

In the Month of May all the fame Hackles
and Flies may be ufed as in Aprils the Hackles
only brighter, and the Flies fmaller. To thefe
I will add feven of the very prime Flies for
May., and indeed all the Year ; efpecially the
Dun-cut., Green-drake^ and Stone-fly ; and
then nine of fmaller Efteem, which yet are
not to be defpifed.

In thefirft Clafs are, i. The Dun-cut ; it^
Dubbing of Bears Dun Hair, with a little blue
and yellow intermixed with it ; a large dun
Wing, and two Horns at the Head, made of
the Hair of a Squirrel's Tail. It is a very kil-
ling Fly. 2. The artificial Green-drake^ which
comes in about the Middle of May^ and is ta-
ken until Midfummer in mountainous flony
Rivers, and that at all Hours, is made thus :
On a large Hook dub with Camels Hair,
bright Bears Hair, the foft Down combed
from a Hog^s Briflles, and yellow Camlet^
well mixed together : The Body mud be long,
and ribb'd about with green Silk^ or rather j^/«

low

Chap. 7, T)^^ A P P A R A T U S. 121

low Silk waxed with green Wax ; the Whiflcs
of the Tail of the long Hair of Sables^ or
Fitchet ; and the Wings of the white-grey
Feather of a wild Mallard dyed yellow. 3.
T\it Artificial Stone-fly^ made of Bears dun
Hair, with a little brown and yellov/ Camlet
well mixed •, but fo placed, that the Fly may
be more yellow on the Belly, and towards
the Tail underneath, than in any other Part.
You may place two or three Hairs of a black
Cat's Beard on the Top of the Hook, in the
arming or whipping, fo as to be turned up
when you wrap on your Dubbing, and to
Hand almoft upright. This Fly is to be ribb'd
with yellow Silk^ and his PFings to be long and
very large, of the dark-grey Feather of the
wild Mallard, or of the brown foft Feather of
a Kite, or of the Feather got out of the Wing
of a Throftle. Sometimes you m^cy dibble with
an artificial Stone-fly in the ftill Deeps, in an
Evening, if any gentle Gale ofWind or Breeze
furl them. 4. The black May-fly, which is
the next in Order, made in the Body of the
black Whirl of an Oftrich- feather, ribb'd with
Silver Twift, and the black Hackle of a Cocky
or Capon, over all. It is a killing Fly, but not
equal with the Green-drake, or Stone-fly. 5,
The little yellow May-fly^ of the fame Shape
with the Green-drake, and of as bright a Yel-
low as can be feen, made of a bright yellow
Camlet',thQ Wings of a white-grey Feather dy-
ed yellow. Some dub it with yellow Fur of
a Martern. 6. The Grey-drake^ in Shape and
G Di-

122 r^^ BRITISH ANGLER. P,L

Dimenfions perfedly the fame with the Green"
drake, but oi another Colour, being of a pa-
ler and more livid Yellow, green, and ribb'd
with black quite down his Body, with black
fhining Wings, diaphanous and very tender.
-It comes in after tht Green-drake^ and kills
very well. It is made of the whitifh Down of
a Hog^s Bridles, and black Spaniel's Fur mix-
ed, and ribbM down the Body with hla^k Silk :
The Whisks of the Tail of a Beard of a black
Cat^ and the Wings of the black-grey Feather
of the wild Mallard. 7. The Camlet-fly, ta-
ken from the Middle of May till the End of
June*,in fliape like a Moth, with fine dia-
pered or watered Wings. It is imitated with
a dark- brown fhining Camlet, ribb'd over
with very fmall light green Silk, and theWings
of the double grey Feather of a wild Mallard,
It is a very killing Fly for Graylings and fmall
Fifh.

In the fecond Clafs of May flies are, i. The
turkey-fly, with Dubbing ravelled out of feme
blue Stuff, and lapped about with yellow Silk •,
theWings of a grey wild iW^//^rr/'j Feathen
2L. The yellozv Palmer, made with a yellow
Body, ribb'd with Gold Twifl, and large
Wings of a wild Mallard's Feather dyed yel-
low, with the red Hackle of a Capon over all.
3. The black Fly, with Dubbing of black Spa-
niel's Fur, and Wings of a grey wild Mallard's
Feather. 4. The Light-brown, made ofligbt
brown Hair, with a Sender Body j the Dub-
bing

Chap.;, r/^^ APPARATUS. 123

bing twirled upon fmall red Silk, and raifed
with the Point of a Needle, that the Ribs or
Rows of Silk may appear through : The
Wings of the grey Feather of a wild Mallard,
5. The Little-dun, with Dubbing o^ Bears
dun Hair whirled upon yellow Silk, and
Wings of a wild Mallard's grey Feather* 6.
The White-gnat, with a pale Wing and a black
Head, 7. The Peacock-fly -, its Body of the
Whirl of a Peacock'^^tdiihtr, with a red Head,
and Wings of a wild Mallard's Feather. 8.
The Cow-lady, a little Fly, v/ith the Body of a
Peacock^ s Feather, the Wings of a red Feather ,
or Stripes of the red Hackle of a Cock, 9.
The Cowttirdflyy with light brown and yel-
low Dubbing mixed •, the Wings of the dark
grey Feather of a wild Mallard,

From the firfl till near the End of /////V are
taken the Green-drake and Stone-fly, and all
the Month the Camlet-Hy, Befides thefs the
Sportfman may now make, i. The Ovjl-flyy
taken in the Middle of the Month, late at
Night : Its Dabbing of a white ^F^^y^z^'j Tail,
and a white grey Wing. a. The Barm-fly^
with Dubbing of the Fur of a yellow dun Cat^
and the grey Wings of a wild Mallard^ s Fea-
ther. 3. The Purple-hackle, made with a
purple Body, whipped about with a red Ca-
fo/i's Feather. 4. The Purple-gold-hackle^
made with a purple Body, and Gold 'T-ivift o-
ver that, all whipped about with a red Ccpcn^s
Feather. 5. The Fle/h-fly, with Dubbing of a
black Spaniel's Fur and blue Wooil mixed, and
G 2 a

124 77:^^ BRITISH ANGLER.P.r.

a grey Wing. 6. The little Flejh-fly^ with a
Body made of the Whirl of a Peacock^ s Fea-
ther, and the Wings of the grey Feather of a
wild Brake. 7. The Peacock-fly^ its Body
and Wings both of the Feather of that Fowl.

8, The Ant-fly, with Dubbing of brown and
red Camlets mixed, and a light grey Wing.

9. The Brown-gnat^ made with a very (len-
der Body, of brown and violet Camlets mixed
well together, with a light grey Wing. 10.
The Lfttle-hlack-gnaty with Dubbing of black
Mohair^ and a white-grey Wing. 11. The
Green-grafshopper^ with Dubbing of green and
yellow Wooll mixed, ribbed over with green
Silk^ and a red Capon* s Feather over all. 12.
The Dun- graf shopper^ its Body flender, made
of dun Camlet, and a dun Hackle at Top. 13.
T\\t Br own- hackle, made of the light-brown
Hair of a fat Colt, with a red Hackle ovsr all,
wrapped with Alh-coloured or Hair-coloured
Silk

The Duh flies (or July 2ire, I. The Badger-
fly, with Dubbing of the foft brown Fur of a
Badger's Skin, that has been in the Skinners
Lime-pits, twirled upon red Silk, with a red
Head, and a fad grey Wing of a wild Af^/-
/^^J'i Feather. It is an excellent Fly for this
Month in many Rivers, and alfo taken in ma-
ny Places in March and April 2, The O-
rangefly, its Dubbing of Orange-coloured
JVooll, and the Wings of the Feather of a
£lack-Mrd*s Quill. 3. The Little-white-dun,
ics Body made of white Mohair, and the

Wings

Chap. 7. 72?^ APPARATUS. 125

Wings of a Heron's blue Feather. 4. The
^^fp-fly-^ made either of dark-brown Dubbing,
or t\k of the Fur of a black Cat's Tail, rib-
bed about with yellow Silk \ its Wings of the
grey Feather of a wild Mallard. 5. The Black-
hackle^ the Body made of the Whirl ofaP^^-
ccck's Feather, and a black Hackle Feather on
t\it Top. There is alio another, made of a
Peacock^s Herl without any Wings. 6. The
Shell-fly^ with Dubbing of yellow-gre^n y^;y^j;
IFqoU, and a little white Hog's Hair mixed.
7. The Bldck-hlue-dun^ the Dubbing of the
Fur of a black Rabbity mixed v/ith a licle yel-
low ; the Wings of the Feather of a blue J/-
gcoifs Wing.

The Dub -flies for Augiifi are all the (lime
withthofein7///)'5and alfo all Browns and Duns
that were taken in May, To which may be
added, i. 7.'he late Ant-fly^ with Dubbing of
the dark-brown Hair of a Cow^ fome Red
warped in for the Tag of the Tail, and a dark
Wing : A very killing Fly. 2. The Fern-fly^
with Dubbing of the Fur of a Hare's Neck,
that is of the Colour of Fern, and a darkilh
grey Wing of a wild Mallard's Feather. ^.
Tht White-hackle^ its Body of white <M?Z?^/r,
and wrapped about with a white Hackle Fea-
ther. 4. The Bufs-brown^ made of the light
brown Hair of a Dog's Ear -, the Head black ^
the Wings of the Feather of a red Hen^ whip-
ped with Orange-coloured Silk. 5. The Hearth-
jjyy made of the Wooll of an old black Sheep
G 3 with

116 The BRITISH ANGLER. P.I.

wick fome grey Hairs in it for the Body and

Head ; the Wings of the light Feather of a
Shepftare^s Quill. 6, The Pifmire-fly^ made
of bright-brown Bears Hair, twirled upon red
Silk \ the Wings of the faddeft-coloured
Feather got from the Quill of a Shepftare^s
Wing.

In September^ befides the Flies taken in Au-
guft^ is chiefly in efleem the little Blue-dun^
made of the Down of a Moufe for Body and
Headf dubbed with fad Afh-coloured Silk ;
VVings of the fad-coloured Feather of a Shep-
ftare's QuilJ.

-- Obferve, that the Feathers got from the
Quills o^th^Sbepftare's Wing, Tbroftle* sWing,
or Fcldfare^s Wing, are generally better to ufe
for the Dub-fly^ than thole got from the wild
Mallard.

1 will not add any other Catalogue^ left even
thefe fhould be thought more than fufficient,but
conclude with this general Diredlion, which
will always be of Service.

When artful Flies the Angler would prepare ^
This Task^ of all^ deferves his utmoft Care :
Nor Verfe nor Profe can ever teach him well
What Mailers only hiow^ and only Ufe can

tell ^
Tet thus at large we venture to exhort :
Nature hejl mimick'd, heftfecures the Sport,

Of

Chap. 7. T/&^ A P P A R A T U S. iij

Of Flies the Kinds, their Seafons, and their

Breed,
Jheir Shapes, their Hue^ (which nice Ohfer-

vance need^)
Which moft the Trouf admires^ where eafiefi

gain'd^
Experience heft will teach you or fome Friend.
For jWral Kinds muft ev'ry Month y///^'/>',
(So great^s his PaJJionfor Varvety :)
Nay^ if new Species o^er the Waves yon

find.
Try 5 yoii^ll achtowledge Fortune amply kind.

End ofth^ FjasT Pas.?-

G 4 THE

THE

Britijh ANGLER.

PART the Second.

Cofifaining a Dcfcription of the fever a I
Scnts of Fifli.

CHAP. I.

Of the SALMON.

A.VING furnifhed my young
Pupil with Variety of Tackle and
Baits^ I now lead him to take a
View of the various Objedls of his
Sport, which he will meet with in
our Rivers J and upon the Sea-Ccafs o^ Great-
Britain,

I might begin by dividing our River-Fi/h
into fuch as never go out of frejh Water ^ and
fuch as are only Sojourners therein at certain
Seafons, to obey the Di(5lates of Nature,

This

^9

\

x
.■e
or
al
I-

e-
:h

in

h
*e
le

y-i/^i m/tti/iA^jCi 0tU o^'f/i^ Jhv fhiv ///^ A'nn^/

Chap. I. r^^ A PPAR ATUS. 129

This would indeed be the mod methodical IVay^
were I to write as a Philofopher \ but as an
Angler^ I think it more natural to begin with
thole Fifh which are in the higheft Efteem^
either for Sport or the ^ahle ; leaving the o-
ther Biftin^ion to be made by the Engraver^
in the Plate here inferted.

The Salmon has the Honour of being called
the King of frefh Water Fifh, and is ever bred
in Rivers that communicate immediately with
the Sea ; yet fo far from it as beyond all Tinc-
ture of Salt or Brackifhnefs. He cads his Spawn
in mod Rivers in the Month o^ Augiift^ or the
'Bt^mumg o^ September. Some affirm, that
they then dig a Hole or Grave in a fate Place
in the Gravel, and there place their Eggs or
Spawn, after the Melter has done his natural
Office, and then hide it with the utmod Cau-
tion, and cover it over vvith Gravel and Stones*
In this Manner they leave it to the Sun's ge-
nial Protedtion, who by a gentle Heat, which
he infufes into that cold Element, impregnates
it with Life, and produces Samlets early in
the following Spring.

The Salmons having daid their appointed
Time, and done this natural Duty in the freili
Waters, hade to the Sea before Winter, both
the Meltersand the Spawners : But if they are
dopped by Floodgates or Weirs, or lod in the
fredi Waters, thofe fo left behind by Degrees
grow fick, lean, unfeafonable, and kipper.
The Meaning of this Word is, that they have
a honey Gridle grow out of their lower Chaps,
G 5 reiem-

130 5'/^^BRITISH ANGLER. P.II.

r&fembling a Hawk's Beak, which hinders
their feeding, and occafions them in Time to
pine away and die. It is obferved, that the
Salmon may live thus one Year from the Sea :
But he grows infipid and taftelefs, and lofes
both his Blood and Strength, and the fecond
Year he certainly dies. And it is alfo obferved,
that thofe little Salmons called Skeggers^ which
abound in many Rivers which run into the
Sea, arebred by fuch fickly *S^/w^;/j that did
not go to the Sea; and that though they a-
bound, yet they never thrive to any confider-
able Bignefs.

But if the old Sahnon gets to the Sea, then
that Griftle which Ihews him to be kipper
wears away, or is call off, as the Eagle is faid
to caft off his Bill. The Fifli recovers his
Strength, and comes next Summer to the fame
River, if poflible, to renew the Enjoyment of
his former Plcafures. Thus, this King of the
Rivers, like other Monarchs and great Pcr-
fons, who have both their Winter and Sum-
mer Seats, has the freih Rivers for Summer,
and the fait Water for Winter, to fpend his
Life in •, which, as Lord Bacon Qhitxyt^ in his
Hiftory of Life and Deaths is not above ten
Years. It is to be obferved, that though the
Salmon grows big in the Sea, yet he grows
fat only in frefh Rivers ; and that the far-
ther they get from the Sea, the fatter and better
they are.

Though the Salmons make very hard Shift
to get out of the freih Rivers into the Sea ;

yet

Chap. I. O///^^ SALMON. 131

yet they will labour harder to get out of the
Sea into the Rivers, in order to fpawn, or
poflefs the Pleafures that they have formerly
found there. To this End, they will force
themfelves thro' Flood-gates, or over Weirs,
Hedges, Stops in the Water, even to a
Height beyond common Belief. Gefner fpeaks
of fuch Places as are known to be more than
eight Foot above Water. And our Camhden
mentions the like Wonder in Pembroke/hire^
where the River Tivy falls into the Sea, and
the Fall is fo perpendicular, and fo high, that
the People {land in Amaze at the Strength and
Slight by which the Salmon ufe to gain the Af-
cent. The Manner of it, and the Height of the
Place are fo remarkable, that it is known by
the Name of the Salmon-leap^ and is thus de-
fer i bed by our old Bard Michael Drayton^ in
his Polylhion,

And when the Salmon feeks a frejher Stream
to find^
(Which hither from the Sea comes yearly hy hi^s

Kind)
As be towards Seafon grows ^ and fletns the wa-^

try Tratf^
JVhcre Tivy falling down^ makes an high Ca-
taract ;
Forced by the rifing Rocks that there his Courfe

oppofe.
As iho' within her Bounds they meant him to in-
clofe :

Here

132 rZ^^ BRITISH ANGLER.P.II.

HerCy when the labouring Fifh does at the Foot

arrive^
And finds that by his Strength he does hut vainly

ftrivey
'His Tail takes in his Mouthy and bending like a

Bow
nafs to full Compafs drawn^ aloft himfelf doth

throw •,
nen fpringtng at his Height ^ as doth a little

Wand^
"that bended End to End^ andj art ed from Man^s

Hand^
Far off ttfelf doth caft \ fo does tU Salmofi-

vault \
And if at fir jl he fail ^ his y^^^;/^ Summer-fault
He infiantly effaySy and from his nimble Ringy
All yer king y never leaves ^ until himfelf he fling
Above th^ oppfing Stream,

It has been obferved by Foreigners, that
there is no better Salmon than in England ; and
that though fome of our Northern Countries
have as far and as large as the River Thames y
yet none are of fo exquifite a Tafte.

As the Age of a Salmon exceeds not t^n
Years, fo his Growth is very fudden. It is
faid, that after he is got into the Sea, he be-
comes, from a Sainlet not fo big as a Gudgeon^
to be a Salmon^ in as fhort a Time as a GoQing
becomes a Goofe. This has been obferved by
tying a Ribband, or fome known Piece of
Tape or Thread, into the Tail of fome young
Salmons^ which have been taken in Weirs as

they

Chap. I. Of the S A L M O N. 133

they fwam toward the fait Water, and then by
taking a Part of them again in the fame Place
at their Return from the Sea, which is ufually
about fix Months after. The like Experiment
hath been tried upon young Swallows, who,
after fix Month's Abfence, have been obferved
to return to the fame Chimney, there to make
their Habitations for the Summer following :
Which has inclined many to think, that every
Salmon ufually returns to the fame River in
which he was bred ; as young Pigeons taken
out of the fame Dove-cote, are known to re-
turn thither.

The He Salmon^ ovMelter^ is ufually bigger
that the Spawner : He is alfo more kipper,
and lefs able to endure a Winter in freih Wa-
ter than ihe is : Yet is the Female, at thatTime
when fhe looks lefs kipper and better, alto-
gether as watery and as bad Meat as the Male.
But as there k no general Rule without an Ex-
ception, fo there are fome few Rivers in this
Nation, that have 'Trout s and Salmons in Sea-
fon in Winter. This is particularly certain of
the River PVye in Montnouihjhire^ where they
are in Seafon from September till ApriL

ThtSalmon ufually flays not long in a Place,
as Trouts will, but covets ftill to go nearer the
Spring-head. He does not, like the Trout,
and many other Fifh, lie near the Water-fide,
or the Roots of Trees, but fwims in the deep
and broad Parts of the Stream, and ufually in
the Middle, near the Ground. It is there you
are to fifh for him, and that he is mofl likely

to

134 ^^ BRITISH ANGLER. P.II.

to be caught, either with a Wortn^ a Minnow^,
or a Fly, But the firll of thefe is to be preferred,
he being not fo frequently obferved to bite at
a Minnow^ or a Fly, The Loh or Garden-
worm is the bed, which fhould be well fcoured,
that is, kept feven or eight Days in Mofs,. be-
fore you fifh with them ; And if you double
your Time of eight into fixteen, twenty, or
more Days, it is flill better \ for the Worms
will be yet clearer, tougher, and more lively,
and continue fo longer upon your Hook.
They may be preferv'd longer by keeping
them cool, and infrefli Mofs, into which fome
advife to put a little Camphire.

It is a Cuftom with many to fifli for a Sal-
mon with a Ring of Wire on the Top of their
Rod, through which the Line may run to as
great a Length as is neceffary when he is hook'd.
And to that End, fome ufe a Wheel about the
Middle of their Rod, or near their Hand.

Experienced Anglers have been known to
keep a little Box in their Pockets, anointed
with two or three Drops of Oil o^ Ivy-berries^
into which they put their Worms two or three
at a Time, half an Hour or an Hour before
they hang them on the Hooks, in order to
give them a Scent. This Smell is faid to be
almofl irrefiftibly attradlive, notvvithflanding
what fome have offered, that Fifh can fmell
nothing whatfoever. OWo^ Polypody oi i\it Oak
has alfo been recommended, as proper to anoint
the Bait : But of this fee more in the Cliapter
of Pajies and Uns^uents,

Both

Chap. I. 0//k SALMON 135

Both the Ti'out and the Salmon^when in Seafon,
have, at thq^r firft taking out of the Water,
and, which continues during Life, their Bodies
adorned, the firfl with Spots of fuch a fable
Hue, and the other with Spots of fuch a lovely
rgdy as give them a greater Addition of natural
Beauty, than was ever given to any of the
Fair by their artificial Paint and Patches.

The Flefh of the Salmon is preferred by fome
before all other Fifh, either of the Sea or Ri-
ver. It is very fweet, and affords excellent
Nourifhment i and therefore, unlefs eaten mo-
derately, may occafion Surfeits. The Salmon-
fmelts are lighter Food, and eaten as the larger
of the Salmon Species.

Mod Rivers in England and Wales ^ where
they difembogue themfelves into the Sea, and
fo upwards for feveral Miles, are abundantly
ftored with Salmons *, but thofe of principal
Note, are the Thames y the Severn ^ and the
T'rent j the Lon at Lane after -, about Cockerfand
Jhhey ; at Wirkmto7i in Cimiberland^ By well in
ISIorihufnherlandy Durha?n^ and Newcastle up-
on Tine -, the Bee in Chejhire^ and the Rivers
Usk and Wye in Monmeuthjhire,

Befides the Salmon-leap in Pembroke/hire^
there is another in the River Ban in Ireland.
This River's Head is in the Mountains of
Mourn in the County of Down, and it pafles
through Lotigh Eaugh^ or Lough Sidney^ a
large Lake in the County of Colrain, Mr.
Cambden fays, it breeds Salmons in Abundance,
above all other Rivers in all Europe 3 becaufe

it

136 5r;^-f B R I T I S H A N G L E R. P.IL

it is thought to exceed all other Rivers for
Clearnefs, in which Sort of Water Salmons
delight. It's almoft incredible, fays the fame
Author, what Abundance of Salmons are bred
in the Rivers Bon and Dee^ at Aberdeen in
Scotland^ as well as in others on both Sides of
that Kingdom. There was a Law in Scotland^
that they ihould not be caught from the Af-
fumption of our Lady, the 15th o^ Auguft^ to
Su Andrezv*s Day, November the 30th, and
they are reputed amongft the greateft Commo-
dities of the Kingdom s it having been enadted,
that none ihould be fold to Engltjhmen but for
Englijh Gold.

The Salmon^s BitingTime is at nine o' Clock
in the Forenoon, and three o' Clock in the
Afternoon, in a clear Water, and when the
Wind blows againfl the Stream ; and xh^ on-
ly Seafons are from the Middle of April to the
End of Augujl, When flruck, he ufually
plunges and leaps, but does not fo frequently
endeavour to run to the End of the Line, as
the Trout will. Young Salmons are very ten-
der mouthed, as well as Graylings ; and are
frequently loft by their Hold, after hooked :
Therefore fome Perfons fallen two Hooks to-
gether, like double Pike-hooks ufed in Trowl-
ing ; not made with the Points oppofite to
one another, but almoft a quarter of a Circle
afunder •, and on thefe they make their Fly^
that if one Hook break Hold, the other may
not. fail.

For

Chap. I . Of the S A LMO^. 137
For the fniall Sahnon-hnelt^ the Brandlings
Gilt-tail, and Meadow-wonji well fcoured, are
the belt Ground-baits : They will likewife
take the Bob of both Sorts, the Cod-bait^ Heater-
kufe, and counterfeit Cod-bait^ in clear Water,
For Flies^ the Salmon takes the fame as the
Trout generally does, whether natural or arti-
ficial ♦, but the natural Baits are generally ta-
ken better than artificial, efpecialiy by the
finall ones. If you put a Cod-bait or Gentby
either natural or artificial, at the Point of the
Dub-fly Hook, it will entice the Salmon-fineli,
Flies made for the great Sahncn are better with
four Wings, than with two only •, and fre-
quently with fix better than with four. And
if behind each Pair of Wings, you place a
different Colour from the Body of the Fly, it
is much better. The Wings mult be made
(landing one before the other, whether four or
fix. He alfo loves to have the Wings and
Tail long, and both Body and Wings of the
moft gaudy Colour. Silver-twift and Gold-
twill, are good to ufe in dubbing the Bodies.

The Salmon may be caught at Ground, with
running Line or Float, the Bait touching, or
as near the Ground as poffible ; and fometimes
he bites well below Mid- Water ; at Ground-
baits. He is alfo caught with Dub-fly, Cod-
bait, Water -cricket. Oak-worm^ 2Lnd counterfeit
Cod-bait, at the Top of the Water, and by
the latter within it. The great Salmon will
fometimes take Minnows and Loaches, and then
you may ufe the Ring of Wire at the Top of

your

1 38 in?^ B R I T I S H A N G L E R. PJI.

your Rod for the Line to run out, as in Trowl-
ing for Pikes,

The Samlet^ or Salmon-fmelt^ or, as they
are called by feme, Sahnon-fry^ are only fo ma-
ny different Names for young Salmon : But
there is another Fifli called a Salmon-peale,
which, tho' it feems to be a Species of the Sal-
mon, and is equally good, ought to be diftin-
guiilied from it, as never growing to above
1 6 Inches in Length. Thefe rife at the arti-
Jicial Fly, but the beft Way of taking them is
with a Brandling well fcoured. They delight
in deep Holes, near the Stump of a Tree •, bite
freely, and llruggle hard : But you muft not
be too eager in ftriking him, and befure keep
out of Sight. The Time for them is in the
Morning and the Evening, and they continue
in Seafon all the Summer. They are princi-
pally found in the Rivers oi Dorfetjhire and De^
^vonjhire*

^he Salmon /r/? of River Filli is mm*d,
Loi/d at his Sport, hut more at Table/^;?z' J.
Well are the patient AnglerV Fains repaid^
When this fair Leader is his Captive inade,
Oft^ purling Brooks^ but oftner greater Strea^ns^
He hau/its j and basks in Phoebus' Mid-day

Beams,
^hen, cautious J tempt him, and heHl nimhly rife ^
Be {^iYon^your Tackle, or you lofe the Prize,
Large be your Fly too, with expanded Wi?tgSy
Of various Hues : At this he boldly fprings .

Tet

ia^^yjy^

&Sg£Mi,

i%J-J'i;'

Chap. I. 0//;?;^ SALMON. 139

Tet curling Billows /bould afjlft the Cheat j
^iick-fightedelfe^ he fiuns the fatal Bait :
And clear the Current be^ or elfe he feeds
Low on the Gravely or the wajling Weeds ^
Lefs nice at Bottom^ he devouring rovesy
And boldly rufhes^ as he boldly loves.
The Lob-v^ ovmfcour''d at trails him all the Tear*,
But ah I defifi when f pawning Time is near.
The Minnows too his Rage not rarely feel ;
Try thofe ; and^ if you cany procure the Reel,
Which freely of itfelf emits the Line,
Needfully long, and yet fecurely fine.
ATrov^\fo7ne ufe^ andfome the ^o^ prefer i
They both are ufeful^ both deferve your Care.

C H A P. IL
Of the TROUT.

H E Trout is a generous Fifh, and in the
higheft Efleem. He is the Venifon of
the Waters, and fo like the Land Venifon, that
he comes in and goes out of Seafon with the
Stag and Buck He feeds clean, is in the
fwifteft Screams, or on the hardeft Gravel ;
and may juftly contend with all Frefh-water-
fidi, as the Mullet may with all Sea-fifh, for
Delicacy of Tafte. And as there are fome
barren Does, which are good in Summer, fo
are there barren Trout s that are good in Win-
ter ; but there are not many of thefe •, Trouts
being in Perfedion in the Month of May^
and declining with the Buck. In the Leman

Lake

I40 7Z»^BRITISH ANGLER. P.II.

Lake, or the Lake of Geneva^therQ are Trouis of
three Cubits long •, and the 7r^«/i of this Lake
are a great Part of the Merchandize of that
famous City. There are other Waters that
breed Trouts remarkably fmall, but in great
Number ; particularly a little Brook in Ke?i^
produces them to a Number incredible, and
you may take them twenty or thirty in an
Hour, but none larger than about the Size oi
a Gudgem. There are alfo Rivers, efpecially
near to the Sea, that fwarm with a little Trouty
called a Samlet ov Skegger "Treaty that v/ill bite
as faft and as freely as Muinovjs, Thefe by
fome are falfly taken for young Salmons^ but
they never grow to be bigger than a Herring.
• In Kent^ near Canterbury^ there is a ^rout
call'd a Fordidge ^rout^ from the Name of the
Town where ft is ufually caught, which is
efleemed the choiceft of Fifh. Many of them
are near the Bignefs of a Salmon^ but known
by their different Colour. In their beft Seafon
they cut very white. Scarcely any of thefe
have been known to be caught with an Angle,
and when one of them has been taken, it was
thought that he bit not for Hunger, but rather
in Sport. Many have been fo curious as to
fearch into the Bellies of thefe Fifh, to know
what the Food was by which they lived •, but
have found nothing that might fatisfy their
Curiofity.

It has been reported that Grafshoppcrs and
fome Fifh have no Nfeuths, but take in Breath
and Nourifhment thro' their Gills : That

they

Chap. 2. 0/ the TROUT. 141

they are kept alive by a DeWy and Worms that
breed in their Nefls, or fome other Ways un-
known to us. If this be at all true, which
many queftion, it may be believed of the "For-
didge Trouty which knows his Times, almoft
to a Day, of coming into that River out of the
Sea, where he lives nine Months in the Year,
and falls three in the River of Fordidge. The
Townfmen here are very pun6lual in obfer-
ving the Time of beginning to fifh for them j
and boaft much of their River on this Account,
in like manner as SiiJJe>: boafts of her Shelfey
Cockle^ her Chichefter Lohfter^ her Arundel
Mullet i and her Atnerly Trout,

The better to confirm this Opinion of the
Fordidge Trout's not feeding in the River, w€
may refledl that Swallows ^ Bats, and fFag-tails,
which are call'd Birds of PafTage, and not itcn
to fly in England for 6 Months of the Year, have
been found, even thoufands at a Time, in
Hollow-trees, or Clay-caves, where they have
been obferved to live and fleep out the whole
Winter without Meat. There is alfo a kind of
Frog which hath her Mouth naturally fhut up
about the End of Auguft^ and lives fo all the
Winter.

There is in Nortbu?nberland a Trout called a
Bull-trout, of a much greater Size than any in
the Southern Parts : And in many Rivers that
have Communication with the Sea, there are
found Salmon Trouts, very different from others,
both in Shape and Spots.

The

142 ne BRITISH ANGLER. P.IL
The Trout grows more faddenly than any
other Fifh. He lives not fo long as the Penh^
and divers other Inhabitants of the Rivers.
After he is come to his full Growth, he de-
clines in his Body, and keeps his Bignefs, or
thrives, only in his Head till his Death. A-
bout the Time of his Spawning, he will get al-
mofl: miraculoufly through J^^eirs and Flood-
gates^ againft the Stream ; and through fuch
high and fwift Places as are almoll incredible.
He ufually fpawns about O^ober or November^
but in fome Rivers a little fooner or later :
Which is the more obfervable, becaufe moft o-
therFifli fpawn in the Spring or Summerjwhen
the Sun hath warmed both the Earth and Wa-
a|r, and made it fit for Generation. He then
continues many Months out of Seafon : So that
moll other Fifhes recover Strength, and grow
fac and in Seafon fooner than the Trout,

Till the Sun gets to fuch a Height as to re-
vive all Nature, this Fifli continues Tick, lean,
and unwholfome : You fliall find him with a
big Head, and a very lank and thin Body. Ac
the fame Time many of them are infefted with
Sugs or Trout-lice^ which is a kind of Worm,
in Shape like a Clove, or Pin with a big Head,
and flicks clofe to the Flefh, and fucks his
Moifture. The Trout never thrives till he frees
himfelf from them, which is when warm Wea-
ther comes on ; and then, as he recovers
Strength, he gets from the dead flill Water, in-
to the fharp Streams and Gravel, and there
rubs off thefe Vermin. After which, as he

grows

Chap. 2. Of the T R O U T. 143

grows yet ftronger, he gets ilill into fwifter
Streams, and there lies on the Watch for any
Fly or Minnow that comes near him. He
loves in particular the May-fly^ which is
bred of the Cod-worm^ or Cadewsy and thefe
make him ufually fatter and better Meat at the
End of that Month, than at any other Time
of the Year»

It is obferved, that ufually the bed Trout s
are either red or yellow ; though fome, as the
Fordige Trout^ are white, and yet equally
good. The Female Trout hath commonly a
lefs Head, and a deeper Body than the Male ;
and is alfo efteemed the befl Meat. A Hog
Back, and a little Head, to either Trout^ SaU
mon^ or any other Fifh, is a Sign that that
Fiih is in Seafon.

The ^roiit delights in fmall purling Streams,
that are very fwift and clear, running on
Stones or Gravel. He feeds whilfl ftrong in
the fwifteft Streams, but more ufually on the
Side of the Stream than in the deepeft Part of
it, unlefs he be a very large one. He is 'often
found behind a Stone, Block, or fome Bank
that fhoots forth with a Point into the River,
where the Stream caufes a Whirling of the
Water, like the Eddy of the Tidej efpecially
if there be a Shade over his Head, as a Buih,
Foam, or hollow hanging Bank, under
which he can fhelter himfelf In the Spring,
and latter End of Summer, he plies at the Tail
of a Stream-, but in May^ at the upper End.
If his Hold be near, he ft^tys long in a Place.

Though

144 ^^^ BRITISH ANGLER.P.II.

Though as the Weather in Spring grows
warmer, fo the T?'out ^xg^^ ftronger, and
departs from the deep Itill Waters, into the
Iharp Streams and Gravel ; yet the beft 'Trouts
often in Summer, in exceflive Droughts, are
driven out of the fmall fhallow Streams into
the plain Deeps, where you may catch them
withDibbing,^or, on a gloomy, cloudy, and
windy Day, that furls the Water, with the
Caft-fly, There are feldom any Store of'Trouts
in Rivers that foftly glide through plain, level,
and champaign Grounds : For they generally
live nearer the Source, or Spring- head of
Rivers.

If there be Plenty of Cbuhs in any Rivers,
one Ihali catch Trouts there only in March^
Aprils the Beginning of May and Septemher ;
becaufe in the four hot Months the Chubs
come into the Streams, and drive out moft of
the Trouts*

Trouts in their Seafon are very nimble, and
will drive long and vigoroufly for their Lives,
ruuning among Roots, Weeds, or any thing
to entangle or break the Line, They like a
large Bait at the Ground. Flies they take moft
at top of the Water, or fometimes within two
or three Inches of it. With Minnow or Loach
they are caught within a Foot of the Surface,
and fometimes lower by Trowling. Some
efteem the Salmon to be no other than a Sea-
Trout •, becaufe of his fmall Difference in Shape,
Nature, and Qualities, from the T^rout that
lives continually in the frefli Waters.

In

Chap. 2. Of the T R O U T. 14J

In the River Kennet^ near Hungerford in
Berkjhire^ there is great Plenty of Grouts re-
markably^ large and good. The Slower in
Kent^ which runs through Canterbury^ is faid
to breed the befl l^routs in the South- Eafl of
England, Thofe in Wandle^ near CaJJmlton in
Surry^ at Amerly in SuJJex^ in D^-y^?, /"f}'^,
Lathkbty and Bradford in Berhyjhire^ Ribhel
and /r^ in Lancaffjire^ and in C/iir and /F>'-? in
MonmoutJhire\ *are accounted excellent Tl routs,
Mr. Walton fays, that Hamfi/hire exceeds all
England^ for fvvift, Ihallow, clear, pleafanc
Brooks, and Store of Trouts. The fame Opi-
nion Mr. Cc//^;2 hath of Derhfbire, efpecially
of the Rivers D^^v and Wye, and the. Brooks
Latbkin and Bradford, which he fays breed
the reddefl, beft, and mod admirable Trouts
in England. But to fpeak impartially, none
can abfolutely determine, in what particular
River or Brook are the moil and befl Trouts ;
becaufe England and Wales have fo many Ri-
vers and Rivulets agreeable to their Nature.
7'his however is certain, that Trouts are better
or worfe, bigger or leffer, according to the
Nature of the Soils on which the River runs.
Pure, clear, tranfparent Streams, running on
Rocks, Pebbles, or more efpecially Flints,
are experimentally found to breed and afford
the mofi delicate and befl Trouts.

The principal Baits for a Trout at the Ground

are Worms, as the Brandling, Gilt- tail, Mea-

dow-zvorm. Tag-tail^ and Red-zvor?n -, but for

a very large one, the Dew-zvorm well-fcoured.

H The

i^6rhe BRITISH ANGLER.P.II,

The two firft are the principal Worms for
him all the Year, both in clear and muddy
Waters -, the others are for Waters difcoloured
with Rain. The Cod-bait, Clap-bait, and
Water-cricket y are either for Top or Bottom,
but always to be ufed in clear Waters only.
The Falmer-fly^ or JVooll-bed, and all Sorts of
F//^r, both natural and artificial, are for the
Top of the Water ; efpecially the Palmer- fly ^
Stonefly, Green^drake^ AJh-fiy, Fern-fly^ and
Ant-fly. He likewife will take a faditious Cod-
bait 3.nd Clap- bait, that are counterfeited with
yellow Wax, Silk, Shammy, or Buff, as di-
rected in Chap. 4. o^ natural Baits. Sometimes
alfo he takes thcOak'Wor?n,:indHawibor?t-zvormy
both at Top, within the Surface of clear Water.

The Minnow, the Eidl-bead, with his Gill
Fins cut off, and the Loach efpecially, are
excellent Baits, in a clear Water, for great
1'routs, in March, April, and September, about
Midwater, either to trowl with in the Streams,
or,on dark, gloomy,windy Days, in the Deeps.

A Trout will alfo take all Sorts of Bobs,
Palmers, Caterpillars, young Frogs, Gentles^
Bores, l\iQ young Brood of Wafps, Humble-bees,
and Hornets *, alfo Beetles and Grafsboppers,
their Legs and uppermoft Wings cut off. As
the Brandling, Gilt-tail, Meadow-ivorm, Tag-
tail y Red- worm, and Dew-worm, are the belt
Worms for the Ground-Angle, to be fuited
refpedtivcly to the Temperature and Colour of
the River • fo is the Cod-bait, Clap-bait, JVa-
tcr- cricket^ Palmer-worm^ Stone fly. Green-

drake.

Chap. 2. Of the T R O U T. 147

drake^ Oak-fiy^ Fern-fly^ Ant-fiy^ and Artificial
Fly^ the belt for the Trout at the Top of the
Water when clear. Of each of thefe parti-
cular Baits, fee more in the Chapters before
referred to.

The Way to angle for Trouts at Ground, is
with the Running-Line without any Float, but
with one or two fmall Plummets of Lead.
They may be alfo caught by Float-Angling
at Ground, or at Mid-water by Trowling,
and at Top of the Water by dibbing and the
Caft-fly \ all which Ways we fhall defcribe
hereafter. But let this be obferved in general,
that when you angle in a clear Water, either
for Troiits^ Graylings^ or Salmon-fraelts, if
you have lb much Dexterity as to do it with a
fingle Hair for two Links next your Hook, you
will certainly catch three Trouts for one, againft
any that angle with three Hairs next the Hook.
And tho' you may now and then lofe a great
Trout by his breaking your Line, yet if you
had not been fo fmall tackled, ten to one he
had never bit, and the Number of Bites will
compenfate the Lofs. You may lifli with kfs
Hazard at Bottom than at Top with fine
Tackle, becaufe a Trout at Fly fhoots with a
rapid Agility at your Bait, and from you
when he hath taken it, with his Head gene-
rally downwards ; but at the Ground, or Mid-
water, he takes the Bait gently, and glides a-
way far more leifurely. Likewile he takes
lefs notice of a thick Line at Top than at Bot-
tom, by reafon of his Eagernefs, The ex-
H 2 cellent

148 rz?^ BRITISH ANGLER. P.II.

cellent Proportion, Shape, Length, true Ply-
ing, Gentlenefs, Freedom, and well Mount-
ing of the Hazle-Rod for clear Waters, con-
tributes much to your Succefs in this Way, as
well as your own Freedom from RaHinefs and
Impatience : And if your Hair be ftrong, you
may eafily mafter a "Trout thirteen Inches long
with a Tingle Hair next your Hook, efpecially
if you have Water-room, and be unmoleiled
with Wood or Trees.

From the Middle of April till the End of
Aiigiifl^ z Trout bites beft in a muddy rifing
Water, or in a Water that is clearing after a
Flood, or in dark^ gloomy, cloudy, or windy
Weather. His Time in the Morning is from
Sun-rifing till about half an Hour after Ten
o'clock, and from about two o'Clock in the
Afternoon till Sun-fet, and oftentimes in the
Evening: But nine o'Clock in the Forenoon,
and three in the Afternoon, are his moft con-
llant Hours of biting, either at Ground or Fly^
as the Water fu its. In March, the Beginning
o^ April ^Septe?nher^ and Part of 0^7^^i?r,(foryou
ought not to angle for Trouts from the Middle
of O^oher, till at leafl: the End of February)
the Time is from about an Hour after Sun-
rifing, till almoft Sun-fet, and efpecially in
warm, Sun-lhiny Weather, and the Middle
Part of the Day. March, April, May, and
Part of June, are his chief Months ; though
he bites well in July^ Auguff^ and September,
After a Shower in the Evening, he rifes well

at

Chap. 2. Of the TROV T. 149

at Gnats : And in the Evening of a hot Day
in Summer, you may have Sport with Dibbing,

In little Brooks that fall into larger Rivers,
where the Tide comes up only in frelh Wa-
ters, or Waters a little brackifh ; if you begin
at the Mouth pf fuch Brooks, juft as the Tide
comes in, and go up with the Head of the
Tide, and return with the Ebb, you may
take many good Grouts •, and if the Tide do
not foul the Water, they will rife at the Fly.

In fmall clear Brooks, if you come imme-
diately after a Shower that hath raifed the Wa-
ter, or juft as any Milltwater begins to come
down, and fo proceed with the Courfe of the
Current, 'I'roiits will bite eagerly, becaufe ex-
pecting the Water to bring down Food with
ic, they come forth to feek it. But in fmall
Brooks or Rivers, when the Mills ftand, and
pen up the Water, little or no Sport is to l>c
expedled at Ground, and not much with Fly ;
for the trout at fuch Time is fearful^ and dares
fcarce venture out of his Hold.

When in Angling for Salmon or I'rout^ you
all Day long have had little or no Sporr, next
Night, efpecially at the Beginning of it, till
near Mid-night, they Vv? ill not fail to bite free-
ly, either at Ground or Fly^ if the Weather
be not nipping cold, or frofty.

W^hen you angle for 'J routs ^ you need not
make above three or four Trials in one Place ;
for before that he will either make an Offer,
or not ftir at all.

H3 When

iso^le BRITISH ANGLER. P.IL
Wheq Rains raife the Rivers, and keep
them for fome Time above their ordinary
Height, Trouts leave t\\Q largeft Rivers, and
retire into fiich fmaJl Brooks as are almoft dry
m hot Summers •, and in fuch Brooks you
.fhouid then angle for them. They generally
quit the great Rivers at Michaelmas^ and go
into fmall Rivulets to fpawn, and are frequent-
ly there deftroyed by idle and diforderly Fel-
lows, with groping or otherwife, which does
more Injury to the Breed of Fiih, than all the
Summer's Angling.

When you angle hx Trout ox Salmon^ let
your Bait drag as litde as may be, though tor
Trout it mufl however touch the Ground. Yec
fome advife to angle with a Float, that may
only keep it near the Bottom without touch-
i-ng -, which Method has been found fuccefsful,
but not fo often as the other, unlefs you bait
with Cod bail-, Clap-bail ^ or Cricket-bait. It
is a (landing Rule, that where you catch feve-
ral Minnows fucceflively, no Trout s will be
found at that Time : The Minnows however
that you take, may be made ufeful at a proper
Stand : For you may bait either with them or
fmall Loach. Take a large-fized Hook,
and put it in at his Mouth, and out at his
Gill ; then having drawn the Hook two or
three Inches through, put it again into his
Mouth, and the Point and Beard out at his
Tail, then draw your Line flrait, and clofe
the Mmio%ifs Mouth that no Water may get
in, which you may do with a Stitch. Or you

may

Chap. '1. Of ibe TROU T, i ji

may fallen fome Hog's Bridles under the Silk>
leaving the Points almoft half an Inch ftand-
i ng out towards the Line, v/hich will keep him
from flipping back. This done, try how ic
will turn, by drawing it crofs the Water, or
againfl the Stream, and if it do not aniwer
your Expedation, move the Tail a little to the
Right or Left, till it turns nimbly ; other-
wife you will catch nothing. You may alfo
have a Swivel or Turn in this Way, aswell as
for Pikes, placed about a Yard or more from
the Hook, without any Lead on your Line.
You mud continually draw your Bait up the
Stream, within half a Foot, or a Foot of the
Superficies of the Water. Always angle thi=;
Way in a clear Water, and in the Stream, cr
on very windy Days that will furl the Wafer,
in the plain Deeps ; more efpecialiy ni the
Months of Mckrch^ April, September and Oc-
tober, You may angle thus alfo for the Fike
and Perch.

To catch the Trout, the Angler's chief De-'
light.

Tread foftly, and be fur e keep out of Sight
Or the f by Fifb will baulk thy Appetite.
Nice as thy Hopes too be thy Rod and Line,
Nice be thy Flies, and c aft exactly fine.
Nor Rod nor Linefljould want Proportion fit,
Full fix Yards each, iffo the Stream permit :
Taper and light, as long, from Hand to Hooky
If with the Flifs or in a chryftal Brook :

H4 Or

iSi r/j^BRITISH ANGLER. P. II.

Or ev'n Jhciild rifing Mud the Stream xnfeft^ *)
Tet ftill the finer, youfucceed the bed : >

But here good Judgment h the fur eft Teft, j

2lnr Tackle ready ^ 7text exert you Care^
Vo caft your Line diftinguijhingly fair »
If on the Smhcefrjl the h'lnks JJjould light,
ike Fifio fpring out, nor foon retrieve their

Fright :
But if the Bait, fudden the IVantom rife^
Voracious^ eager ^ and become your Prize,
Tffiort he cuts^ next Throw hefure beware ;
Hefazv too much -, the Angler flood too near :
But if no Shadow on the Surface fall^
Tou quickly fpeed^ or f peed not there at all.
The Worm at no time can your Pleafure''

fail,
Un!(f the houndlefs Floods or Winds prevail^
Or Winter's Icy Hands the Stream afjaiL
IVben milky -white the thickened Current

fbozvs^
Trcm Mills ^ or Rains, or artful Over-flows ^
Scrong ZiU/c'j, Rods^ Hooks, and ixnytVorms

are chofe.
Vjc troubled Streams the treach'rous Snares

difguife.
And, trufling to his Sight, the greedy Viclm

dies.
But flill prefer the chry^dlBvook, and chufe'
Arms all genteel and neat, and fit for Ufe -,
Nor the long Taper-Rod and Tingle Hair re-

fufe.

Tour

Chap. 3. 0/ the GRAYLING, 153
Tour Hook, when covered wilb the Brand-
lingVTail,

His Head dejected, will hut rarely fail y ^
And oft' the Cadews, managed well^ prevail

CHAP. III.

Of the Umber or Grayling.

NEXT to the Trout I place the Vm-
her 6t Graylings which are thought by
fome to differ, as well as the Herring and Pil-
chard. But tho' they may do fo in other Nati-
ons, thofe in England feem to differ in nothing
but their Names •, unlcfs, with fome, we ap-
propriate the Name of Umher to a large Gray-
ling only, as the large Jack is called a Pike»
They are of a frout Kind -, and in Szviizerland
are efteemed the choiceft of all Fifli. In Italy
the Grayling is fo highly valued in the Month
of May^ that he is fold at a much higher Price
than any other Fifh. The French^ who def-
pile the Chub^ value the U?nber or Grayling fo
highly, that they fay he feeds on Gold, and
that many have been caaght in their River
Loire, out of whofe Bellies Grains of Gold
have been taken. Some think that this Fifli
feeds on Water-thy7ne^ and that he fmells of it
at his firft taking out of the Water ; juft as our
Smelts have the Odour of Violets at their firfb
being caught.

It has been obferved, that the Salmon, the

Grayling, the Trout, and all Fi^n that live, in

H 5 clear

354^^^ BRITISH ANGLER.P.II.

clear and fharp Streams, are made by Nature
of the mod exa6t Shape and delightful Colours,
as if purpofely to invite us to feaft on them
with Pleafure. Whether this be true or not,
it is certain that all who write of the U??iber^
declare him to be very medicinal. The Fat of
this Fifh being fet with a little Honey a Day
or two in the Sun, in a little Glafs, is thought
excellent againft Rednefs or Swarthinefs, or a-
ny Thing that breeds in the Eyes. Some take
him robe called Ufnher from the Latin Umbra^
a Shadow, on Account of his fwift Swimming
or Gliding out of Sight, more like a Shadow
than a Fifh, St, Jmbrofej Bifliop of Milan ^
calls him the Flower-Fijh^ or Flower ofFifbes %
and he was fo far in love with him, that he
would not pafs him over without the Honour
of a long Difcourfe.

The Graylings or Umber ^ grows not to the
Bignefs of a Trout : For the largeft of them
do not ufually exceed eighteen Inches. He
lives in fuch Rivers as the "Trout does, and is
commonly taken with the fame Baits, and af-
ter the fame Manner. He is very gamefome
at a Fly, and, being much fimpler, is alfo
much bolder than the Trout, He lurks clofe
all the Winter, but is very brisk after the
Middle oi Jpril, thro' all the hoc Months,
His Shape is very fine •, his FJefh white ; his
Teeth, thofe little ones that he has, are in his
Throat ; yet he has a very tender Mouth, and
is oftner loft after being hooked than any other
Fifh. Though there are many Graylings in

the

Cfiap. J. 0//foG R A YLIN®. i^

the Rivers Bove^ Trenty and others of iefs
Note, particularly in that which runs by Sa-
lisbury^ yet he is not fo common a Fifli as the

Graylings are in Seafon all the Year, but
principally in December^ when they are black
about the Head, Gills, and down the Back,
and have their Belly of a daak-grey, dappled
with black Spots. The Grayling's Flelh, e-
ven in his word Seafon, is firm, white, will
eafily calver, and is excellent Meat •, but when
at beft, little inferior to any Trout, He is a
very fwift Swimmer, [but dead-hearted after
he is hooked; bites freely and often at the
fame Fly, if not pricked.

When you angle for him within Water, his
Bait by no m.eans muft drag on the Ground^
he being a Fifh that ufually fwims nearer the
Middle of the Water, and lies always loofe,
and more apt to rife than defcend. Let your
Bait be at leaftfix or nine Inches from the Bot-
tom, and to that End ufe a Float of Cork,
rather than the Running Line. His princi-
pal Ground-baits are the Brandlings Gilt-tail^
Tag- tails thQ A^eadow^vorjn \vd\ fcoured, Cc^-
haitSs Bark-worjTis and Flag-ivor?n -, and at the
Top he may be taken either v/ith natural or
artificial Flies^ or with the Earth-hob^ or Clap''
bait.

See how the \Jmhtv /hoots along the Stream^
Swift as the ^S'hadow, whence he has his- Name,

The

156 ^i^^BRITISH ANGLER. P.IL

'The Trout*s Companion both in Feed atid Soil,
But fimpler much^ and taken with lefs Toil,
Thd* oft" you mifs him, he again will rife.
And, after many Baulks, become an eafy Prize.

CHAP. IV.

Of the Pike, Jack, or Luce.

AS the Salmon is called the King, fo the
Luce, Pike, or facky is furnamed the
Tyrant of the frefli Waters. It has been a
vulgar Opinion, that many of thefe Fifh are
produced without Generation, of a certain Ve-
getable, called Pickerel-weed, Gefner fays,
this Weed and other glutinous Matter, with
the Help of the Sun's Heat in fome particular
Months, and in Ponds adapted for it by Na-
ture, are changed into Pikes. But notwith-
itanding the Teftimony of fo learned a Ma«,
this Notion of equivocal Production is now u-
niverfally exploded, from unqueflionable Ex-
periments. There are no Pikes bred after this
Manner,and tho' fome^of them are brought into
Ponds by W^ays that are paft our finding our,
we may however be fure that they have Gene-
ration like that of other Animals.

The great Lord Bacon, in his Hiflory of
Life and Death, obferves the Pike to be the
longtfb- lived of any frefh Water Fifh, and yet
he computes his Age to be not ufually above
forty Years. Others think it to be not more
than ten Years. But the learned Gefner^ be-
fore

^^jver ^/'e/n

^e/feul/ /^acA

Chap. 4- Of the PIKE. 157

fore mentioned, fpeaks of a Pike taken in
Sweden in the Year 1449, ^^^^ ^ Ringa-
bout his Neck, declaring that he was put into
that Pond by Frederick the Second, more than
two hundred Years before he was laft taken ;
unlefs the Infcription in that Ring, being
Greeks was mif interpreted by then Biihop of
Worms^ a Thing not in the Jeafl unlikely.
It is obferved, that the ^very old and great
Tikes have in them more of Grandeur than
'Goodnefs-, the fmaller,and efpeciallythe middle-
fized, being by the choiceft Palates taken for
the befl Meat •, whereas on the contrary, the
Eel is obferved to be the better for Age and
Bignefs,

The Figure of the Tike's Body is very long ;
his Back broad, and almofb fquare, altogether
equal to the loweft Fins. His Head is lean
and very bony ♦, his Snout long like the Beak
of a Duck, and his lower Jaw far longer than
his upper, having many Teeth, not orderly
difpofed, but in large Ranks. His Eyes are
of a Golden Colour, and very quick-fighted.
His Belly is always white •, but his Back and
Sides are of a black fpeckled with yellow, if he
be fat -, tho' the Sides are white and pale in a
thin lean Fiili. His Ventricle is large and ca-
pacious, and his Throat fhort. Some grow
fafter, fome flower, according to the Diver-
fity of their Water and Food. River FifH
grow much fafter than Pond Filli, unlefs the
Pond be very large, and have a good Stream
running through it. One fpawned in a clear

fpring-

ij8 r/^^BRITISH ANGLER. P.II.

fpringing Brook in March^ will be eighteen
Inches long the next March. A River Pike
grows fail till he arrives at twenty-four or near
thirty Inches in Length : Then he ftands a
Jittle more at Stay, and fpreads himfelf in
Thicknefs : Afterwards he will be much lon-
ger growing to his full Bignefs, which is about
forty-five Inches, from thirty Inches, then he
was increafing to the Length of thirty.

In ftoring of Ponds with Tike^ put in all
your Fifh of a Bignefs ; for a Pike of thirty
Inches will devour one of fifteen. Some grow
more in Length, others in Thicknefs, which
latter Sort are the firmeil Fifhes : For a lean
flenderPi/^d', tho' he feem to advance in Length,
is commonly in a decaying Condition, by
reafon of fome outward Wound from the Ot-
ter, or fome llronger of his own Kind, or an
inward Prick by the Hook, or fome other
Cafualty, Yet even in this Condition, he will
be as hungry and greedy as ever.

The Pike loves a fliil, fhady, and unfre-
quented Place -, fandy, chalky, or clay Bot-
toms i ftill Pools full of Fry ; and, the better
to furprize his Prey unawares, fhelters himfelf
amongft Eull-rufhes, Weeds, Water-docks or
Buflies. He often bites about the Middle of
the River or Pond, and always about Mid-
water ; the Bait generally being in a continual
and gentle Motion, and never to be lefs than
a Foot from the Ground.

In ApriU May, June^ and the Beginning
oijuly^ he bites belt early in the Morning,

and

Chap. 4. Of the P I K E. 1J9

and late in the Evening, and feldom to any
Purpofe in the Night at any Time of the Year.
He bites moft freely in a clear Water, and a
gentle Gale ; in ilill Places ufually, or at leail
in a gentle Stream. Three o'Clock in the Af-
ternoon is his bed Hour in Jidy^ Auguft^ Sep-
t ember ^ and O^oher, In Sep ember ^ and all
the Winter Months, he bites all the Day long,
but always beft about the Middle of the After-
noon, the Water being clear, and the Day
windy. Indeed, both in the Winter and Sum-
mer, the chief Sport is in a dark, cloudy,
gloomy, and windy Day : But in a muddy
Water he bites not well, except after a Flood,
when the River begins to clear. Fikes
fometimes grow to forty five Inches in
Length.

The Fike takes all Sorts of Riits, except
Fly ; but his principal Baits are large Guct-
geons^ Roaches^ fmall- Dace^ large •Minnows^
Loaches ^Bull-heads ^ d.ndBleaks. In July he may
be taken with young Frogs, Salmon-fmelts no
bigger than a Gudgeon, Smelts or Sparlings that
are fmall, frelh, and fweet, and well faftened
on the Hook. Fat Bacon is ufed by fome for
a Bait for him, in the Winter Months. A
youngTrout, a young Jack, a Perch, with
his back Fins cut off, and a Piece of an Eel,
are good Baits likewife for the Pike ; but be
fure that all your Fifh-baits be very frefh and
fweet when you ufe them.

All Pikes that live long prove chargeable to
their Keepers, bccaufe their Life is fupported

by

i6o ^^BRITISH ANGLER.P.II.

by the Death of fo many other Filli, eventhofe
of their own Species. This, as I before ob-
ferved, has made fome Writers call him the
Tyrant of the Rivers, or the freJfh Water
Shark or Wolf, on Account of his bold, vo-
racious Difpofition ; his Appetite being fo
keen, that it is affirmed, a Man going to a
Pond, where a Pike had already devoured all
the other Filh, to water his Mule, had his
Bead bit by the Lips •, to which the Pike hung
fo fail, that the Creature drew him out of the
Water, and by that new Way of Angling, the
Owner of the Mule became Mafter of thtPike,
Inflances are even produced, of their having
feized, in prefling Neceffity, on the Feet and
Legs of Men or Women, who have gone in-
to the Waters.

But without carrying our Credulity too far,
we have been affured by thofe who have kept
tame Otters, that they have known a Pike in
extreme Hunger fight with an Otter, for a Carp
which the Otter had caught, and was then bring-
ing out of the Water. And it is too well
known to be doubted, that a Pike will devour
a Filli of his own Kind, that fball be bigger
than his Belly or Throat will receive •, fwal-
lowing firft a Part of him, and letting the o-
ther Part remain in his Mouth till the Iwallow-
ed Part be digefted, and then fwallowing that
other Part which was in his Mouth, till he has
gorged the Whole. Like as the Ox, and
fome other cloven-footed Beads, take not their
Meat out of their Mouth immediately into

their

Chap. 4. Of the PIKE. i6l

their Belly, but firft into fome Place betwixt,
where they mafticate and digeft it by Degrees,
which \% czXhd Chewing the Cud, Pite will
even bite when they are not hungry, provided
a tempting Bait comes in their Way.

The Pike will eat venomous Things, in par-
ticular fome Kind of Frogs that are fo efteem-
ed, and yet live without being injured by
them : Whence it has been conjecflured that
'he has in him a natural Antidote againft all
Poifon. He has a wonderful natural Heat,
that can digeft and exclude every Kind of Fifli-
P'lefli, without being fick. He is faid never
to eat the venomous Frog^ till he has firft kil-
led, and then fo throughly waflied her, by
moving her up and down in the Water, that
he may devour her without Danger. Gefner
affirms, that a Polifi Gentleman faithfully af-
fured him, that he had feen two young Geefe
at one Time in the Belly of a Pike : And there
is no doubt but this Filli, in the Height of his
Hunger, will fnap at and devour a Dog that
fwims in a Pond, there having been Examples
of his fo doing.

The Pike has the Charadler of a folitary bold
Fifli : Solitary, becaufe he always fwims and
repofes himfelf alone^ and never in Sholes, or
with Company, as Roach and Dace^ and moft
other Fifh do •, and bold, becaufe he fears not
a Shadow, nor to fee or be feen of any Body,
like the Trout and Chuh^ and all other Inha-
bitants of the Rivers.

The

162 57^^ BRITISH ANGLER. P.II.

The Male Pike is better than the Female,
which is out of Seafon a great Part of the Sum-
mer. The Pike's Flelh is whiter, finer, and
every way more excellent than that of the Carp,
The Jaw-bones, Hearts, and Galls of Pikes
are reported by Gefner to be very Medicinal.
He fays they ftop Blood, abate Fevers, cure
Agues, oppofe and expel the Infection of the
Plague, and are many Ways ufeful for the
Good of Mankind. But he obferves, that the
Biting of a Pike is venomous, and hard to be
cured. His Spawn provokes Stool, and is
ufed for that Purpofe by the Country People.

The Pike^ being a Fifli of Prey, breeds but
once a Year ; whereas other Fifh that are li-
able to be deftroyed, are obferved to breed
much oftner. Thus there are tame: Pigeons
v/hich {\t almoft every Month, whilft the
Hawk^ a Bird of Prey, breeds but once in
twelve Months. In this the Wifdom of Provi-
dence is very confpicuous, for its Care in the
Prefervation of every Species of Creatures. The
Time of Spawning for the Pike is ufually about
the End of February^ and fometimes in March ^
as the Weather proves colder or warmer. A
He and a She Pike^ at this Time, will ufually
go together out of a River into fome Ditch or
Creek, where the Spawner cafts her Eggs, and
the Melter hovers over her during the Adion,
but touches her not. The befl of Pikes are
noted to be in Rivers *, next are thofe in great
Po?ids or Meers^ and the word in Ponds of a
fmaller Dimenfion.

There

ehap. 4. Of the PIKE. 163

There is a wonderful Antipathy betwixt
the Pike and fome Frogs^ the Effedls ot
which would be almoft incredible, were they
not well attcfled. But the following Story,
related by James JDubravius^ a Bohemian Bi-
fliop, in his Book of Fi/hes and Fi/h- Ponds ^
and from him quoted by our Countryman ^W-
ton^ is too authentick and remarkable to be
here omitted. As Duhravius and Thurzo^ an-
other Bifhop, were walking by a large Pond
in Bohemia^ they faw a Pike lie very fleepily
and quiet by the Shore Side, which a ir^^ per-
ceiving, leaped upon his Head, and having
expreft theutmoft Malice by his fwoln Cheeks
and darting Eyes^ flretched out his Legs and
embraced the Pike'^s Head, and immediately
extending them to his Eyes, with his Claws
and Teeth attacked thofe tender Parts. The
Pike^t full of Anguifh, glides up and down
in the Water, and rubs himfelf againft the
Weeds, or whatever he thought might quit him
of his Enemy : But all in vain \ for the Frog
continued to ride triumphantly, and to bite
and torment the poor Fifh till his Strength
failed, and then both the AfTailant and Afiail-
ed funk together to the Bottom of the Water.
Prefently after the Frog appeared again at the
Top and croaked, feeming to triumph like
a Conqueror* and then he retired to his fecret
Hole. The Bifliop, who had beheld the
Battle, called his Fii}ierman to fetch his Nets,
and if poITiblc to catch the Ptke^ that they

might

i64 n:e B RI T I S H A N G LE R. P.II.

might inform themfelves fully of what had hap-
pened. The Pike was accordingly drawn forth,
with both his Eyes eaten out : And when the
two Bifhops began to wonder at this Spedtacle,
the Fifherman declared there was no Ground
for their Surprize, and afTured them he was
certain that Pikes were often fo ferved.

Mr. Walton ^LVguts for the Probability of this
Story from what is obferved of the Fijhing-
Fr^^jCalled by the Bahnatians the Water-Devil^
and of the Cunning of fome of our own Frogs
here in England, who are fo fearful and cau-
tious of the Water-fnake, that when they fwim
in a Place where they expecft to meet with
him, they get a Reed acrofs in their Mouths,
which, if they encounter their Enemy, fecures
the feeble Animals from his Strength and Ma-
lice, till they get away by fwifter Swimming.

But to proceed : The Pike ufualiy feeds on
Fijh or Frogs, and fometimes on a Weed of
his own, called Pickerel-weed, I have already
taken notice of the vulgar Opinion, that Pikes
are bred of this Weed. They who maintain
it afiert, that where none have been put into
Ponds, yet they have been there found in A-
bundance ; and that there has always been
Plenty of that Weed in fuch Ponds. But this,
admit it be true, is far from being a fuiHcient
Argument againfl an univerfal Law of Na-
ture, which holds in Vegetables as well as
Animals, That Nothing can be produced but
by the Seed of its own Species. Even the Flies
in corrupted Flefh are no otherwife the EfFe(5l

of

Chap. 4. Of the PIKE. 165

of that Corruption, than as it ferves them for a
proper Nell and Nouriihment. And doubt-
lefs, by Parity of Reafon, there will be more
Pikes found where there is a Plenty of this
their favourite Weed, than in any other Place,
without the Weed's contributing in the leaft to
their original Produ<5lion.

As to fifhing for the Pike^ you may do it ei-
ther with zLedger or a Walking- baiLWe call that
a Ledger-bait which is fixed, or made to reft in
one certain Place when we are abient from it ;
and that a JValking-hait which we take with us,
and have ever in Motion. The beft Ledger is a li-
ving Bait, tho' a dead one may Ibmetimes catch,
whether it be a Fijh or a Frog, That you may-
make them live the longer, obferve thefe Di-
re^ions.

A Roach or Dace is the beft and moft tempt-
ing of all Fifh-baits ; but a Perch is the
longeft-livedon a Hook. Having cut off the
Fin on his Back, which may be done without
hurting him, you muft take a Knife, and make
an Incifion betwixt the Head and the Fin on
the Back, or fuch a Scar as you may put the
arming \V'"ire of your Hook into it, with as
little Bruifing of the Filh as Art and Practice
will enable you to do : Then carrying your
arming Wire along his Back, quite to, or near
the Tail of your Filh, betwixt his Skin and
his Body, draw it out at another Notch near
his Tail : Then tie him about it with Thread,
but no harder than to prevent hurting theFiihj
which the better to avoid, fome have a kind

of

i66 51^^ B RITISH ANGLER.P.II

of Probe to open the way, for the more eafy
Entrance and PafTage of their Wire : But Time
and a little Experience will teach the Pradice
of thefe Things better than Words •, and there-
fore to thofe we refer the young Angler.

There are two principal Kinds of FrogSy
which i?iay be diftinguifhed by the Names
of a Flejd and a Fijh-frog, By Flejh^frogs are
meant Frogs that breed and live on the Land ;
and of thefe there are feveral Species of vari-
ous Colours, fome being fpeckled, fome green-
ilh, fome blackifli, and others brown. The
green Frog^ which is a fmaJl one, is taken to
be venomous •, and fo is the Paddock or Frog^
paddockywhich ufually breeds and inhabits on thQ
Land •, and is very large and bony, efpecially
the She Frog of that Kind : Yet thefe will
fometimes come into the Water, but not fre-
quently. By Fijh-frogs are underftood thofe
that breed and live in t^xe Water, v/hich are
not venomous, efpecially the right ^Vater-frog^
which about February or March breeds in the
Slime of Ditches, by blackifh Eggs laid in
that Slime. At this their Breeding-Time the
He and She Frogs are obferved to continue
Jong in Conjun6lion, fome fay many Days,
and to croak and make a Noife, which the
Land or Paddock-frog never does. The beft of
thefe Water-frogs for a Pike^ is the yellowell
that you can get, for that the Pike will foonell
take : And that your Frog may continue long
alive, put your Hook into his Mouth, (whicii
you may eafily do from the Middle ofJpril to

Chap,4. Of the V IKE. 167

^uguft, when the Frog's Mouth cJofcsup, and
continues fo for at leafl 6 Months, and out at his
GilJs, and then with a fine Needle and Silk
faften the upper Part of his Leg with only one
Stitch to the Arming-wire of your Hook, or
tie it gently above the upper Joint to l\\Q arm-
ed Wire, being careful to hurt him as little as
pofTible.

Having faftened your Ledger-hook to a Line,
which fhould not be lefs than twelve or four-
teen Yards long ; you mull faften that Line to
any Bough near the Hole where a Ptke is fu-
fpeded to lie, or to have a Haunt, and then
wind on a forked Stick all your Line except
half a Yard, or fomewhat more, and fplit that
forked Stick with fuch a Notch at one End of
it, as may keep any more of the Line from
unravelling from about the Stick, than jult
what you intend. Chufe your forked Stick to
be of that Bignefs as may keep the Bait from
pulling it under Water till the Pike bites, and
then the Pike having pulled out the Line from
the Cleft in which it was gently fallened, he
will have Line enough to go to his Hold and
pouch the Baft. U you would have your
Ledger-bait to keep in a fixed Place, undifturb-
ed by Wind or other Accidents, which may
drive it to the Shore-fide, (for it is likeliefl to
catch a Pike in the midft of the Water,) hang
a fmall Plummet of Lead, a Stone, a Piece of
Tile, or a Turf in a String, and caft it into
the Water with the forked Stick, to hang upon

the

i6%ne BRITISH ANGLER. P.II.

the Ground, as a kind of Anchor to keep the
Stick from moving.

Or when you bait your Hooks thus with live
Fifh or Frogs, and in a windy Day, faflen
them to a Bough or Bundle of Straw, that by
the Help of the Wind they may be drove crofs
fome Pond or Mere^ and you may lland ftill
on the Shore and fee Sport enough immediate-
ly, if there be any Quantity of Pikes in the
Place. Thefe live Baits may likewife make
Sport, if you tie the Line about the Body or
Wings of a Goofe or Btuk^ and drive her o-
ver the Pond, One may alfo faften them to
Bladders, or Boughs, or Bundles of Hay, or
Rufhes, to fwim down a River, whilft the
Sporcfman walks quietly on the Shore, in Ex-
pedlation of his Game. This fort of Fiihing
is frequently call'd Huxing,

As to Fiihing with a dead Bait, a little Ex-
perience, in Mr. /i^^/Zi'w's Opinion, will make
any one perfed: in it. The baiting one's Hook
with a dead Gudgeon or a Roachy and moving
it up and down the Water, is too eafy a Thing,
according to him, to need many Directions,
But the following Receipt, which has been e-
fleemed a great Secret in this Diverfion, he
thought, might be worth communicating to
the Learner.

DifTolve Gu?n o^ Ivy in the Oil of Spike ^ and
with it anoint your dead Bait *, then cad it in-
to a proper Place, and when it has lain a fhort
Time at the Bottom, draw it towards the Top
of the Water, and fo up the Stream. When it

is

Chap. 4. Of the PIKE. 169

is more than likely that you have a Pike follow
with uncommon Eagernefs^

But with all due Deference to the Judgment
of fo experienced an Angler, we mud affirm
that there is much more Art and Experience
requifite in trowling or fnapping with a dead
Bait, than in any Thing he has mentioned con-
cerning the Ledger-bait, befides that the Prac-
tice of the former is lefs exceptionable, and
more becoming the fair Angler.

Trowling for Pike is a very pleafant Diver-
fion, and the Trowl may be bought ready
made; only let it have a "Winch to wind it
up withal. You muft always angle with it in
clear Water, and, if polTible, on a windy
Day. Some prefer a fingle Hook before the
double Pike-hook^ and bait with a Minnow^ as
well to catch Perch as Pike,

Your Tackle muft be ftrong, your Rod
long, and very (lender at Top, where you
muft place a fmall flender Ring for your Line
to run through. Let your Line be Silk, for
at leaft two Yards next the Hook, and the
reft four or fix Folds of the very beft flaxen
Thread curioufly twifted, 0.0 or ^o Yards long;
your Hook double, and ftrongly armed with
Wire, for above a Foot. Then with a Probe
or Fifli Needle, you muft draw the Wire in
at the Fifhes Mouth, and out at his Tail, thaC
fo the Hook may lie in the Mouth of the Fifh,
and both the Points on either Side. Upon the
Shank of the Hook, faften fome very fmooth
Lead, that it may go into the Fifhes Mouth,

i and

lyo rhe BRITISH ANGLER.P.If.

and fink her with the Head downwards, as
though Ihe had been playing on the Top of
the Water, and were returning to the Bottom.
Your Bait, as before obfervcd in general, may
be a \d.vgt Gudgeon^ nBleak^ 2i Minnow^ afmall
^rout^ a fmall Roach or Dace^ a fmall Sal-
tnon-fmdt^ a Perch with his back Fins cut off,
a Piece of an Eeh ^Loach^ or fometimes ^Frog
in Hay-time. Your Hook thus baited, you
muft tie the Tail of the Fifh clofe and h^ to
the Wire ; or eKe, with drawing to and a-
gain, the Fifh will rend off the Hook: Or,
which is neater, with a Needle and ftrong
Thread, ftitch through the Fifh on either Side
of the Wire, and tie it very faft. W eeds are
deflrudive to Baits, efpecially when they are
ftrong and tough ; fo that if you be not care-
ful in tying the Tail of the Bait faft to the
Joint of the Wire, the Weeds will fpoil it be-
fore the Pike come.

Your Tackle being thus ready, caft your
Fifli up and down in fuch Places as you know
the Pike frequents, obferving ftill that he fink
fome Depth before you pull him up again.
When the Pike comes, if it be not funk deep,
you may ufually fee the Water move, at leail
you may feel him : Then (lack your Line,
and give him Length enough to run away to
his Hold, whither he will make diredlly, and
there pouch or fwallow the Bait, ever begin-
ning with the Head. Thus let him lie till you
fee the Line move in the Water, and then
you may certainly conclude, he hath pouched

the

Chap. 4. Of the "P I K E, 171

Bair, and is ranging out for more. Then
with the Trowl, wind up your Line, tiJJ you
think you have it aJmoft ftrait -, and then,
with a fmall Jerk, hook him, and divert
yourfelftoyour Satisfadion.

Some ufe no Rod at all, but hold the Line
in their Hand, with Lead and Float. Others
ufe a very great Hook, which they put at the
Tail of the Filh, and when the Pike comes
they ftrike at his firft Pull. Others put a
ftrong Thread in at the Mouth of the Bait,
and out at one of the Gills, and fo over the
Head, and in at the other Gill, tying tht Bait
to the Hook, and leaving a little Length of
Thread betwixt the Filli and Hook, that fo
the Pike may turn the Head of the Bait, the
better to fwallow it ; and then, as before, af-
ter fome Paufe, ilrike pretty fmartly. If any
Weed hang on your Bait, tht Pike will re-
fufe it.

February, if it be a dry Seafon and open,
IS one of the beft Trowling Months. In March
they fpawn and are Tick •, therefore bite ill
u^Z-W/, and until the Middle o^ May, efpecial^
ly if it be cold and windy, is p'ropitious to
the Sport, becaufe the Weeds which have lain
all the Winter, begin then to ere^: their
Heads. From the Middle of May vnn\ S,^p-
temhcr it is bad Trowling, by reafon of the
V\ eeds. From the Beginning of Septe?nher till
Martinmas, if you are not difturbed with Rain
or F'loods, efpecia-lly the Month of O^ober,. is
^ 2 . good j

172 The BRITISH ANGLER. P.II.

good ; becaufe the Weeds then fall and rot,
and the Fifli are fat with the Summer's Feed.

To be a little more particular: When you
drop in your Bait, caft it firfl even before you,
then on each Side, and let the third Throw be
before you into the Middle : Afterwards, call
about all Places where you conceive your Game
lies, or where you can fifli without Annoyance
of Weeds and Roots. You cannot cafl out
too far ; but only drop in the Bait, here and
there by the Sides, and in Holes that are clear
and deep.

Having caft out a fair Throw, it may be
twelve, or fometimes twenty Yards, \(tt the
Bait have a little Time to fink ; then feel it by
drawing gently towards you : For a Pikeoktn
takes at firft Sight, before it gets to the Bot-
tom ; and if you fnatch it hailily, you both
difcourage him, and deprive yourfelf of your
expelled Sport. After you have given it an
eafy Motion towards you, let it have the Li-
berty of finking again : Then draw it in foft-
Jy •, 'for if you jerk it haftily, he has not Time
to lay hold on the Bait. When the Bait comes
riear the Bank, play it longer there; lirft
deep, efpecialiy if in cold Weather ; after-
wards raife k higher and higher, by Degrees,
till you have it fo near the Top that you fee it
.glifter : Then take it out, but not haftily, be-
caufe he often takes it near tlie Top.

When a Pike is once tired, he will lie watch-
ing for the Bait, and catch greedily at it, if

he

Chap. 4. Of the V IK E. 173

he does not fee you : Therefore keep at a lit-
tle Diflance upon the Bank. Sometimes they
leap out of the Water at the Bait ; but then
they are fo frighted that they will bite no
more.

If he takes the Bait greedily at Bottom, and
marches up the Scream with it, or flrikes crofs
the River towards his Hold, he will then pro-
bably lie flill a \\tt\Q Time, while he is
pouching; for you may lofe all for want of two
or three Minutes Forbearance. U it hath lain
ftill a while the fecond Time, and then runs
with it, draw your Line ftraight, and with
your Pole give him an eafy Stroke, and fo
feel him by Degrees, till you come to fee him.
But if he be furious, let him have Line enouo-h
and give him his full Swing, till he is pacified
by lofing his Strength.

You mull be cautious in Landing a great
one ; for if the River be broad, and your
Line fhort, you may eafily lofe him : For
he will launch out with fuch Violence, that
though he cannot break your Line, yet he will
tear out his Hold, or even Entrails, if he be
there hung : You mufl therefore have a Land-
ing-Net at hand, to prevent Danger.

If he takes the Bait atTop, and runs fiercely
with It into the Deep, and there lies flill for
fomeTime, without pouching it, your Re-
medy is to flir him a little, and make him run,
and be more eager. After he hath lain ftilL
and runs with it again, there is no Drnger of
lofing the Filh : For when they leave it; they
J 3 com-

174 5^^^ B R I T IS H A N G L E R. P.IL

Commonly throw it up the firfi: Time they lie
Hi]]. Sometimes, indeed, they take it again
after they have left it, and play with it more
than at firft, and yet after all leave it. A FiJfh
that takes it mod greedily at firlt, and carries
it furthefl, notw^thftanding often forfakes it.
The only Way to be even with fuch, is to ufe
the Snap.

When you have a Bite, and the Fifh goes
down the Stream, It is commonly a fmall one :
But on the contrary, if he fails flowiy upwards
with the Bait, it is a Sign of a good one. Great-
er Fifh bite more calmly than the lefTer ; for
the fmall ones fnatch and run away with the
Bait without any Deliberation, whereas old
Fifh are more wary. When the Water is clear,
and not very deep, you may fee him rife at the
Bait and take it, and you will perceive it glif-
ter, as it lies crofs his Mouth : Thus may yoa
knov/ v/hen he hath pouched, and your Time
tofirik.-.

When you have ftruck him, be fure to have
your Line ready and Hack, that he may take
as much Liberty as he will : For when he
finds himfelftrapan'd with the Hook, he will
ufe all his Might and Cunning to get loofe.
As you feel him come eafily towards you, you
may be tlill drawing, till you feel him make
rcfiftance again : Then let him have his Swing
till his Fury is over •, after which gather your
Line to you again till he ftarts away ; and if
you can get him to the Top, it will the foon-
er tire him : For the more he drives and throws

him-

ehap.4. Of tht P I K E. 17J

Kim felf from you, the fooner will he be wea-
ry. After this Manner, by drawing him iTp,
and Jetting him loofe again, you may tame
him till you bring him to Shore, and land
him by the Net. But in cafe you be unpro-
vided with this Convenience, beware of at-
tempting to take him out by the Back or Tail,
but grafp him by the Head, and put your
Fingers into his Eyes. If you lay hold by his
Gilts, your Fingers may be injured with his
Bices, which are venomous.

When you fnap for the Pike^ you muft give
him leave to run a little, and then ftrike •, but
always ftrike the contrary Way to that which
he runs. A double- fpring Hook is principal-
ly, if not only ufeful in this Way of Angling,
and much to be preferred before all Hooks.
Angling with the Trowl is a furer^atleafta more
eafy Way for a Learner to pra6tife, than the
Snap : Befides, the Snap is chiefly ufeful to
take a Pike^ which often pricking with the
Trowl hath made wary and cunning. Such a
one is bed taken at Snap, and the fitted Time
for this Exercife is in March^ when the Pike
bites ill, becaufe they fpawn then, and are
fick.

For this Way of Angling, make a Hole with
the Point of your Hook or Probe, in the Fifli's
Side with which you bait, as near the Middle
as you can: Put in your armed Wire, and
draw it out at the Mouth, which afterwards
few up with a Needle and Thread. Others
life tlie Probe to draw the arming Wire under
I 4 the

iy6 "The B RI T I S H A N G LE R. PJL

rhe Skin only, and out at the Bone behind the
Gills ', then again under the Gills^ and out at
the Mouth. This Jatter V/ay is by many
thought the befl, becaufe there rs only the Skin
ro hinder the drawing and piercing of the
Hook : Whereas in the former Way, if the
Pike hold faft, all the Flefh on the Outfide of
the Fifh will be drawn into a Heap or Lump,
fo thick, that the Hook can hardly reach thro'
k to pierce the Pikers Chaps.

Obferve that tho' the Pike hath fed to that
Excefs that he cannot gorge your Bait, yet
will he rife and make many Offers with fuch a
Good-will, that you may often catch him with
the Snap.

In angling for the Pike^ after he hath taken
your Bait, if he move fiowly, and make no
Scop, give him Time, and you will feldom
mils him. Cad not the Bait in the fame Place
above once, or twice at moil ; for he common-
ly takes the Bait at the firft or fecond Throw.
If he be ftill after he hath taken the Bait, gen*
tly move your Hand, to try which Way his
Head lieth. If you cannot difcover that, then
ftrike diredly upwards 5 otherwife, inftead of
hooking him, you may pluck the Bait out of
his Mouth, l^ he take it upon the Top of
the Water, and lie ftill, you lee which Way
his Head lieth, and may order yourfelf accord-
ingly.

At the Snap your Tackle muft be ftronger

than for the Trowl, in regard you muft ftrike

much more forceably. Your beft Lines are

made

Chap. 4, Of the P 1 K'E. .177

made of green or sky-coloured Silk. Next
are thofe of green Thread or Hemp. Fallen
your Swivel to the End of the Line ; (for you
muft ufe a Swivel both at Trowl and Snap)
and hook your armed Wire upon the Swivel.
Both at Snap and with Trowl, cut away one
of the Fins of the Bait clofe at the Gills ; and
another behind the Vent, on the contrary Side :
The Bait will play the better.

In calling with the Trowl or at Snap, be
fure to raife your Hand a little when you fee
the Bait ready to fall into the Water. This
will prevent the Bait's dalhing violently into
the Water in its Fall, which frights the I^ike^
tho' he be a bold Fifh. After your Bait is in,
let it fink a little \ then draw it towards you,
near at the Top > then let it fink again, and
fo on.

Make your Lead for the Trowl and Snap
four-fquare, and much thicker and fliorter than
moft ufe. The Square will keep the Hook
in the fame Place as you fet it, and the thick
fhort Lead fmks him with his Head down-
wards, fo that he will not (hoot ilope-wife, as
when the Lead is long.

A larger Bait is moil inviting to the Tike^
but the lefTer takes him more fure]y,being foon-
eft gorged, and the Hook certainly taken in
his Mouth both at Snap and Trowl. Two or
three Baits will ferve all the Day: Put them
on before you go to angle, and ufe one till it be
W ater-fopt,

I 5 \5^^

178 ri^^BRITISH ANGLER. P.IL

Ufe a large white Minnow^ or large Loach ^
put on with the Hook in his Mouth, to angle
for a Pike as you do for a Trout ; and let your
Hook be fmalL Never ufe a great Hook with
a fmall Eait, nor a great Sait with a fmall
H^ook. You may catch both Pike and Perch,
if you trowl with a Minnow or Loach, or
fmall Gudp-eon^ and have not too big a Hook.
When the Water is tranfparent, and the Day
clear and bright, a large Gudgeon is the beil
Bait for Pike : But if the Day be dark or clou-
dy, Roach, Dace, or a Bleak new taken, are
the bed Baits that can be made ufe of.

To angle with a Minnow, geta fingle Hook,
Jong and flender in the Shank -, but Lead up-
on it, as thick near the Bent as will go into the
Min?iQW*s Mouth : Place the Point of the
Hook diredly up the Face of the Fifh : Let the
Rod be as long as you can handfomely ma-
nage, with a Line of the fame Length ; call
up and down, and manage it as when you
trowl with any other Bait. If, when the Pike
hath taken it, he run to the E^nd of the Line
before he hath gorged it, do not flrike, but
hold ftill only, and he will return back and
fwallow it. Some efteem a Minnow the
bed with a Trowl, efpecially if you ufe a
Swivel. ^

I will juft mention two other Ways of
rjaking Pikes, becaufe they are frequently prac-
^dfed, tho' not fo much by the fair Angler as
the two former : Thefe are called 6';^^m^and

Hook-

Chap. 4, Of the PIKE. J79

Hooking, In May^ June^ and Jtily^ in a clear,
calm, hot, gjeamy Day, Pikes foar on the
Water's Surface, or near it : Then fix a Snare
or Running-noofe of Wire to the End of a
ftrong Packthread, a Yard and a half
long, and the other End of the Packthread
to a long Pole that is manageable. Your Snare
being open, you may oblerve Jacks lie on the
Top of the Water, and eafily put the Noofe
over them, and, with a quick and fmart Jerk,
hoifl them to Land.

Or you may, at that Time, take a Line of
feven or eight Foot, and arm to it a Hook of
the largeft Size, having the Shank leaded
neatly, that the Weight may guide it at Plea-
fure, and you may ftrike the Pike with the
bare Hook when they go a Frogging into
Ditches, and you fee them fearing on the Su-
perficies of the Water, Or you may whip
four Hooks to fuch a Line, the Points a
Qiiarter of a Circle dillant from each odierj,
and all whipt together.

^0 catch thai Nimrod of the Streams the

Pike,
An^itxhe cautions^ nor too rajhly ftrike.
Rods, Lines, and HdSks, are often found too

fmall,
"the Tyrant^ 5 ftrong, and rudely forces all.
^ftiff-i ^^^i-, ^i^^ Foot Pole you muft prepare^
IFhich may infe-fral Things repay your Care :

Whether

ISO ^-^^BRITISH ANGLER. P.IL

Whether the ftruggling ?v\zt your Caution asky
And Landing-Nets Jix*d to't facilitate your

Or with fix'd Rings, you further this Defign^
By cajling finely out your Bait and Line.
IVith this have always Hooks fecurely Itrong,
Well-vvir*d, and join'd to Lines 'proportion ably

long.
A Dace, a Gudgeon, or a Stone-Loach iake^
Or^ wanting thefe^ an happy Trial make
Offomething elfe of the lefs ufual Kind \
As Frogs, or Eels, or Garbadge ; for you'll/
find ^ >

His greedy Appetite will leave your BoultsK
"behind, I

Let hut your Baits he good, your Lines he

ftrong,
Without Succtkyou cannot tempt him long :
Then give him GorgingTime, andyou^re fecure^
He rarely leaves his Prize, or quits his Pow'r.

Perhaps the Day is hot, no Breeze of Wind
Js to your Hope and vain Endeavours kind :
Rife tzrly then^ or try your Fortune late 5
Or elfe till more aufpicious Minutes wait.
When keen the ^^ind$ from any Sluarterhlow^
ne Hyrant feldom waits a fecond Throw,
But if the Streams you iufe are thinly flor'd.
And therefore fmall's the Pafiime they afford 5
Tou then prepare a handfome taper Pole,
As long, ifnotflill longer than the Trowl ;
To this a thin^ hutjirong well-twifled Line
/f^x, and Hooks both large, and fit for your
Deftgn.

B^

Chap. 4. Of the PIKE. jgi

By frequent Bobbingjyoa deceive his Eyes
• ^«^//j^«r Tackling hold, he's certainly your

CHAP. V.
Of the PERCH.

T?r?ifuf '■a,^^e•■ygo°d Fin,, and

i're)s that, like the Pike and Trout, carries
h.s Teeth in his Mouth, which is very ]ar"e
He dares venture to attack and devour feveni
other K:„ds of Fi(h ; has a rif.ng or Ho^-
Back armed withiharp and ftiffBriftles ; all
his Skin covered over with thick, dry, hard
Scales ; and h,s Back, which few other P^
have, adorned with two Fins. The Perch is
fo bold, that he will feize one of his own

Wo?fo7rLT^'w "y''^'^" "'=^''*^. fhat
Wolf of the frelh Waters. He is much e-

fteemed m Italy, and efpecially when fmall
Gefner prefers the P.../andpL befo e he
Trota, orany frefl, Water Fi/h. The(?„
% proverbiaJly, .14... wholefome than a Perch
*fhe Rhme ; and mdeed the River Perch isfo
wholefome that Phyficians allow him to be

^nuJ^^'^T '" ^^^^^'' and by Women
.nChdd-bed. He is deep-bodied, andbyNa-
turahfts efteemed very nutritive " "^ ^^'i

They abound more in the R\y tvPo in Ttah
and ,n the R.vers of £«^/w,than in any S
Parts, They have a Stone > their Brain,

which

iSi ri^^ BRITISH ANGLER.P.II

which in Foreign Countries is fold by the A-
pothecaries, who hold it to be very medicinal
againft the Stone in the Reins. Thefe are
fome of the Commendations beftowed upon the
frefh Water Perch ; yet many affirm the Sea-
Perch, which is known by having but one Fia
on' his Back, to be a much better Fifh.

T\\Q Perch grows Howly, yet will fometimes
increafe to be almoft two Foot long : Though
his ordinary Length is not above twelve or
fourteen Inches. When attacked by the Pik^^
to terrify his Enemy, and fave himfelf, the
Perch will briftle up his Fins as a Turkey-
Cock fometimes ereds his Tail ; on v/hich
Account the Pike never meddles with him, un-
lefs prefled by extreme Hunger.

The Perch loves a gentle Stream of a rea-
fonable Depth, and efpecially clofe by a hollow
-Bank : And though Salmon^ Troul^3.nd Perch
delight in clear and fwift Rivers ; pebbly, gra-
velly Bottoms, or green Weeds •, yet Perches
are fometinnes found, but not in fuch Plenty
and Goodnefs, in flow, llimy, and muddy
Rivers, as about Oxford,

The Perch will not bite at all Seafons of the
Year : He is very abftemious in Winter ; yet
even then he will bite in the Midil of the Day, .
if it be warm : It is to be obferved indeed, that
all Fi(h bite bed about the Midil of a warm
Day in W^inter. In Summer he will bite ai]
the Day long, in cool, gloomy, or windy
Weather •, yet principally from feven o'Clock
in the Forenoon, till after ten, and from a-

bout

Chap. 5. Of the P E R C H. ig^

bout two in the Afternoon till about fix, and
Ibmetimes later, efpecially in hot Weather.

If there be thirty or forty of them in a Hole,
they may be at one Standing all catched one
after another. They are not like the folitary
Pike^ but love to accompany one another, and
march together in Troops -, as all Fifh that
have Scales are obfcrved to do.

The Perch is very ftrong, and will contend
hard and long for his Life. He fpawns but
once a Year, and that about February oxMarch,

He will bite at a JVorm^ a Minnozv^ or a
little Frog \ of which you may find many in
Hay-time : Of Worms^ the Lobworm^ or the
Brandlings I take to be the beft, being well
fcoured in Mofs or Fennel \ and next the
Worm that lies under a Cow-turd with a blewifh
Tail. He will alfo take the Red-worm and
the 'Dew-worm, If you angle for a Perch
with a Minnow^ it is beft your Bait be alive,
fticking your Hook through his Back Fin :
Or a Minnow may be hooked in his upper Lip,
and fufFered to fwim up and down about Mid-
water, or a little lower, ftill keeping him to
about that Depth, by a Float, which ought
not to be a very litde one. The fame Method
is to be obferved when you fifh with a fmall
Frogs your Hook being faftened through the
Skin of his Leg, towards the upper Part of it.

When the Perch bites, be fure you give him
Time enongh to pouch the Hook, for there
was fcarce ever any Angler that gave him
too much. Some, in angling for Perch, will

fuffer

184^^ BRITISH ANGLER.P.II.

fuffer their Bait to touch the Ground, efpecially
when they fifh with a /Fbrw. The Turning
of the Water, or Eddy, in a good Gravel-
Scour, is an excellent Place for Sport. Your
Tackle fhould be ftrong, becaufe in lilliing for
Perch, Pikes are often taken. Bait the Ground
over Night with Loh^worms cut in Pieces.

When you ufe the Minnovjy it will be con-
venient to have your Hook whipped to a Link
of fmall Brafs IVire^ left you fhould meet with
the Pike. A Piece cut from a Roach or Dace
is a tolerable Bait, when you want others.

The |following Direcftions in angling for
the Perch with a V/onn^ may be worth obftrv-
ing : In March ufe the Red-worm at the Bot-
tom: In Aprils the Oak-worrn^ a young Frog
with his Feet cut off, or a Red Snail : In May^
the Dock-worm, or the Bait that breeds on the
Ofier-Leaf, the Oak-Leaf, and the Hawthorn :
In June, the Red-worm with the Head cut off,
and a Cod-bait put before it, or the Dor : In
July the large Gr a/shopper, or Dunghil-Gruh :
In Auguft, and the following Months, Red-
worms^ or Brandlings.

Perch 7nuddy Moats and ftanding Waters love^
And in the Chryftal Currents rarely rove •,
Or when they do, fo nice they are and coy.
The Angler's Skill and Patience they defy.
In gentle Rains, or after violent Show'rs,
He boldly roams, and eagerly devours.
Beneath impending Willows oft he lies.
Watchful io takcy or chewing on his Prize :

Deep

Ghap. 5. 0//,^^ PERCH 185

Deep Pits he loves too ; hut you rareliefl fail
Where whirling Eddies rapidly prevail :
Tet foon in April, after /pawning Hours^
He haunts^ and freely bites upon the Scours.
But large your Float mujl hey your Tackle

flrong ;
Nor Jhould you think his flow Digeftion long :
For, if he bite, his Prize he will not leave^
Too greedy 7?iuch the Angler to deceive,
Nice he is not ; hut feldom can you fail.
With Minnow, Lob -worm, or the blewilli

Tail:
Nay, Roach, or Dace in little Pieces cut^
And on the Hook with careful Safety puty
Have after various Trial /laughter d morey
Than all the long Preparatives hefore.
Nor eft' with Perch alone this Art is hle/l-y *\
For Pike and Chub have flrenucu/ly pre/i \
Tofeize the favoury Bit before the reji, ^

C H A P. VI.
Of the CARP.

BESIDES the k\ng\y Sahrion and Ty-
rantPi/^^, we have the Carp, a beautiful,
good, and very fubtle Filh, which has 'the
Title of ^ieen of the Rivers. The Carp was
not at firft bred, but has now been long in
Englandy and is become naturalized. One Mr.
Mafcaly a Gentlemen of Plum/led in SuffeXy is
iaid to have firft brought them over' in the

Reiga

i86 2^^BRITISH ANGLER.P.ir.

Reign of King Henry VIII. To which this an*
tient Diftich agrees :

Hops and Tuykies^ Carps and Beer^
Came into England all in a Tear,

As of Sea-fifh the Herring dies foonefl: out

of the Water, and of frefh Water Fifli the

J'rout ; fo the Carp^ next to the Eel^ endures

the moft Severity, (exept Cold) and lives longeft

cut of his own Element.

Carps and Loaches are obferv.ed to breed
feveral Months in the Year, contrary to the
Cuftom of other Fifh. You fhall fcarce ever
take a Male Carp without a Melt, or a Female
without a Roe or Spawn, and generally pretty
large, efpecially in the Summer Scafon. They
breed more naturally in Ponds than in running
Waters •, but thofc that live in Rivers are
taken to be much che belter Meat. There arc
fome Ponds indeed, in which Carps will not
breed, efpecially thofe that are cold ; but where
the Situation fuits, they multiply innumerably.
Some affirm, they breed no lefs than fix Times
in a Year, if there are no Pikes nor Perch to
devour their Spawn. They caft it upon Grafs,
or Flags, or Weeds, where it lies ten or twelve
Days before it be enlivened.

If the Carp have Water- Room and good
Feed, he will grow to a very great Bignefs
and Length : There have been fome feen con-
fiderabiy above a Yard long : And in the
Lake I.urian m Italy y it is reported Carps

have

Chap. 6. Of the CAR P. 187

have thriven to be more than fifty Pounds
Weight. For as the Crocodile is very long-
lived, and all that Life continues to thrive in
Bignefs, the fame has been remarked of Carps^
cfpecially in fome Places. And as their In-
creafe and Growth are very wonderful, fo their
Decay is often very myfterious. For when
fixty or more large Carps have been put into
feveral Ponds near a Houfe, where by reafon
of the Stakes in the Water, and the Owner's
confbant Vicinity, it was impofTible they fliould
be ftole away from him -, at emptying the
Pond, after three or four Years, there has been
found never a young Carp remaining. This
is attributed, and in all Appearance judly, to
their being deftroyed by the Frogs, as we ob-,
ferved o^ Pikes,

Though the Age of Carps is by Sir Francis
Bacon obferved to be but ten Years j Gefner
fays, a Carp has been known to live in the Pa-
latinate above a hundred Years : And, con-
trary to the Pike^ all Carps are the better for
Age and Bignefs. Their Tongues are excel-
lent Meat. The Carp is to be reckoned a-
mong thofe leather-mouthed Fifh which have
their Teeth in their Throat, and for that Rea-
fon is very feldom loft by breaking his Hold,
if the Hook be once ftuck into his Chaps.

At the Time of their Breeding, which is in
Summer, when the Sun hath warmed both the
Earth and the Water, three or four Male Carps
will follow a Female, and force her through
Weeds and Flags, where fhe lets fall her

Spawn,

188 The BRITISH ANGLER.P.H.

Spawn, which flicks faft to the Weeds, and
then they drop their Melt upon it. I have
obferved, it is thought the Carp does this feve-
ral Months in the Year. When the Spawner
has weakened herfelf by doing that natural
Office, two or three Melters have been feen to
help her from off the Weeds, by bearing her
up on both Sides, and guarding her into the
Deep.

Phyficians make the Galls and Stones in the
Heads of Carps toht very medicinal. And in
Italy great Profit is made of the Spawn of
Carps ^ by felling it to the JewSy who make
it into red Caviare^ they not being by their
Law admitted to eat the Caviare made of Stur-
geon : that being a Fifh which wants Scales,
and by them reputed to be unclean.

If you fifh for a Carp^ efpecially a River
Carpy a great deal of Patierxe is required* A
very good Fifher has been known to angle
diligently four or fix Hours in a Day,
three or four Days together, for a River Carp^
and not have a Bite. And in fome Ponds it
is as hard to catch a Carp as in a River •, par-
ticularly where they have Store of Food, and
the Water is of a clayifh Colour.

The Carp bites either at Worm's or 2it Pafte^
and of Worms the hlewijh Marjh or Meadow-
ivorin is efteemed the beft -, though another
Worm not too big may polTibly do as well,
and fo may a green Gentle, As for Paftes^
thofe that are {sNtfi are the beft ; I
mean, thofe made with Sugar or Honey, and

thefe

Chap. 6. Of the CAR ?. 1 189

thefe you beat up in a Mortar, or fometimes
^'ork them up in your Hands, till you make
the whole into one, two, or three Balls, as
you like beft for your Ufe. But you muft
work it fo long in the Mortar, as to make it
cough enough to hang upon your Hook with-
out wafhing from it, yet not too hard : It will
keep the better on your Hook, if you knead
with your P^/d" a little white, or yellowifh
Wooll. To make this Pa/ie keep all the
Year for any other Fifh, you may mix with it
Virgin* s JVax and clarified ^ Honey ^^ and work
them with your Hands before the Fire. Some
advife^ that when you fifli for a Carp with
'Genlles, you put upon your Hook a fmall Piece
of fcarlet Cloth, near a Quarter of an Inch
fquare, having foked it in Oil of P<?/r<?, called
by fome Oil of the Rock -, and if your Gentles
be put two or three Days before into a Box or
Horn anointed with Honey, and fo drawn
upon your Hook as to preferve them living,
they fay you are flill more likely to fucceed
this Way than any other. While you are lifh-
ing, continually chaw a little white or brown
Bread in lyour Mouth, and caft it into the
Pond about the Place where your Float fwims.
Crumbs of white Bread and Honey made into
a Pafie, is alfo a good Bait for a Carp, and
ealily made.

CarpSy when in Rivers, feek m.uddy, fandy
Bottoms, and deep ftill Waters. They will
not come near a Boat on a large Pond or Ri-
ver, although Rufhes or Weeds interpofc.

ThQy

i;)o77^^ BRITISH ANGLER. P.II.

They are fo over- wary, fearful, and fubtle,
that they are often ftrled the frejh Water Fox^
as by others the ^een of Rivers.

Sujfex^ whither they were firft brought, is
faid to be the bed furnifhed with Carps of any
County in England, And even in the Sea
about the IJle of Man^ there are caught very
excellent ^ench and Carps. The MaIeC^r/>
is better than the Female, the white better than
the yellow, and their prime Seafon in March.
They begin to fpawn at three Years old, and
Duhravius fays, continue to do fo till thirty.

Th^ Carp ^ though much admired, is a very
bony Filh, and is therefore thought to owe
more of his Reputation to the elegant Manner
of drefTing him, than to his own intrinfick
Worth.

"When you angle for him, put a Swan-quilU
Float upon your Line, which, when drawn
two or three Inches under Water, will dired
you to flrike. But till you fee this, be cautious
how you check him •, for he will nibble fomc
Time before he takes the Bait in his Mouth.
Having hooked him, befure you keep him
from his Harbour, to which he will endeavour
to retire, as foon as he receives the Prick, and
which if you do not prevent, both Hook an<i
Line are in thegreateft Danger.

Some bait their Carp-Holes with Worms,
in this Manner, and it is a very good Way in
Rivers. They get a jTi//-/^^?/ punched full of
Holes^ in which they put aQiiantity of ^^<7r;«^,
and then fink it with a Weight. The Worms

will

I

Chap. 6. Of the CARP. iqi

will creep out gradually, and become a deli-
cious Prey to the Carp, This is better than to
caft in JVoryns by Handfuls, which are ufually^
carried away with the Stream : But in Ponds
you may ufe the latter Method, or you may
throw in Quantities of boiled Malty which
they alfo like.

Though Carpi love Mud, yet they delight
not in weedy, but clear Water, except the
Weeds are little in Qiiantity. In very muddy
Water, you may drop your Eait gently near
the Brink, ufing a Floaty but no Lead on your
Line, and the Carp will imagine your Bait to
be a Worm coming out of the Bank.

In a fine Sun-fhiny Day, Carp will often
prime about Noon, and fwim about the Edges
of a Pond, to catch fuch Flies as fall upon the
Surface of the Water. Let the Angler then
take a Rod fbrong and pliable at the Top, a
flrong Silk Line^ and a Hook large enough for
a Loh-worm. Then finding or making a Place
free from Weeds, about the Compafs of the
Crown of a Hat, let him drop in his Bait with*
out a Float, and with only one large Shot up-
on his Line, which he muft lodge upon the
Leaf offome Weed adjoining, fo that the Bait
is not above eight Inches in the Water : Then
retiring, but fo as to keep his Eye upon the
Shot, let him wait till he fees it taken away,
with about a Foot of Line, and then he may
venture to ftrike. When he has hooked his
Fifh, let him keep him tight, and not fuffer
him to entangle himfelf among theWeeds ;and

either

i^^rhe BRITISH ANGLER.P.If.

either draw him out by main Force, or pull
him to the Bank in a clear Place, and having
tired him, land him with a Net, By this Me-
thod, great Numbers o^ Carp have been taken
in a Pond that was well flocked.

In general, Carps bkt very early and late in
^pril, May^ June^ J^ly-, and Auguft^ and
fometimes all Night in the ftill Part of the
Water. Have a long Rod, and keep out of
Sight, when you angle for them. When [you
ftrike him, give him Play •, /or he is a ftrong
Fifh, and will vigorouQyftruggle. He may
be caught at Mid- Water, fometimes lower,
and fometimes higher, as the Weather is ; but
ufe always a Float of Quill. When a large
Carp takes the Bait, he runs to the farther Side
of the River or Pond.

There being great Similitude between the
Carp and the Tench ^ particularly in their Feed,
I refer to the End of next Chapter for what
may be faid of them jointly in Verfe. But I
muft not here omit one Thing, in which
the Carp and the Tench widely differ, and that
is in their bearing the fevere cold Weather,.
Hear what the Poet fays of them, and feveral
Other Fifli, in the following Verfes.

The Eel to Cold an early Prey refign'd^
Firji falls y a helplefs undefended Kind:
Unlefs her %nntry Hold betimes Jhe chufe.
The Bajiky Shelter^ or low -bedded Doze,
The Carp and Perch in mingling Numbers die,
And Pike e>:pire 'ivith the unravag\i Fry :

They

Ghap. 6. Of the TENCH 193

Xhey feel their Scales with ftiff*ning Cold con-

fin'd^
jind languljh faint ivithin their Icy Rhind :
Tet does the hardy Tench fecurely dwcU^
Envelop" d fafl in her cold frozen Shell,

CHAP. VIL
Of the TENCH,

TH E Tench is efteemed the Phyftcian of
the Finny Race. He deh'ghts in (land-
ing Waters, and therefore loves Ponds better
than Rivers, and prefers Pits to them both.
There is a River, however, in Dorfetjhire^
that abounds with 'Tench % but they are fuppof-
ed to retire to the moft deep and quiet Places
about it.

This Fifli hath very large Fins, very fniall
and fmooth Scales, a red Circle about his Eyes,
which are big and of a Gold Colour ; and
from either Angle of his Mouth there hangs
a little Barb. In every T'ench's Head there are
two little Stones, which foreign Phyficians,
lays Mr. Walton^ make great ufe of: But he
is not commended for wholfome Meat, tho'
there be very much Ufe made of him for out-
ward Applications.

It is of the Pi^^efpccialJy, that the l^ench is
laid to be the Phyfician •, and that the Pikcy
being either Tick or hurt, is cured by touch-
ing him. But this Fifh, that carries a natural
Balfam in him to cure both himfelf and others,
y^t loves to feed in very foul Water, and a-
K mongft

194 "I'he BRITISH ANGLER.P.If.
niongft Weeds. He will bite at a Pafte made
of Brown-bread and Honey\ or at a Marjh-
worniy Lch-worm^ Wafps^ Gentles^ or Cod-hait,
He is very fondof Tir^r, and therefore if you
mix a little with your Pafte, or dip your
Worm in it, many affirm it will increafe your
Sport, and the Experiment doubtlefs is worth
trying.

His Haunts and Times of Biting are gene-
rally the fame with the Carp ; yet in Aprils on
a cloudy, milling, rainy Morning, the Wind
South or Weft, and warm, they have been
known to bite very well till eleven o'Clock.
In fome Pits they bree'donly-, and never thrive
to any Bignefs, and in others they thrive and
never breed Notwithftanding the ill Charac-
ter fome have given of him, the Tench is a
good and pleafant Fifti, if eat in his Seafon,
and well dreft ; but one River Tench is worth
ten Pond .

Befides the K'wtv Slower in BorfetJJjire^ fo
particularly commended for Plenty of Tench
and Eels ^ there is Brecknock- Mere^ in Breck-
r.ockjhire^ being two Miles in length, and as
much in breadth, full of Perches^ Tenches ^ and
Eels,

Tenches fpawn in Jmie^ or about the Be-
ginning o^July : They live long out of Wa-
ter, and their beft Seafon is from the Begin-
ning of September till the End of May.

Your Tackle for the Tench muft be ftrong,
and you muft attend your Sport early in the

Morn-

Ghap. 7. Of the T E N C H. ipj

Morning, and two or three Hours before
Night.

The Waters ought to be fo ftill, and the
Surface fo fmooth and even, that it cannot give
the leaft Motion to your Float* Be not too
eager in ftriking him when he bites *, for as
he delights in flicking the Bait, allow him
Time, and he will not quit it. The beft and
moft inticing Bait, and indeed fome fay you
need not ufe any other, whether for Pond or
River, \st\itRed-wor??i dipp'din 7^ar: Or, take
the clotted black Blood out of the Heart of a
Sheep ^ fome fine Flour and Ho-ney^ temper
them well together, and make them of the
Confiflence of an Unguent, and anoint thei^^?^-
*ivorm with it. Some prefer this, and others
the I'd}', No other Bait is to be compared to
cither of them. June^ J^'-bt ^nd ^ugujl are
the only Months in which you may expecl to
have any Sport with ^encb ; and tlien the
greatefl Plenty is taken in the River Slower^
before mentioned,

Moft of the following general Remarks are
equally ufeful both for the Carp and the T'encbi

To Carp afjd Tench great Art you mufi ap-

Vbj
IFhicb love flill Pits, and chryftal Currertts fly.
ihey all your Patience^ all your Strength re-

quirdy
And^ iho^ ^dmir^d, rarely your Baits admire.
Sometimes in Rivers to your Lot they fall ;
But ibcre^s no Vigour 'where the Hopes arefmalL
K 2 'To

t^^ne BRITISH ANGLER. P.Ii.

To fpeed in Ponds, you with the Sun 7nuft rife,
Jnd then the largeil eafieji are your Prize.
^hey ftrongly ftruggle, and unlefs prepared ^
Tour Vidory'j doubtful^ and your Labour hard.
Ponds weedy feed the Tench, and thofe more

clear
Be^pkafe the Carp \ yet both for Mud declare :
And in their Baits yc? clofely they agree^
They feed jufi as they live^ promifcuoufly^
Both love their Bsiits prep ar'd with niceft Care^
And both beft take them fcented ftrmg with

Tar.
Low at the Bottom^ in the Deeps they lle^
And rarely^ very rarely feed on high,
Tho' ofC the Carp in hottefi Sunwier-'Days^ ^
While on the Surface wantonly he play s^ >

On Bread and Worms %mth eager Pafjiony

preys.
But if^our Rod or Self offendhis Sight,.
He's gone^ and blafts at once your whole Delight.
lUs humcurfome at beft^ Ey:perience tells^
For Seafon, Baits, and Place, and all Things

elfe:
But in the Mid ft he feldom fails to tnove^
And Marili and FJag-worm takes with eager

Love.
For Ttuc\\ no Brttz^ Jhould Jlir the well-tarr'd

Bait^
On which both late ^;/ J early thou mufi wait.
Gentles aiid Codbaits Sport will often yield \
But fill for Carp the former claims thel^ield.

CHAP,

Chap. 8. Of the B A R B E L. 197

CHAP. VIIL
Of //^^ B A R B E L.

TH E Barbel is fo called from tht Latin
Word Barba, a Beard, in allufion to the
Barb, or Wattels at his Mouth, under his
Chaps. He is one of thofe leather-mouthed
Fifhes that feldom breaks his Hold if he be
once hooked : But then he is fo ftrong, that
he will often break both Rod or Line, if he
proves to be a large one. But tho* the Bar-
bel is of a fine Shape, he is not efteemed the
bed Filh to eat, either for WhoUomenefs 01-
Taile. The Male, however, is reputed much
better than the Female, whofe Spawn is very
hurtful.

Barbeh flock together like Sheep, and are
at the worfl in Aprils about which Time they
fpawn, but quickly grow again in Seafon.
They are able to live in the ftrongeft Swifts of
•the Water, and in Summer love the ffial low-
eft and fharpeft Streams. They delight to
lurk under VVeeds, and to feed on Gravel a-
gainft a rifing Ground : They will root and
dig in the Sands with their Nofe, like a Swine,
and there neft themfelves : Yet fometimes they
retire to deep and fwift Bridges, Floodgates,
or Weirs, where they will neft themfelves a-
mongft Piles, or in hollow Places, and take
fuch Hold of Mofs or Weeds, that be the
Water never fo fwift, it is not able to force
K 3 them

ip8 TZ?^ B R I T I S H ANGLER. P.Il.

them from the Place they contend for. This is
the 5^r^^/'j conftant Cuftom in Summer, when
he and mofi: living Creatures fport themfelves
in the Sun : But at the Approach of Winter,
he forfakes the fwift Streams and fhallow Wa-
ters, and by degrees retires to thofe Parts of
the River that are more quiet and deep ; in
which Places he fpawns, and, with the Help
of the Melter^ hides his Spawn or Eggs in
Holes, which they both dig in the Gravel,
and then mutually labour to cover it with the
fame Sand, to prevent it from being devour-
ed by other Fifh. The Spawn of a Barbel^
tho* not abfolutely Poifon, as fome imagine,
is however dangerous Meat, and efpecially in
the Month o^ May, yet it. is fometimes taken
by the Country People for a violent Purge or
Vomit.

This FiHi is -of a fine Cafl, with fmall
Scaler, which are placed after a mod exad and
curiousManner. Tho' he be not delicately good,
yet his Fiefh is tender, eafy of Conco6tion,
and very nutritious. His greateft Fault is,
that he is very bony. Both the Chub and he
have loft part of their Credit by ill Cookery,
they being reputed the coarfeft of frefh Water
Flfh : But tiie Barbel affords an Angler fine
Sport, being a ftrong and a cunning Fifh ; fo
ftrong and cunning, as to often endanger the
breaking of the Tackle, by running his Head
forcibly towards any Covert, Hole, or Bank,
and then ilrlking at the Line, to break it oft
with his Tail. Pie is ali> fo artful as to nibble

and

ehap. 8. Of the B A RBE L. 195^

and fuck off your ^orm clofe to the Hook,
and yet avoid the letting the Hook come into
his Mouth.

The Barbel is alfo delicate in his Baits, and
muft have them clean and fweet. Your fVonns
Ihould be well-fcoured, and not kept in four
and mufty Mofs. But at a well-fcoured
Lob-worm he will bite boldly, and efpecially
if the Night or two before you filli for him,
you bait the Places where you intend to ftand,
with big JVorms cut into Pieces. And this is
particularly to be noted, that you cannot
over-bait the Place, nor fifli too early nor
too late for a Barbel. He will alfo bite at
Bees and at Gcndcs^ they not being too much
fcoured, but green, and at Cheefe, which is
not to be too hard, but kept a Day or two in
a wet Liiinen Cloth to make it tous;']. With
this you may alfo bait the Water a Day or two
before you fiili for him, and if the Cheefe were
laid in clarified Honey an Hour or two be-
fore, you would be ftill the likelier to have
Sport, Some have direded to cut the Cheefi
into thin Pieces, and toaft it, and then tie it
on the Hook with fine Silk. Others advife
to fifh for the Barbel with Sheeps fallow and
foft Cheefe beaten or worked into a Pafie^ and
recommend it as exceeding good in jiugii§f»
But the Lob-worm well-fcoured, the Gentk
not too much fcoured, and Cheefe ordered a$
here directed, are ufually Baits enough in any
Month of the Year.

K 4 When

200^^ BRITISH ANGLER.P.II-

When you fifli for a Barhely your Rod and
Line muH: be Jong and tough. He bites early
in the Morning, from Sun-rife till ten of the
Clock, and in the Evening, from four
o'clock till Sun-fet, and fometimes later.
Their principal biting Months are from about
the loth of A'lay until the End of Auguft. A
large Barhd will fometimes weigh twelve or
fourteen Pounds j and therefore your Rod
and Line ought not only to be very ftrong,
but faftened with Rings, and a Winch or
TVheeL

As to their Spawn, before-mentioned, it is
furfeiting and dangerous, and whoever eats
thereof will break out in Blotches and red
Spots, will loath his Meat, lofe his Appetite,
and be extremely difordered : His Liver is
likewnfe unwholfome.

The two famous Places to angle for Barbel,
about London^ are at Kingft on- Bridge^ and
Shepp£rton-Pcol\ at the latter of which Places
there is good Accommodation for Anglers, a
great Quantity of Barbel^ and good Company
all the Summer •, you may there likewife be
fupplied with Plenty of Bait at all Times.

A Barbd'Hole fhould be conflantly baited
with Lob'Worms ; and no Barbel ought, by
the Rules of Anglings to be killed, which does
not meafure eighteen Inches fairly. A Barbel
taken in Byfleet or JVeybndge Rivers, of
twenty Inches in Length, will weigh down a-
nother of the fame Length taken in xhtHoames^
by a Pound, or upwards, and is much firmer,
fatter, and better reliflied. "the

Chap. 8. Of the BARBEL; 2Qi

ne Barbel prized for Sport, thd" 7wt for Food,
(Few Fifh there are lefs exquifitely good)
Clofe at a Current's End isfure to lie^
Low //^ //^^ Scream, as the fwift Trout runs

high,
True River Hog, upon the Sand he roots \
yf/ Lobworms, B^Qs^andev^nat G2ivba.dgQ Jhoots:
But always heft^ if early at the Sporty
His Morning Appetite you wijdy court.
When gentle Winds a little curl the WaveSy
Much Caution and much Patience too hefaves.
But fee your Lines tzW Hooks fecu rely hold-',
I'ou know him ftrong, and you will find him

bold.
If Chance^ propitious, at fome Current'' s End ^
Shew you r\t2iX Sands that gradually defend^
Where fome clofe Weeds his laboring Finsfupply^
Or hanging OCi^rsf jade thefpcrtive Fry:^
Angler, take Courage-, evWy Inch beware ^^
For, if in all the Stream, the Herd is there,
Difturb them yiot with Shadow

Sound ',
'And if your Bait trail gently on
Except in Spawning-Time, noOhJlc

[erd ts there,
•w or wilhl

the Ground y C
[lack is found. J

CHAP. IX.

Of the B R E A M.

TH E Bream, at full Growth, is a large
and handfome Fifh : He breeds both
in Rivers and Ponds *, but loves bed to live
in Ponds, where, if he likes the Water and
K 5 Air,

102 .r/f>^BRITI$H ANGLER. P.ll.

Air, he will grow not only to be of a great
Size, but extremely fat. He is very broad,
has a forked Tail, and his Scales are fet in
beautiful Order. He hath large Eyes, and a
narrow fucking Mouth, with two Sets of
Teeth, and a Lozenge-like Bone, to help his
Grinding, The Melter is obferved to havg
two large Melts, and the Female two large
Bags of Spawn.

The French efleem this Fifh highly, and
have this Proverb concerning him, That he
who hath Breams in his Pond, is able to lid his
Friend welcome. The beil Part of a Bream is
his Belly and Head.

Some fay, that Breams and Roaches will
mix their Eggs and Melt together, whence
there is in many Places a Ballard Breed of
Breams^ that never come to be either large or
good, but very numerous. The Bream how-
ever is very fcarce in the Rivers within twenty
Miles o^ London,

Pcifte made of brown Bread and Honey,
GenlleSy or the young Brood of fVafps, (which
are not unlike Genllesjand fhould be hardened
in an Oven, or dried on a Tile before the
Fire, to make them tough, are good Baits for
the Breafn, There is alfo at the Root of
Docks, or Rufhes in watery Places, a IVorm
not unlike a Maggot, at which both Brca?n
and Tench will bite freely. Or the Bream will
bite at a GraJ shopper with the Legs cropt off,
in yuned,x\d July ; or at feveral Flies under
Water, which may be found on Flags that

graw

Chap. 9. Of the B R E A M. 203

grow near the Water-fide. Many other Baits
are very good, but the following moft excel-
lent one, either for a Carp or a Bream^ in any
River or Mere, Mr. Walton fays, may fupply
the Place of them all.

Chufe out the biggeft Red-worm you can
find, withouta Knot •, get a Pint or a Quart
of them in an Evening, in Garden- Walks, or
chalky Commons after a Shower of Rain ;
and put them with clean Mofs well wafhed
and picked, and the Water fqueezed out as
clean as you can, into an Earthen Pot or Pip-
kin fet dry : Change the Mofs every three or
four Days for three Weeks or a Month toge-
ther, and then your Bait will be at the beft,
exceeding clear and lively.

Having thus prepared your Baits, take
three long Angling-Rods, and as many and
more Silk or Hair Lines, with a like Number
of large Swan or Goofe-quill ftror^g Floats,
Then take Pieces of Lead made like a Plum-
met, and fallen them to the lower End of
your Lines. Faflen your Link-Hook alfo to
the Lead, and let there be about a Foot or x.tn.
Inches between the Lead and the Hook, But
be ilire the Lead be heavy enough to fink the
Float or Quill a little under Water, and not
the Quill to bear up the Lead, becaufe the
latter muft lie on the Ground. Your Link next
the Hook fhould be fmaller than the reft of
your Line, if you dare venture it, for fear cf
taking the Flke or Perch^ who will be fure to
vifit your Hooks, before either Carp qt Bream

will

204 ^^^BRITISH ANGLER. P.IT.

will come near to bite. On this Account, the
Indian Grafs makes themoft convenient Hook-
Links. When the Worm is well-baited, it
will crawl up and down, as far as the Lead will
give Leave, which much entices the Fifh to
bite without Sufpicion.

With your Baits thus prepared, and your
Tackling fitted, repair to the River, where
you have feen them fwim in Skulls or Shoals
in the Summer-Time, in a hot After-
noon, about three or four o^Clock : Watch
their going forth of their deep Holes, and re-
turning again about four o'CiocIc, when mod
of them feek Provifion at the Bottom, while
one or two will lie on the Top of the Water,
roiling and tumbling, to keep Centinel. Ob-
ferve where he plays moft, and flays longeft,
which commonly is in the broadefl and deep-
eft Place of the River; and there, or near
thereabouts, at a clear Bottom, and a conve-
nient Landing- Place, take one of your Angles
fitted as aforefaid, and found the Bottom,
which fliould be about eight or ten Feet deep^
and two Yards from the Bank. Then refled
with you rfelf, whether that Water will rife or
fall by the next Morning, by reafon of any
Water-mills near, and according to your Dif-
cretion take the Depth of the Place, where
you mean after to cafl your Ground- bait, and
to fifh with the utmoft Exadlnefs ; fo that the
Lead lying on or near the Ground-bait, the
Top of the Float may only appear upright
half an Inch above the Water. When. you

have

Chap. 9. Of the BR E A M. noj

have thus found the Place and its Depth, go
home and prepare your Ground-bait in the fol-
lowing Manner. Take a Peck, or a Peck and
half, according to the Magnitude of the
Stream and Depth of the Water where you
mean to angle, of fweet coarfe-ground Barley-
Malt, and juft boil it up in a Kettle : Then
drain it through a Bag into a Tub, and when
t he Bag and Malt is near cold, take it down
to the Water- fide about eight or nine o' Clock
in the Evening, but not before : Caft in two
Parts of your Ground-bait, fqueezed hard be-
tween both your Hands: It will fmk prefently
to the Bottom, and befure it may lie in the
very Place where you mean to angle. If the
Stream runs hard, or moves a little, caft your
Malt in Handfuls a little the higher up the
Stream. You may fqueeze the Malt fo faft
together in Handfuls, that the Water will
hardly part it with the Fall.

Leave your Bag, with the reft of your Tack-
ling and Ground-bait, near the Sporting- Place
all Night, and in the Morning about three or
four o'clock, re-vifit the Water-fide; but not
too near ; for they have always a Centinel, and
the whole Shoal are very watchful. Then
gently take one of your Rods, and bait your
Hook, cafting it over your Ground-bait, and
gently draw it to you till the Lead refts about
the Middle of the Ground-bait.

Take a fecond Rod, and caft it in about a
Yard above, and your third about a Yard be-
low the firft Rod : Fix the Rods in the

Ground,

2o6 r/p^BRITISH ANGLER.P.II.

Ground, and go yourfelf fo far from the Wa-
ter-fide, that you perceive nothing but the Top
of theFJoats,which you muft diligentlyobferve.
When you have a Bite, you'll perceive the Top
of your Float to fink fuddenly into the Water:
But be not too hafty to run to your Rods, till
you fee that the Line got clear away : Then
creep to the Water-fide, and give as much
Line as you pofTibly can. If it be a good
Carp or Bream^ they will go to the farther
Side of the River : Then ftrike gently, and
hold your Rod a little while at a Bent \ but if
you pull both together, you are fure to lofe
your Game, for either the Line or Hook, or
the Fifhes Hold will break. After you have
overcome them, they will make noble Sport,
and are very fhy to be landed. But the Carp
is far ftronger, and more mettlefome than the
Bream,

As the Bream\ delightful Harbour is the
Water-dock^ under which he lies, fo you muft
take care to keep him from thence, when you
have hooked him : He will drive to get thi-
ther, that he may entangle your Line about
the Stalk of the Water-dock^ which being na-
turally very tough, it will be impoffible to
difengage yourfelf from thence. His being a
flat Fifh, caufes him to draw much Water ;
which, though it does not increafe his natural
Strength, neverthelefs it will add to the Diffi-
culty you will find in taking him.

J have already obferved, that if the Pike
and Perch breeds in that River, they will be
fure to bite firft \ and when they do, they

muft

Chap. 5>. Of the BREAM. ao;

mud be firfl taken. For the mofl Part you
will find them very large. They repair to
the Ground-bait, not that they will eat of it,
but to feed and fport amongft the young Fry,
that gather about and hover ov^er the Bait.

The Way to difcover the Pike and to
take him, if you millruft your Bream-
Hook, may be thus ; Take a fmall Bleak,
a Roach, or Gudgeon^ and plant it alive
among your Rods two Foot deep from the
Cork, with a little Red-worm on the Point
of the Hook : Then take a few Crumbs of
White-bread, or fome of the Ground-bait, and
fprinkle it gently amongfl your Rods. If the
Pike be there, the little Fifh will skip out of
the Water at his Appearance \ but the live-
fet Bait is fure to be taken.

You may continue your Sport Trom four in
the Morning till eight ; and if it be a gloomy,
v/indy Day, they will bite all Day long. But
this is too long to ftand to your Rods at
one Place, and it will fpoil your Evening
Sport that Day, which is this.

About four o' Clock in the Afternoon repair
to your baited Place, and as foon as you come
to the Watcr-fide, cad in one half of the reft
of your Ground-bait, and ftand off: Then,
whilft the Fifti are gathering together, you may
repofe yourfelf fo long as the ftnoking a Pipe
of Tobacco. Then put in your three Rods as
in the Morning, and you will find excellent
Sport till eight o' Clock : When you go away,
caft in the Refidue of your Ground-bait, and
next Morning by four o' Clock vifit them a-

eiin

ao8 rZ^^ B R I T I S H A N G L ER.P.II.

gain for four Hours, which is the beft Sport
of all. After that the beft Way is to kt them
reft •, for if you fifti for them three or four
Days together, your Game will be very fhy
and wary. Your only Way therefore, is to
defift from your Sport about two or three Days ;
and in the mean Time, take a Turf of green,
but lliort Grafs, as big or bigger than a round
Trencher : To the Top of it, on the green
Side, with a Needle and green Thread, fa-
ftcn one by one as many little Red-worms as
will near coverall the Turf: Then take a round
Board or Trencher, with a Hole in the Middle,
and through the Turf placed on the Board or
Trencher, with a Cord as long as is needful,
tied to the Pole, let it down to the Bottom of '
the Water for the Filli to feed upon, and thus
leave them without Difturbance. When af-
ter two or three Days you have drawn it a-
way, you may fall to, and enjoy your former
Recreation.

As I fhall mention the Sea-Breajn hereafter,
I will only add to^ what has been faid of the
Nature of River- Bream, that he is by fome
cfteemed dangerous to eat, by reafon of his
Bones : That tho' the Bream is a kind of flat
Carp, yet he is whiter, and of betterNourilh-
ment: That he is fo great a Breeder as often
to over-ftock your Pond, and thereby confume
all the fwect Feed, and ftarve the other Fifh :
That he fpawns in June^ or th^ Beginning of
July : And that tho' you may angle for them
from the Beginning of Jp'il till Michaelmas^

yet

Chap. 9. Of the B R E A M. 209

yet the bed Time is from the Beginning of
the lalt Week in July till the iaft Week in
Aiiguft. To flim up thefe Diredions \

Chufe fome ftill Pond, ovjlow difcolour'd
Scream,
And at Mid-water angle for //^<? Bream.
Nice to Extremes, his Minutes you muft iz^ait^
Be early with the Sun, and with the Moon-

fdne late,
Unlefs a Mack'rel Gale JJjould recommend your ^

Bait,
Small he your Hook, your Rody/:y Tards or

more :
And in //^d* Stream, far dift ant from the Shore,
*ToiHlfind him ? oving^ and with Eafe divine
^Tis he that flats r^wr Float and tugs your Line.
He gorges then : Ah ! Angler, ah I beware -,
^ large jv^/^r Bait, you rnuft 7to Patience f pare:
If fmali, a little ferves ; kis Mouth allows
Of nothing large \ the lefs the better does.
Hence tho" fome few the larger Dew- worm ufe\
Tet mofl the Flag, or well-fcour'^d Red-v/orm

chufe :
For thefe both Flies and Fades th e Angler fiould

refufe.

GHAP^

210 ^^BRITISH ANGLER.P.IL

C H A R X.

Of the Chub or Chevin.

TH E Chuh^ tho' ufually difefteemed, and
juftly as he is commonly drefled, may
with Care be made not an unpleafant Difh. It
is objedled againfl him, not only that he is
full of fmall forked Bones, but that he eats
waterifh, and that the Flefh of him is not firm,
but fhort and taftelefs. In order therefore to
encourage the young Angler, and to let him
fee that his Time is not wholly loft in taking
this difregarded Fifh, fome have thought pro-
per, in the firft Place, to let him knov/ how to
make the Cbt(h recompence the Trouble he
caufcs, which indeed is fcldom a great deaL
But as this iVkthod is fome what prepofterous,
I chufe rather to refer the Cooking of the Chub
to that Part which treats exprefly of drefling
Fifh, and content myfelf with obferving
here, that there is as much Difference between
a Chub newly taken and drefs'd, and one of a
Day's keeping after he is dead, as between
Cherries newly gathered from a Tree, and o-
thers that have been bruifed, and lain a Day or
two in Water.

There is no Fifh better than the Chub to en-
ter a young Angler, he is fo eafily caught •, but
then it mud be in this particular Way. Go to
one of their Holes, wherein moft hot Days you
4nay find a Number of them floating near the

Top

Chap. 10. Of the C n \] K 211

Top of the Water. Get two or three Gr^lshop*
pcrs as you go over the Meadows, and place
yourfelf fecretly behind a Tree, remaioing as
free from Motion as poflible. Put a Grafshop-
per upon your Hook, and l^t your Hook hang
a quarter of a Yard lliort of the Water : To
which End you muft reft your Rod on lome
Bough of a Tree. It is likely the CbuhswnW
fink down towards the Bottom of the Water
at the firft Shadow of your Rod, they being
the moft fearful of Fiihes, and apt to do thus
if but a Bird flies over then\ and makes the
Jeaft Shadow on the Water : But they will pre-
fently rife up to the Top again, and there lie
foaring till fome Shadow frights him afrefli :
When they lie thus upon the Top of the Water*
fix your Eye upon the beft Chub you can fingle
our, and move your Rod gently towards him.
Let your Bait fall eafily upon the Water chree
or four Inches before him, and he will infal-
libly take it, and you will be as certain to catch
him : For he is oneof thofe Leather-mouth'd
Fifhes, of which a Hook fcarce ever lofes its
hold : But be fure to give him Play enough,
before you ofier to take him out of the Water,
When a Grafshopter cannot be found, a
Black- Snails with his Belly fiit, to fhew his
White, or a Piece of foft Cheefe^ will ufually do
as well : Nay, fometimes a IVorm^ or any
kind of Fly^ as the Ant-fly, the Flefifly, or
Wall fly ^ the Boi' or Beetle^ which may be
found under Gow-dung, or a Boh^ the Origi-
Tial of a Beetle y or a Cod-worm^ or Cafe-worm^

will

212 51^^ BRITISH A NGLER. P.II.

will any of them do very well for the Purpofe.
After the fame Manner you may catch a Trout
in a hot Evening, When as you walk by a
Brook, you fee or hear him leap at Flies, if you
then get a Grafshopper^ and put it on a Hook,
with your Line about two Yards long, ftand--
ing behind a Bufh or Tree where his Hole is,
and make your Bait ftir up and down on the
Top of the Water, you may, if you (land
clofe, be fure of a Bite, but not fure to catch-
him, becaufe he is not, as the Chuh^ a Leather-
mouth'd Fifh. After this Manner you may
iifh for him with almoft any kind of live F/y,
but with nothing fo fuccefsful as a Grafshopper^

As we have frequent Occafion to ufe this
Term Leather- moutlfd^ it may here be proper,
before we proceed, to explain what Anglers
mean by that Word. Leather- mouth'' d Fiflk are
fuch as have their Teeth in their Throat, a-
mong which are the Chuh^ the Barhel^ ' the
Gudgeon,, the Carp^ and divers others. The
Hook being ftuck into the Leather, or Skin
of the Mouth of fuch Fifh, feldom or never
lofes its Hold : But on the contrary, a P'lke^
a Perch^ or a Trout^ and fome other Fifh,
which have not their Teeth in their Throats,
but in their Mouths, the Hook never takes
fuch fure Hold of them, but you often lofe
your Prey, unlefs he has intirely gorged it.

Jn March and April the Chub is ufually taken
with Worms \ in May^ June^ and July^ he
will bite at any /'/>', or at Cherries^ or at
Beetles with their Legs and Wings cut off,

or

Chap. fo. Of the CHUB. 213

or at any Kind o^ Snail ^ or at the black Bee
that breeds in Clay Walls *, and he never re-
fufes a Grafshopper on the Top of a fwift
Stream, nor at the Bottom the young Humble-
hee that breeds in long Grafs, and is generally
found by the Mowers. In Augufl^ and in the
cooler Months, 2i yellow Pafte made of the
Ilrongeft Cheefe, and pounded in a Mortar
with a little Butter, and fo much Saffron as
being beaten fmall will turn it to a Lemon Co-
lour, is a very good Bait, In the Winter
Months the Chub is accounted befb, it being
obferved that the forked Bones are then loft,
or turned into a Kind of Griftle, efpecially if
he be baked. Some make a Pafte for this Sea-
fon, of Cheefe and Turpentine. He will bite
alfo at a Minnow or Penk^ as well as the Trout,
But take this for a Rule in Cbiib-fijhi?tg^ that
in hot Weather he is to be angled for towards
the Mid-water, or near the Top j and in cold-
er Weather nearer the Bottom. And if you
fifh for him on the Top, with a Beetle ox Fly y
be fure to let your Line be very long, and to
keep out of Sight. The Spawn of this Fifh is
excellent Meat ; and the Head of a large Che-
vi/ty the Throat being well waflied, is the beft
Part of him.

The Chub fpawns in March^ and is in Sea-
fon from Mid-May till after Candlemafs^ but
beft in Winter. He likes fandy and clay Bot-
toms, and Streams fhaded with Trees. Some-
times, in cold W\\uher, he is taken at the
Bottom with a Ledger-bait, When Cattle, in

Summer

fi\ji,rhe BRITISH ANGLER. P.IL

Summer, come into the Fords, their Dung al-
lures him thither.

The Chuh bites in Summer from Sun-rife
till Nine o'Clock in the Forenoon, and from
Three o'Clock in the Afternoon till Sun-fet.
After flruck, he quickly yields, if a large one j
but the leffer ftruggle briskly and longer. In
Winter Months they bite in the Middle of the
Day, and in Sun-Ihine. During the Sum-
mer Seafon, if about Seven o'Clock in the E-
vening you go into a Pond or Boat, and float-
ing down the River, over which Willows or
other Trees do hang, angle with a Bee, Moth^
or the like, as you do Wit\i t\\tariificid Fly
for ^rout^ they will rife as fail as you can
throw out your Line for them.

To the Baits before-mentioned, which are
efteemed the beft, I will add a few others, tho'
the Chuh will take almoft any Sort of Bait.
Young Eels about the Thicknefs of a Straw ;
the Dew-worm and Red-worm well fcoured ;
the Earth-hob ; the Brains of an Ox or Cow ;
the Pith or Marrow of an Ox or Cow's Back-
hone •, fat Bacon : Thefe are good Baits for the
cooler Months. In the Summer Months, he
takes all Sorts of Baits bred on Flerbs, Plants,
or Trees -, alfo Gentles^ young IVafps, Hornets^
and Bores, Snails he takes early in the Morn-
ing, but feldom in the Heat of the Day. He
loves a large Bait, as a Wafp and a Colewort-
worm, and will bite at divers SoriS of Flies on
the Hook at once.

Some

Chap. 10, Of the CHUB. 2ij^

Some few other Inllru6lions are contained in
the following Lines.

^he Chub or Chevin conftantly is found
In quick deep Streams that run d*er marly

Ground.
Forthd* in muddy Rivers much he preys,
Tet there he nicely feeks the Sands or Clays ;
Or elfe the Bridge his Safeguard isy and Haunts
Where Strength in Tackle hefi his own fup*

pla77ts :
Of thefey when ftruck^ he*s eafily hereav^d,
And after feme few Flounces well deceived.
Here Hooks and Rods fnould have fit fficient

Strength,
And the ftrong Line he half the Anglers Length.
Floats may hefpar^d^ as when you ufe the Fly,
And gentle 'D^b^fhouldjummon him on high.
All Nolle, all Shadow Jhun zvith utmofi

Care :
The fearful Fifh each Accident willfcare ;
Elfe all Day long he bites, and evVy where.
Oft^ basking under fhady Trees he lies ;
Then at the Grafshopper he^ II freely rife.
The Dor, the Caterpiller, Wafp, or Bee,
7^<? Moth, the Ant, or2iny¥\yyoufee.
But various Anglers various Baits will ufe.
For fome the Snail, and fome the Minnow

chufe :
And if the Riveras deep, and current ftrong,
Without Succefsyou cannot tempt hitn long.

CHAP.

aierhe BRITISH ANGLER.P.II.

CHAP. XL
Of the EEL, ^c.

TH E Eel was in the highefl Efteem a-
mong the Romans^ who thought her the
Paragon of their Feafts-, and is univerfally al-
lowed, at this Day, to be a moft delicious
Fifh. There has been much Difpute about their
Breeding, many having denied them Gene-
ration, and afcribed their Origin to the Adiion
of the Sun upon the Mud, to the Putrefa6lion
of the Earth, and divers other Caufes. Thofe
that deny them to breed by Generation, de-
mand. If any Man ever faw an Eel to have a
Spawn or Melt ? They are thus anfwered, That
we may be as certain of their Breeding, as if
we had feen their Spawn : For Eels have all
Parts tit for Generation, like other Fifb, but
fo fmall as not to be eafily difcerned with the
naked Eye, by reafon of their Fatnefs ; but
that they may however be difcovered, and that
the He and S\\t Eel may be diftinguiihed by
their Fins. Some affirm that they have (Q^n
Eels cling together \\k(tDezv-wor7ns.

There has been an Opinion, that Eels grow-
ing old, breed other Eels out of the Corrup-
tion of their own Age, which exceeds not ten
Years. And another, that as Pearls are made
of glutinous Dew-drops, which are con den fed
by the Sun's Heat in hot Countries ; fo Eels are
bred of a particular Dew failing in the Months

of

Ghap. II. Of the EEL. 217

oi May (dx June on the Banks of Ponds or Ri-
vers, which, in a few Days, are by the Sun's
Heat turned into Eels, In the Beginning of
July^ fome Parts of a River, not far from
Canterbury^ may be feen covered over with
young ii>/j, about the Thicknefs of a Straw,
all lying on the Top of the Water. The like is
reported of other Rivers, as particularly of the
Severn^ and of a Pond or Mere near Stafford-
Jhirey where, about a fet Time in Summer,
fuch fmall Eels abound fo much, that many of
the poorer Sort of People, that inhabit near it,
take them out with Sieves or Sheets, and make
a Kind of Eel-cake of them , and eat it as
Bread. Butdoubtlefs thefe are all bred byGene-
ration, as well as otherAnimals of every Kind.

We are told that thofe Eels which are bred
in Rivers that communicate with the Sea, ne-
ver return to the frefh Waters when they have
once tailed the fait ; which is the more pro-
bable, becaufe powdered Beef is a moft ex-
cellent Bait to catch an EeL

It is granted that Eels^ during the fix cold
Months of the Year, move not up and down,
either in Rivers or Pools, but get into the fofc
Earth or Mud, and there many of them toge-
ther bed themfelves, and live without feeding
upon any Thing. In extreme cold Weather,
they have beeen known to get out of the Water
into a Stack of Hay in a Meadow upon dry
Ground, and there bed themfelves, till the
Froft killed them. And as the Eel is impa-
tient of Cold, fo it hath been obferved^ that in
L warm

2ig rhe BRITISH ANGLER.PJL
warm Weather one has been known to live
five Days out of the Water.

There are feveral Soxts o? Eels \ as they?/-
ver Eel'-, th^ green ox greenijh Eel^ which in
the River of Thames are called Grigs %d. hlacki/b
EeU whofe Head is flatter and bigger than the
common Eels \ and an Eel whofe Fins are
reddifh, which is but feldom taken in this
Nation. Moft allow, that the filver Eel is
viviparous, that isjbrings forth her Young alive,
not by Spawning like other Fifh, but that her
Brood come perfed from her, no bigger nor
longer than Pins.

The Eel may be caught with divers Kinds
of Baits: Powdered Beef^ a Loh ox Garden-
worm^ a Frog^ a Minnow^ or other fmall Fifh,
the Gut of a Hen^ Chicken^ or any Fifh, or
almoft any Offals will tempt him -, for he is
a greedy Fifh. But a very little Lamprey^
which fome call a Pride^ and which may in
the hot Months be found m the River Thames^
and in many Mud-heaps in other Rivers, al-
moft as commonly as one finds Worms in a
Dunghill, exceeds every other Bait.

The £^/ feldom ilirs in the Day, and there-
fore he is ufually caught at Night with one of
thefe Baits, by laying Plooks, which you are
to fallen to the Bank or Twigs of a Tree ; or
by throwing a String crofs the Stream with ma-
ny Hooks at it, baited with the aforefaid
Baits, and a Clod, Plummet, or Stone, thrown
inco the River with it, that fo you may in

the

Ghap. II. Of the EEL. 219

the Morning find it near fome fixed Place,
and take it up with a Drag-hook, or other-
wife.

Ee]s2cct always in Seafon, and very good ;
but their befl: Time is in Winter, and their
worft in May, They have a very fweet FJefh,
fat, white, pleafant, and nourifhing. They
are bed roafted and broiled *, or firft par-
boiled in Salt and Water, and then roafted or
broiled, which makes them very tender.

The Rivers Slower m Dorfet/hire^ Ankam in
Lincolnjhire^ and Irk in hancajhire^ are fam*d
by their refpcdtive Neighbours for very excel-
lent Eels, And our ingenious Mr. Pope has
celebrated the River Rennet in Berk/hire on
the fame account, in his Windfor For eft,

ihe Kennet fwift^ for fiher Eels renowned.

In Rumfey-Mere in Huniingtonfhire^ there
are Store of Eels and large F'lkes^ which they
there call Hageis. But Cambridge/hire fanfies
file has the moll and beft Eels^ if you credit
the Natives. The Severn in IVorcefterfmre
breeds and feeds fuch a Number of frefh Wa-
ter Lampreys^ as if Nature had there ftored a
Pond with them. Thefe Fifli are \)kzEehy
flippery and blackifh, but beneath on their
Bellies fomewhat blue. At either Side of their
Throat they receive and let in frefh Water at
feven Holes, becaufe they want Gills. They
are bed in the Spring-time, being then very
fweet : For in the Summer the inner Nerve
La o^

tiorhe BRITISH ANGLER. PJI.

or String, which ferves them inftead of a
Back-bone, grows hard ; and this String or
Nerve is always to be taken away when you
drefs them. Whenfoever you either road, fry,
or broil Eels^ Congers^ or Lampreys ^ be fure
they be done brown, tender, and crifp •, and
firft well par-boiled in Water, with Salt and
Fennel, or fweet Herbs, which corredls and
renders their Flefh more pleafant, tender and
palatable. A delicate Cake, called Elver-Cake^
is made of the young Fry oi Severn Lampreys^
and fenttoall Parts as a great Dainty.

In the Day-time Eels hide thernfelves under
fome Covert, Roots of Trees, Stocks, Stones,
Brufli-wood, Piles, Boards, or Planks about
Flood-gates, Weirs, Bridges, or Mills, or
in Holes in the River's Bank; and they delight
in ftill Waters, and in Waters that are foul
or muddy •, tho' the fmaller Eels are found in
all Sorts of Rivers and Soils.

Befides the above-mentioned Way of tak-
ing them in the Night, Eels are caught in the
Day-time by a Ledger-hait^ by SnigltJig or
Brogling^ and by Bobbing,

Brogling or Snigling is thus performed : Get
an exceeding ftrong and long Line, and a
fmall compafTed Hook, baited with a well-
fcoured Red-wor?7i^ or Dew-worm : Hold one
End of the Line in your Hand ; then place
the upper End of your Hook very eafily in
theCleft of a long Hazle-ftick, that it may
cafily flip out. With this Stick and Hook
thus baited, fearch for Holes under Stones,

Tim-

Chap. II. Of the E E L. iit

Timber, Roots, or about Flood -gates, Weirs,
or Piles, and put the Bait leilurely therein. If
there be a good Eel^ give her Time, and ilie
will take it : Be lure llie hath fwallowed it,
and then very leifurely draw her out by De-
grees : For Ihe lying double in her Hole, will
with the Help of her Tail break all, unlefs
you give Time for her to be wearied with pul-
ling, and (o Haul her out by Degrees, not pul-
ling too hard.

This Way of catching Eels is only to be
praftifed when the Waters are low, and on a
hot Summer's Day.

Bobbing for Eels is thus performed : Take
the largeH: Garden-worms well fcoured, and
v/ith a Needle run a ftrong Thread through
them, from End to End. In this Manner
firing fo many, that at lair you may wrap them
flackly about your Hand a dozen Times as
leaft j then tie them fall with the two Ends of
the Thread, that they may hang in fo many
long Boughts or Hanks. Fallen all to a fmall
flrong Cord, about two Yards long j and a-
bout a handful or eight Inches- above the
Worm, tie the Cord on a Knot : Then get a
Lead-plumb three Quartersofa Pound Weight,
fhaped like a Pyramid, and bore a Hole thro*
the Middle of this Lead from End to End,
fo as the Cord may eafily pafs to and fro. Put
the upper End of this Cord through the
Plumb, (the thick End of the Plumb being
downwards) and let the Plumb reft on the
Knot on the Cord above the Worms. Fix the
E 3 up-

522 71;^ B R I T I S H A N G L E R. P.II.

upper End of the Cord to a ftrong and long
PoJe. Thus prepared, angle in a muddy
Water, and either in the Deeps or Sides of
Streams, and you will ke\ the Eels tug flrong-
Jy and eagerly at them. When you think
they have fwallowed the Worms as far as they
can, gently draw up your Worms and Eels ;
and when you have them near the Top of the
Water, hoift them fuddenly to Land. Thus
you may take three or four at once, and good
ones too, if there be plenty.

Thefe two Ways of Snigling and Bobbing
are proper only for Eels, no other Fifh being
to be caught after that Manner.

There is the Conger or great Sea-Eel^ be-
fides the Sorts I have mentioned, which has a
white, fat, and fweet Fifh •, nourifhing to
Excels, and therefore dangerous, becaufe of
Surfeits. They are firfk par-boiled in Water,
with Salt and fweet Kerbs, and then broiled;
Or, you may firft par>boil them in Water,
and Salt, then highly feafon them, and bake
them in a Pot. The fmall ones are taken be«
tween Gloucefter and ^ewkshury^ and below
Warrington in Lancajhire *, the great Oneson-
jy in the Salt Seas.

Eel-puts^ another Fifh fomewhat refemb-
ling the EeU but efleemed better, are alfo
found in foine Rivers. Their Places of Re-
fort are the fame as the Eel*s^ and they are to
be taken in Peals of Thunder and heavy Rain,
which drives fhem from their Holes. The pro-

percft

Ghap. II. Of the E E h, 223

perek Bait for them is a fmall Gudgton •, and
when they are large, they afford good Sport.
Some advife to angle for the common Eel
upon the Grabble, with Lobworm^ Minnow,
or Gudgeon^ and fometimes you may have
Sport after a Shower : But as this is not fre-
quently pradifed, I fhall not take any farther
notice of the Methods of taking them here
mentioned.

ne Jlitny Eel hut little Sport can make.
Beyond what School -hoy 5 find in TFhip and Snake »
Tet after Thunder Show'rs your Fortune try,
With Lobworms, andfirong Lines a large ^

Supply,
And while your Stock endures^ you need not
fear the Fry.

CHAR XII.

Of the Roach and the Rud»

TH E Roach is a coarfe bony Fifh, of
no great Reputation for his Tafte, and
his Spawn is accounted much better than any
other Part of him. As the Carp is called the
IVater-Fox,^ on Account of his Cunning, fo
the Roach is firnamed the Water-Sheepy for
his Simplicity. His Spawning-Time is in
June, when he is fcabby and unwholefome^
But both he and the Bace recover Strength,
and grow in Seafon in a Fortnight after Spawn-
ing, as the Barhel and Chub ia a Month, the
L 4 ^rout

224 t;^^ B RI T I S H A N G LE R. P.II.

^rout in four Months, and the Salmon in the
fame Time, if he gets into the Sea, and af^
ter wards into frefh Water.

Roaches are reckoned much better in the
River than in a Pond, though Ponds ufually
breed the biggeft. Some Authors mention
a Kind of baftard Roach that breeds in
Ponds, with a very forked Tail, and of a
very fmall Size, which they fay is produced
by the Bream and the right Roach. Thefe are
by many thought the fame as Ruds \ and feme
Ponds are flored with them beyond Belief.
They differ, fays Mr. IValton^ from the true
Roach ^ as much as a Herring from a Pilchard
and are now to be found in many Rivers.

The Roach is a leather- mouthed Fifli,
and has a Kind of Saw-like Teeth in his
Throat. He makes an Angler excellent Sport,
efpecially if large, as many are. Both Roach
and Dace bite all Day long from Sun-rifing till
Sun-let. The chief Bait for Roach is boiled
Mall, Cadews, Gentles, white and red Pajle,
and fometimes Flies ; but if you angle for them
in windy Weather, ufe the fmall Red-worm,
They frequent gentle Streams which are fhal-
low, and will bite freely. When Winter be-
gins to approach, they retire into the Deeps,
at the End of ftrong Currents: Here you will
have Occafion to ufe more Lead than ordi-
nary •, and confequently a larger Float, and a
flronger Line to bear the Lead : And here,
as well as in other Places, you mud angle a-
bout twelve Inches from the Bottom. The

\

Chap. 12. Of the ^O A. Q H. aaj

Ant-fly is another good Bait for Roach, They
who defire to have much Diverfion, and to
take many Roach^ are direded to gratify
themfelves in the follovving Manner : Having
provided a fufficient Quantity of Gentles^ go
below London-Bridge^ as far as Shadwell^
Rat cliffy Lmehoufe^ or thereabouts ; then take
a Boar, and faflen it to the Stern of a Collier^
or fome other large Veflel, which has lain
fome Time in the River, and with a fhort
Rod, and a Line not exceeding four Foot in
Length, angle there *, and remember to put
three or four Gentles upon your Hook at one
Time. Let your Float be twelve Inches di-
llant from the Top of your Rod •, and Jay in
your Bait as clofe to the Stern of the Ship as
you can, and let it fwim about three Yards.
This mud be done when the Tide begins to
ebb, and you will not fail of good Sport for
two Hours at leaft ; and what vou catch will
be large.

ThtRud, (whether the fame with Mr, V/al~
ton^s>h':iSS.xxdiRoach^ or no, I will not determine)
is however a Sort o^Roach^ but much prefer-
able, and of a golden Colour: He is ftrong,
broad, and thick, and feeds near the Top of
the Water. The principal Baits for this Fiili
are Red-worms and Flies, They will feed
very generoufly, and divert the Angler ; for
they flruggle hard, and are very ftrong.

The Roach no ?nighty Art^ no Skill require :
Each puny Sportfrnan^cT^f hinifelf may tire.

Li J-i^

a26 TbeBRlTlSH ANGLER. P.II.

^o' ev'nfor tbefey if you would angle fine^
Tou^ll find the Sport befi anfwer your Deftgn,
Tour Bait put on^ they bite with eager H^e^
And [wallow Cod-bait, Gentles, Flies, <?rPafl:e:
Nay^ Worms in windy Weather thefll de-
vour^
Frefented ev*ry where^ and ev*ry Hour,

^heKnd^ a Kind ^ Roach, all ting"* d with
Gold^
Strongs broad, and thick, mojl lovely to heboid^
High on the Surface will with Freedom bite
At finall Red- worms, or Flies, his like Delight,
But Angler, if you meet him, pray take Care,
He ftruggles long, and breaks the ftngle Hair.

CHAP. XIIL
Of the DACE.

TH O* the Dace hath many Properties m
common with the Roach, yet he merits
a particular Chapter in this Book. He is a
bright handfome Filh ; fpawns generally in
March -, loves a gravelly Scour ; is very fhy
and wary like the Trout, and when frightened,
retires into the Deeps. Befides the Rules that
are common to him and the Roach, thefe pecu-
liar ones are given by a London Angler.

Dace are to be taken on the Surface of the
Water, with a fine, nice, artificial Fly, and
will rife fooner at the black, than any other
Colour. If you angle upon a Scour, ufeGentleSy
or Pafle-i if in the Deeps, kt/odden Malt, or

Boufe-^

Chap. I^. Of the D A C E. 227

Houfe-flies be the Bait ; and never fuffer yout
Line, which fhould be of a fingle Hair, to
be above two or three Foot under Water.
They will alfo take the little Red'^worm, C^-
dews^ or Grafsbopper : With the former of
thefe you may ufe the fmalleft Float, and one
Shot to poize it ; and when the Grafsbopper is
your Bait, pull off the Legs, put the Point
of your Hook under his Tail, and run ic
through and bury it in the back Part of his
Head. Remember to ftrike the Dace nimbly,
as foon as ever he bites. It is proper always
to concealyourfelf as much as poffible, if you
exped any great Sport.

Dace may be alfo taken with Fle/h^fiies^ up-
on the Surface of the Water; into whofe Backs,
between their Wings, you mufl; put your
Hook, which fhould be fmall. They bite \n
the Morning and Evening. You muft then
provide a Cane Rod^ which is the lighted of
any : Let it be at leaft feventeen Foot irv
-Length : And your Line, which fhould, from
the Middle downwards, confift of fingle Hairs,
muft be fomewhat longer than your Rod,
You ought alfo to be furniflied with a fufli-
cient Quantity of fmall Houfe-flies^ which keep
in a Glafs Bottle, flopped with a Cork. With
thefe repair, efpecially about feven or eight
o'clock in a Summer's Evening, to a MiU-
Stream^ and having fixed three or Jour Hooks
with fingle Hair-links, not above four Inches
long, to your Line, t^it them with the Flies^
and angle upon the Surface of the Water on the

fmootheit

2a8 r/^^ B R I T I S H ANGLE R.P.II.

^mootheft Part, at the End of the Mill-Stream.
The Dace will rife freely, efpeciaJJy if the
San does not fliine on that Part of the Water
where you cad your Line, and you may take
two or three at a Time. This Sport will con-
tinue as long as Day-light will permit you to
fee your Flies,

In the fame Manner D^r*? will alfo rife at
the Ant-fly upon the Surface of the Water, if
ufed in a Morning at the Foot of a Current,
or Mill-Stream, or on the Scour before the
Sun comes upon the Water.

If you angle for them upon the l^havies^
your Ground-bait muft be made of Bran, a
Cruftof white Bread foaked and worked up
into round Balls, with little Stones in the
Middle. Take a Boat ; and when you chufea
Place let it be under the Wind, when the
Water is fmooth : Plumb the Depth, and let
your Lead be eight Inches from the Bottom :
Then caft in your Ground-hait about four
Yards above the Head of your Boat-, and two
or three of the Balls nearer to you, and lay
in your Bait exadtly over your Ground-bait.
Take your Swim as long as your Rod and
Line will permit, and alv/ays remember not
to let it fwim too far. When you draw it up,
give a little Jerk ; and when your Float finks,
then ftrike •, but be not too eager to take your
Fiih out of the Water. This Method may
alfo be obferved in angling for Roach.

A Bace frefh taken, and fcotched, and
broiled, eats fweeter, and is more palatable

than

Chap. 13. Of the D A C E. 0.1^

than a Frejib' Her ring. Dace feldom exceed
ten Inches in Length.

Having already obferved, th^it Dace fpawn
generally in March, I muft add, that fome
affirm, they fpawn twice a Year, without fay-
ing in which Month they fpawn the fecond
Time. Certain it is however, that fmall and
middle-fized Dace have been taken at the lat-
ter End o^ Ooloher and Beginning o^ I^ovem^
her, all full of Melts and Roes -, and thofe Fifh
have ufually a finer Flavour than any taken in
Summer.

The two following Difcoveries, by our mo-
dern Angler, are perhaps worth communi-
cating in this Place : The firft is this : If the
•Water be high, fo as to rife almoft to the
Banks of the River, then fallen to your Line
an artificial Fly, called the Caterpillar-fly ;
then take a large yellow Gentle, (the yellower
the better) run the Hook through the Skin of
him, and draw him up to the Tail of your
artificial Fly : This being done, whip with it
on the Surface of the Water; and if you are
diligent and expert, you may afllire yourfelf
of good Sport.

The fecond Thing is, that if you angle
where two Mill-Streams are going at one and
the fame Time, let it be in the Eddy between
the two Streams : Firft make ufe of your Plum-
met •, and if the Water be deep, you muft
angle within a Foot of the Bottom, and per-
haps you will find but little Sport. But if it
proves tobelliallow, that is, about the Depth

of

230 TiheBRlTlSH ANGLER.RII.

of two Foot, or not exceeding three, then bait
your Hook with three large Gentles : Ufe a
Cork-Float, which ought not to be a Foot and
a half from the Hook, and have a quick Eye
toftrikeat the very firfl Bite ; for if there be
any large Dace in the Mill-pooJ, they will re-
fort to the Eddy between the two Streams,

The fame Gentleman obferves farther, that
if every Angler would confider, that Gentles
are not only the mod univerfal, but alfo the
moft alluring Bait, they would always carry
fome of them with them. He affirms, he has.
taken ^rout with Gentles^ when every Kind of
Worm has been refufed, and. artificial Flies
rejedled : And even to all forts of Frefh-water
or River Fifh, File and Salmon excepted, they
have proved an acceptable Bait \ nor does he
doubt but they would be fo to them, could it
be fo contrived, as to fix them upon a Hook
that could hold either Salmon or Pike,

The Silver Dace, no defpicahle Fi/Io,
May pleafe the Angler both in Sport and Dijh,
In Summer on the Scours the Wanton lies,
And^ ifunfeen^ he all Day long will rife :
But ne'er fo gamefojne, ne'er fo brisk before.
Once feen he flies you, and will rife no more.
Behind fome Covert then thyfelf conceal.
And with the Flefli-fly thou xilt feldom faiL
Floats ufelefs are^ unlefs the W orm you try.
And with the rifing FlafJo fuccef fully
'Defend the Streafu -, then any Thing he takes^
And, like the Trout, hut fnall Difnncfion makes.

CHAP.

Chap. 14. 0/tbeGUDGEOlS^. 2^1

CHAP. XIV.
Of the GUDGEON.

TH E Gudgeon is a Fifli of excellent Tafle,.
and reputed to be very wholfome ; has
a fine Shape, is of a filver Colour, and beau-
tified with black Spots both on his Body and
Tail, The whiter he is, the better ; and, when
in Perfedtion, he well deferves the Name
of the River- Smelt, He breeds in March
or April % fome fay two or three Times in the
Year, and always in the Summer. He is com-
mended for a Fifh of excellent Nourifhment,
eafy of Digeftion, and increafing good Blood.
He delights in fandy gravelly Bottoms, gentle
Streams, and fmall Rivers. He feeds on the
Ground, and there feafts himfelf in fharp
Streams, and on the Gravel. He and the Bar-
bel refemble each other in this, neither of which
hunt for Flies at any Time, as mod other
Fifhes do. He is an excellent Filh to enter a
young Angler, being eafy to be taken with a
fmall Red-worm^ on, or very near to, the
Ground.

When you angle for him in Shallows, ftir
the Ground or Sand with a Pole, to make them
come together. He bites all Day from the
End of March till Michaelmas^ but feldom in
cold Weather, after a Flood, or the Dark.
Gilt' tails and Brandlings are his chief Baits.
He is one of thofe leather- mouthed Filh that

has

132 ^^^BR I TISH ANGLER. P.IL

has his Teeth in his Troat, and will hardly be
loft off from the Hook when once ftruck.

Gudgeons are ufually fcattered up and down
every River in the Shallov/s in the Heat of
Summer : But in Autumn^ when the Weeds
begin to grow four or rot, and the Weather
colder, they gather together, and get into the
deeper Parts of the Water -, and are to be fifli-
ed for with your Hook always touching the
Ground, if you ufe a Float or a Cork: But
many will fifli for the Gudgeon by Hand, with
a running Line upon the Ground, without a
Cork •, and it is an excellentWay, if you have
a gentle Rod, and as gentle a Hand. Be not
too hally with him when he bites, for he
fometimes only nibbles the Bait.

Gudgeons will take Gentles^ or the Cow- dung
Boh \ but the fmall Red-worm is what pleales
them beft. If you can find a Bridge or Plank
over a fmall River, chufe to angle underneath
for Gudgeons \ for they love the Shade ; and are
fo far from being fhy, that ^ou may not only
appear in Sight, but if you drive them from their
Place of Reibrt, they will immediately return.
A fingle Hair Line, a fine taper Rod, a Float,
and a Imall Hook, is what moft ufe, and the
Bait to drag upon the Ground. In fine :

Tho' little Art the Gudgeon may fuffice^
His Sport is good^ and with the greateft vies.
Few LefTons will the Angler'' s Ufe fupply,
Where he'^sfo ready of himfelf to die.

For

Chap. 14. Of the GUDGEO N. 233

For, if no Heats or Flafhes interpofe.

His Prize heHi hold^ and yours you cannot lofe,

CHAP. XV.
Of the POPE, or RUFF.

TH E Pope^ by many called a Ruff, Is not
known to be in fome Rivers. He is
much like the Perch for his Shape, and taken
to be better •, but will not grow to be bigger
than a large Gudgeon. He is all over rough,
and hath fharp or prickly Fins. His Colour
is brown and dufkifh above ; but a pale yel-
low underneath. A double Courfe of Circles
marks him by the Jaws. There is a Line
goes along his Back, faftened as it were to the
Body with a Crofs-thread. His Fins, which
he ereds when angiy, and Tail, are fpotted
with black Spots. No Fifh that fwims is of a
pleafanter Tafte j and he is alfo excellent to
enter a young Angler, for he is a greedy
Biter. - They ufually lie Abundance of them
together, in one referved Place, where the Wa-
ter is deep, and runs quietly. And an eafy
Angler, if he has found where they lie, may
catch forty or fifty, or fometimes twice as ma-
ny at a Standing. You may even angle with
two or three Hooks, and pull up the Hune
Number of Fifhes at a Throw.

You mud fiHi for him with a fmall Red-
worm, or a Gentle \ and if you bait the Ground
with Earth, it is excellent. Ufe a Float, and

angle

234 ^^ BRITISH ANGLER. P.ll.
angle as for a Perch, The River Tare in Nor-
folk is almoft peculiar for Plenty of Ruffs^ and
therefore I conclude with only four Lines.

Ahold free Fijh^ the Perch-refemhling Ruff^
TFhen found their Haunts, will furnijh Sport

enough ;
ne tempting Bait at no Time will refufe^
But Gentles chiefs and little Red- worms chufe,

CHAP. XVI.
Of the BLEAK.

TH E Bleaks or frefh-water Sprat ^ is ever
in Motion, and therefore called by foine
the River-Swallow: For as we obferve the
Swallow mod Evenings in Summer to be ever
in Motion, making fliort and quick Turns
when he endeavours to catch Flies in the Airj
fo does the Bleak at the Top of the Water.
His Back is of a pleafant fad, or Sea-water
Green ; his Belly white, and fhining as the
Mountain-Snow : And doubtlefs, fays Mr.
Walton^ (upon a Prefumption that our Bleaks
and Anchovies are the fame Fifh) though he
have the Fortune to be neglected, yet the
Bleak ought to be much valued, though we
want the Skill the Italians have to turn them
into Anchovies. This Fifh may be caught
with a Paller-nofter Line, that is, fix or eight
very fmall Hooks tied along the Line, half a
Foot, or three or four Inches, one above the

other.

Chap. i6. Of the BLEAK. 235

other. Five or fix may be caught thus at one
Time, if you bait with Gentles^ than which
nothing is better. You may angle deeper for
them in the Sanies than in any other River.

Or this Fifli may be caught with a fine
artificial Fly, of a fad brown Colour, very
fmall, and the Hook anfwerable. There is
no better Sport than whipping for Bleaks in a
Boat, or on a Bank in the fwift Water in a
Summer's Evening, with a Hazle-top, about
iive or fix Foot long, and a Line twice the
Length of the Rod.

There are (if any Credit may be given to
Report) many who in Italy will catch Swal-
lows thus, but more efpecially Martens, This
Bird-Angler Hands on the Top of a Steeple to
do it, and with a Line twice as long as I have
fpoken of. AHerriy that conftantly frequent-
ed one Place, has been caught flying, with a
Hook baited with a big Minnow or fmall
Gudgeon, The Line and Hook muft be ftrong,
and tied to fome loofe Staff, fo big that fhe
cannot fly away with it, and the Line not
exceeding two Yards.

The Sea-Bleak is preferred to the River, be-
caufe the latter are faid to be fometimes mad
in Summer, by Reafon of a Worm in their
Stomachs. Gentles^ the Dub- Fly ^ and the fame
Baits as are good for Roach, will fucceed with
the Bleak. But the Fly yields the greatefl
Pleafure, and therefore that alone is remember-
ed in our Verfes.

The

^36 Tie BRITISH ANGLERP.If.

The Bkdkfmall Flies upon the Surface takes ^
And feldom the leaft Hefitation makes.
With an ohferving Eye^ and curious Hand^
In little Time you Numbers 7nay command,

CHAP. XVII.

OJ the Minnow or Penk, /Z^d- Loach, the Bull-
head or Milkr's-thunib, and the Stickle-
bag.

THERE are in our fredi Waters three
or four other Sorts of little Fifh^s,which,
cho' for their Minutenefs they may be hardly
thought worth mentioning, mayfome of them,
for the Delicacy of their FleHi, be compared
with any ofthe larger Species. They are ufa*
alJy full of Spawn all the Summer Months,
and breed often, like fomx of the fmaller Sorts
of Ql^adrupedes ; and when the. Eggs are thus
animated, they foonarrive to th^ir full Growth
and Perfe6lion. It is 'providential that they
breed both often and numeroufly \ for befides
other Accidents, they are both a Prey and
Bait for other Fifh.

Tht Minnov) ^ when in perfe6i: Seafon, and
not fick, which is only prefently after Spawn-
ing, has a kind of dappled or waved Colour,
like a Panther, on his Sides, inclining to a
greenidi and sky Colour •, his Belly being
milk-white, and his Back almoft black or
blackifli. He is a fharp Biter at a fmall
Worm, and in hot Weather makes excellent

Sport

Chap. 17. Of the M IN N O W, i£c, 237

Sport for young Anglers, or for Boys and
Women that love that Recreation.

The Minnow appears firft in March, con-
tinues till Michaelmas , and then betakes him-
felf to the Mud, Weeds, or Wood in Ri-
vers •, to fecure himfelf from Floods, devour-
ing Trouts, and other Fiihes of Prey.

He leail frequents deep, ftill Places, where
Trouts or great Fifh ply *, neither ftirs in the
Night, nor in dark windy Weather, for fear
of becoming a Prey to his Enemies, who at
fuch Times principally bite and range about
for Food. His rnoft ufual Time is from an
Hour after Sun-rifing, if the Day prove fair,
till an Hour before Sun-fet. His Baits are
chiefly fmall Red-zmrms^ Gilt- tail. Brandlings
Cod-hait, and the like. He is caught either
at Mid-water, or near, or clofe to the Bottom,
Ufe a Float in angling for him.

Tht Loach is a pleaflmt Fifh, light, deli-
cate in Tafte, wholefome, and of excellent Nu-
triment •, breeding and feeding in clear fwifc
Brooks or Rills, living in the fharpeft Streams,
and on the Gravel, and often under Stones.
He fomething refemblesan Eel in Shape, and
the Females are in the Summer often full
of Spawn. They are always caught on the
Bottom, the Bait touching the Ground, and
their bed Baits are the fmall Red-worm^ Gilt^
tail, or Meadow- worm.

The Loach grows not to above a Finger's
Length, and no thicker than is fuitable to that
Length. He has a Beard or Wattels like a

Bar-

ft38 ne BRITISH ANGLER. P.II.

Barbel. He has two Fins on his Sides, four
at his Belly, and one at his Tail. He is dap-
pled with <nany black or brown Spots, and
his Mouth is, Barhel-\\kQ^ under hisNofe.

The Alilkr*5'thumh, or Bull-head^ is a .Fifh
of no pleafing Form, being compared to the
Sea-toad-fijh^ for Similitude of Shape. He has
a Head big and flat, much greater than fuita-
ble to his Body \ a Mouth very wide, and u-
fually gaping. He is without Teeth, but his
Lips are very rough, like a Fly. He hath
two Fins near his Gills, roundifh or crefted,
two under the Belly, two on the Back, one
below the Vent, and the Fin of his Tail is
round. Nature hath painted the Body of this
Fiih with whitifh,blackifli,and brownifhSpots.
The Females areufually full of Eggs or Spawn
all the Summer, which fwell their Vents al-
moft into the Form of a Dug. They begin
to fpawn about April, In the Winter, the
Minnow y the Loach ^ and the Bull-bead^ dwell
in the Mud like the Eel.

In Summer, the Bull-head hides himfelf in
Holes, or amongft Stones in clear Water ; and
in very hot Days will lie a long Time very
dill, and fun himfelf, being eafily feen upon
any flat Stone or Gravel. He will then fuffer
an Angler to put a Hook baited with a fmall
IVoryn very near his Mouth, and he never re-
fufes to bite, nor indeed to be caught with the.
worfl: of Anglers.

There is alfo a little Fifli called a Sticklebag.,
without Scales, which hath his Body guarded

with

Chap. 17. Of tbeM INN OW, ^c, 239
with feveral Prickles. He is good for nothing
in Summer, his only Seafon, but to make
Sport for Boys and Women-Anglers, and to
feed Fifh of Prey, as Trouts in particular, who
will bite at him as at a Minnow^ or better, if
your Hook be rightly baited with him : For
he may be fo hung, as that his Tail whirling
like the Sail of a Wind-mill, will make him
turn more quick than any Minnow can. And
it is the nimble Turning of the Bait that is the
Perfedbion o^Minnovj-FiJhing, Put your Hook
into his Mouth, and out at his Tail ; and
then having firfl tied him with white Thread
a little above his Tail, and placed him after
fuch a Manner on your Hook as he may be
difpofed to turn, few up his Mouth to
your Line. If you put him on dexteroufly, fo
that he turns quick, he will tempt any Trout :
And you may alter his Pofition on the Line,
till you bring him to this. The Loacb will
have the fame EfFed:, if not too big.

To conclude the Hiilory of our River
Fifhes :

5"/?^ Minnow, Flatfrer-Uke^ is evernlghj
The Angler's Plague^ for Baits a good Supply,
To catch the Sticklebag each School-hoy knows^ *)
And Loach, <^;?^ Bull-heads, which for Baits (
arg chofe^ I

And bite as often as the Angler throws. j

CHAP,

^^oThe BRITISH ANGLER.P.If.

CHAP. XVIII.

Of Local FiJheSy or thofe which are peculiar
to certain Waters,

TH O' I have done with all our frejh
Water-FiJJj that are common to Anglers,
I might be thought inexcufable were I to omit
the Char and the Guiniad^ which, though they
can fall in the Way of very few Sportfmen,
have been mentioned and described by the beft
Authors who have writ on Angling. I call
them local Fijh^ becaufe they are never found
but in particular Standing Waters^ notwith-
ftanding that thofe Waters have a Commu-
nication with Rivers.

The Charh found in Lancajhire^ in a Mere
called Winander-Mere \ which, according to
Canibden^ is the largeft Mere or fbanding Wa-
ter in this Nation, being ten Miles in Length.
Some fay it is as fmooth at the Bottom as if
it were paved with polifhed Marble. The
Char never exceeds fifteen or fixteen Inches in
Length. It is fpotted like a Jro///, and has
fcarce a Bone but on the Back. I do not
know whether it makes the Angler any great
Sport, but it is univerfally thought a very deli-
cate Fifh, and deferves to be taken notice of,
becaufe it is a Rarity, and of fo high Efteem.

The Giiiniad^ according to the fame Camh-
den^ and others, is peculiar to Pemole-Mere in
CheJJjire. The River Dee^ fays this Author,
which runs by Chefter^ fprings in Merioneth-

Jhircy

Chap. 18. Of the C H A R, iic. i^\

Jhire, and as it runs toward Chefter^ it pafTes
through the faid Pemhle Mere, which is
a large Water: And it is obferved, thattho*
the River Dee abounds -with Salmon^ and Pem-
hle Mere with the Guiniad^ yet there is never
any Salmon caught in the Mere, nor any Gut-
mad in the River.

It is obferved of Wtmnder Mere, where
tht Char are found, that in the deeped Parts,
none of the Lines or Nets which Anglers com-
monly ufe, can reach the Bottom of it : Some
fay that this Fifli is found alfo in Coningfton
Mere, which is not fat* from the other ; but
then it is fuppofed that they are carried thither
from Winander Mere, perhaps through both
of their refpedlive Rivers, which enter the Sea
at one Mouth. This is not improbable, fince
though the Char never (lays, fo as to be taken,
out of Standing Water, he may eafily bear
with fuch a Voyage, out of what mayjuftly
enough be called his proper Element. Dr.
heigh fays, the Char in Coningfton Mere are
better than thofe in Winander Mere ; but there
are Reafons to think that he was prejudiced in
this Article.

There is a Pool in Caernarvon/hire, called
Limperis-Pool^ which breeds a peculiar Kind
ofFijfh, to be feen no where el fe, called by
the Inhabitants a 'Tor-coch. I meet wirh no
other Defcription of him, but that his Belly is
reddifh. And about Fornhy in LancaJLire,
there are little Filhes caught "in a black Water
under the Turfs.

M _ I

241 The BRITISH ANGLER.P.Il.

I might have referved the Ruff or Pope to
be fpoken of in this Chapter, had not Cuftom
prevailed to the contrary : For though there
are Ruffs found in many other Rivers, none
are equal to thofe of the Tare in Norfolk, The
fame Thing is obferved of Lampreys^ which
in the Severn excel thofe of the '^/haines^ and
every other River : And th^Mullet, (a Sea-Fifli
to be fpoken of in the next Chapter) when he
Jeaves the fait Water, is very nice in his
Choice of frelh. Alfo the Grayling, before
defcribed, is no where fo plenty as in the
Dove in Derhyjhlre. But I have done with a
Subjedt that can be of fo little Ufe to the Ang-
Jer, who need only remember. That,

5^<? Char and Guiniad never change their
Shires,
But live in Winander and Pemble Meres.

CHAP. XIX.

Of Flounders, Mullets, and Smelts.

I Come now to certain Species of Fifh^which,
though bred in the Sea, and properly In-
habitants of the fait Water, are yet frequently
taken in our Rivers, efpecially in fome of
them : And thefe are principally Flounders,
Mullets y and Smelts,

Flook

Ghap. i8. Of tbeF LOUISA DE R,&V, 243

Flook or Flounders are firm and good Fifh ;
fo innocent in their Nature, and fo nutritive,
that Phyficians order them to be given to ficlc
Perfons, when their Stomachs cannot digeft
any other Food. On fuch Occafions., thofe
which frequent and are taken in the frefh Wa-
ter Rivers, are efleemed befl. They are in
Seafon all the Year, except the Time of their
Spawning, which is from the latter End of
June to the Middle of July ; and then they
are fick, flabby, and unwholfome. At fuch
a Junflure, if any of them be taken, you may
perceive fmall Worms about the Length of half
an Inch, and in fome the Length of an Inch,
which have made a Bed for themfelves in the
Backs oftheFiHi.

Flounders area ihy and wary Fifh, and feed
at Bottom : Their common and niofl delight-
ful Places of Refort, are the Sides of Sand-
banks, caft up by Mill-flreams or Weirs, or
by Ilrong Eddies. Sometimes they are found
at the Tail of Mill-flreams, or at a more re-
mote Diflance from them, in deep Waters,
under or clofeto the Bank-Sides, efpecially if
the Bottom be Sand or Gravel, and has a De-
clivity. If you find a Hole in a River, which
looks ever fo likely, and there is Mud at the
Bottom, it will be loft Labour to angle there-
in j for the leafl Mud or Filth choaks Floun-
ders.

As they are greedy and voracious, they will

bite at any Red-worm : But the hohworm^ as

it is the largefl, will entice them foonefl, pro-

M 2. vided

244^^ BRITISH ANGLER. P.ll.

vided it be well fcoured. The ufnal Way of
Angling for them, is to lie upon the Grabble ;
that is, to put fo much Lead upon your Line,
about twelve or fourteen Inches diftant from
your Hook, that it may keep it ileady at
Bottom, the Fait having Liberty to be twirled
about by the Water.

If you ufe a Float, let it lie upon the Sur-
face ; and when it firfl cocks up, and is af-
terwards drawn under Water, you may then
conclude that the Flounder has taken, or is
taking your Bait. Remember to allow him
Time s for he will fuck all the Worm into his
Mouth before he gorges it. The Hook which
you ufe cannot be too fmall, if you can get
your Bait upon it.

The beft Plaice have the blackefl Spots on
their Body, and the beft Flounders the reddefl.
As the Flounder is a Fifh without Scales, he is
not eaten by the Jews. He bites all the Day,
from Sun-rife until Sun-fet, in April^ May\
June^ July^ and Part of ^^^^^{/?.

Mullets are a fait Water Fifh, well-tafled,
delicate, and much admired. During the
Summer- Seafon they come into the Rivers
which lie contiguous with the Sea, as often as
the Tide flows. Great Plenty of them may
be taken with an Angle Rod, which, as well
as the Line, muft be ftrong.

They will rife, like a T:rout or Salmon^ at

a artificial Fly^ which mufl be larger than

what is ufed for the Trout \ and they will alfo

take a Worm under Water, if you angle about

two

Chap. 19- 0/^;^^ F L OU N D E R, &c: 245

two Foot from the Bottom, They are won-
derfully fhy and wary, but feed as freely as
any Fifh, and will afford much Sport and Di-
verfion. They abound chiefly along the
Southern and South- well Parts of England^
which lie oppofite to France, The River A-
ron in Sujjex^ at Aru/idel, and /Ix in the
County of Devon, aboue two Miles below the
Town of Ai<?ninfler\ yield vaft Quantities
of them every Time the Tide flows.

Smelts area fine Fifli, with a delicate Fla-
vour, and are in Seafon twice a Year. They
make their flrft Appearance about the Middle
of March^ when the beii are taken at Cbclfeci
and Hatnmerfm'ub, At the fecond Time of
their coming into the River Tbdmes^ which is
in the Month of Augufly they feldom reach
higher than London-Bridge ; and the fined
and largefl: are then taken oppofite to Dept-
fordsLud Greenwich, In angling for them, ufe
the Pater-nofter Line of one Hair, and let
your Bait be Gentles or white Pafte,

ne Angler'jyfr/, oft* hy the Flounder/^//,
^e Mullet lufcious, and the fragrant Smelt,
Extends beyond the native River Fry, .^

/^<?r Flook wi/i? Worms, for Mullet withf
Dub-fly : C

For Smelts,, your Gentles are the hejl Supply, ^

Ma C HA P,

246TheBRiriSH ANGLER. P.IL

CHAP. XX.

Of Fijh taken on the Roch^ and at Sea.

WE are afiured, (for I never pradifcd
this Sport myfelf,) that there are but
four Sorts of Fifh which are generally taken
by Rock-fifhing, namely Sea Breafn^ Floun-
ders, PFhitr/ig-Pollocky ^nd Rock- Waiting.

Sea Breafjis are not fo broad and flat, nor
altogether fo large as Rivej* Breams^ when full
grown, fejdom exceeding twelve or fourteen
Inches at rnofl^ but then they are fuller- bodied^
more plump and thick, and inclinable to be
round. Their Colour is generally a pale Red,
which turns to a deeper Red when they are
drefs'd. They are well -tailed, but full of
Bones ; and this may be the Reafon why feme
People account them a coarfe Fiih. Thty af-
ford good Diverfion in the Water, and the
larger Sort will try the Skill and Judgment of
the Fifherman. They are not proper to be
eaten by thofe who have a weak Stomach ; for
though they are nourifhing and ftrengthening,
yet they are not eafily digefted.

There is very little, if any real Diflincftion
between the River Flounders^ and thofe taken
in the Salt-water ; the former coming original-
iy from the Sea. However, by continuing in
frefli Water, they become firmer, and better
tafled, than thofe which are taken in the fak
Water. This may be eafily proved, by com-
paring

Chap.ao. Of the S E A-B RE A M,yr. 247

paring the Flounders which are caught beyond
the Buoy-in-the-Nore^ with thofe taken in the
na7?iesdhovt Bridge, or in the Rivers which
run into the TIjames. However, the fait Water
Flounders are much larger than thofe of the frefli
Water, and are efteemed by feme to be equally
as good : And, in Fact, it would puzzle the ni-
ceft Palate, to diftinguifh the one from the o-
ther when drefled. As all this Species of Filh,
if large, draw a great deal of Water, on ac-
count of their Shape, fo the fait Water Floun-
ders will afford good Sport.

The IFbiting Pollock is fo mew hat round in
the Body, and is well-tafred, nourifhing, and as
fleaky as Cod. It feldom exceeds twelve
Inches in Length, and in Colour is a darkiih
Grey. It fl:rugi>;les hard when hooked \ and,
by making a long Defence for its Life,
makes alfo much Diverfion for the Fiiher-
man.

The Rock Whiting is a Species of the /F/^//-
ing d.nd fFbiting Pollocky but differs from both,
and yet is often palmed upon the Ignorant for
true IVbiting, It is not altogether of fuch a
Dark-grey as thdVInting Pollock^ nor fo bright
in Colour as the )^F^//i;?o-. Its chief Place of
Refidence is among the Rocks, from whence
it takes Part of its Name. It affords good
Nourifhmenr, is eafy of Digeftion, and agrees
with weak Stomachs. It makes but an indif-
ferent Defence for its Life, and confequently
not much Sport for the Filherman. It is well-
M 4 tafted i

24S 727^ B RI T I S H A N G LE R. P.II.

taded y and as to its Size, is much the fame
with the Whiting.

Thefe are the different Sorts of Fifh, which
are generally taken at Rock-fifhing ; though it
often happens that large Cr^^i are taken the
fame Way.

The Fifh taken the other Way, by Sea-
fifhing in a Boat, are ufually the cornxvion Whit-
ings and the Haddocks The former are well
known to be moft innocent, pleafant Food,
and are fo common as not to want any Defcrip-
tion. As to the Haddock^ it fo much refembles
the Cod^ efpecially when full grown, as fome-
times to be fold for it to the Ignorant. It is a
welJ-tafled nutritious Fifli,tho' reputed coarfe :
And, if we may credit the Mo nkifh Legends,
it was this Filh that the Apoftle Fcter caught,
at his Mafter's Command, with the Piece of
Money in his Mouth to pay Tribute. The two
black Spots under his Gills, which, the Monks
fay, are the Marks of the Apoftle's Finger and
Thumb, were what gave rife to this fabulous
Impofition, in an Age when Religion confin-
ed of little rife. Small Haddocks are often fold
for firgf Whitings,

l^L^e is alfo Fifhing at Sea when a Ship is
under fail, for Ccd^ Mackarel, and hrg^ Had-
docks: And a Mechod of taking Shrimps and
Prawns^ which gives fome Diverfion on the
Sea-fliore : But I leave the Particulars of thefe
Thii.gs to the other Part of this Book, which
will treat of the PraBice of Angling,

The

Chap.ao. Of the S E A-B REAM, ^cM9

The Bream, the Flounder, Fifhermen re-
port^
ihe darkijh Whiting of each haftard Sort^
Upon the Rocks afford the Angler Sport.
At Sea, /i?^ Haddock and true Whiting ofty
In Boats ; in Ships^ the Cod and Mack'relj

foft.
JVtth well-requited Pains he hauls aloft^

End of the Second Part,

.^t i

T H E

THE

Britijh ANGLER.

P A R T the Third.

Teachitig the whole PraBice of jingling.

CHAP. I.

General Ohfervations regarding the Angler and
his Sport,

H O' I have mentioned almoft
every Thing in the feveral Chap-
ters of iht Second Part ^ concerning
the refpe^ive FiJJo there treated of *,
yet it is neceflary xkvt young An-
gler fhould have feme more general Inftruc-
tions, thrown mifcellaneouily together, con-
cerning his own Qondii^^ the Haunts and Feed

of

Chap. f. The Pradlce of Angling. 2ji
of Fijloes, the proper Seafons of Angling, and
the Practice of every particular Species of it.
To thefe I fhall add federal Obfervations u^-
on Rivers, particularly the Thames \ Direc-
tions for making aFi/^'-^o/zi ; Rules for drejfing
the various Sorts of Fifh, with fuch other Par-
ticulars as may be expedled in a Book of this
Nature. It is poflible I may repeat fome
Things that have been before fpecified •, but I
rather chufe that Method, than to omit any
Particular that may be of Service to my young
Pupils.

To begin with the Jngler himfelf, let his
Apparel not be of 2i light or fljining Colour,
which will refledl upon the Water, and fright
away the Fifh, but let it be of a dark-hrown
Colour, and fit clofe to his Body. Fifi are
terrified with any the leaft Sight or Motion :
Therefore, by all means, keep out of Sight,
when you angle in a clear Water, either by
Ihelteri'ng behind fome Bulh or Tree, or by
Handing as far off the River's Side, as you can
poflibly. To effed this the better, a long
Rod at Ground, and a long Rod and Line
at artificial Fly, are abfolutely necefTary.
Neither ought you to move much on the
Banks, next the Water you angle in, efpeci-
ally for Trouts, Chubs, or Carps.

When you angle at Ground in a clear Wa-
ter, or dibble with natural Flies, angle up the
River •, but in muddy Water, or with Dub-
iiv, an2,ledowri the River.

' ^ Be.

252 TZ^^ B R I T I S H A N G L E R.P.IIL

Before you fet out to angle, fee that your
Baits be good, fweet, fine, agreeable to the
River and Seafon, and proper for the Fi(h you
defign to angle for: Likewife, that your
Tackle be fuitable and neat ; for, if ocherwife,
you had better continue at home, becaufe you
will not only tire and weary yourfelf, but Jofe
your Labour, which to a young Angler will
be no fmall Difcouragement.

When you have hooked a great Fifh, let
him play and tire himfelf within the Water •,
and have fpecial Care to keep the Rod bent,
left he run to the End of the Line, and break
either Hook or Hold. Hale him not too near
the Top of the Water, left by flouncing he
break your Line.

Where any I'Feeds, Roots of Trees^ Stones^
Wood, or other Rubbifh are, it is often good,
but troublefome Angling; For to fuch Places
Fifh refort for Warmth and Security* The
fame may be faid of J^birl-pooh, which are
like Pits in Rivers, and feldom unfurnifhed
of good Fifh. Likewife at Weirs, Weir-poolsy
Mll-ftr earns. Piles, Tofts^ and Pillars of Bridg-
es, Flood'gatvs, Cataraiis, and Falls of Wa-'
ters \ the Conflux of Rivers, the Eddies be-
twixt two Screams, the Returns of a Stream,
and the Sides of a Stream, are good Places gene-
rally to angle in.

In the Su?nmer all Fifh ufually lie in tlie
more fhallow Part of the River, fome in a
ftrong andfwift, others in a gentle Stream,
except Carp, Tenchy and EeL But in Winter

all

Chap. t. TS^ Pradice ^/ Angling. 25^

all fly into the deep, ftill Places. Where it
ebbs and flows Fifh fometimes bite bed, in the
Ebb efpecially *, but rarely at full Water, un-
lefs near the Arches of Bridges, Weirs, or
Flood-gates.

There is no Difference in Angling in any
Part of a Pool, or (landing Water ; for it is
a Prifon to all Fifh, and they are therefore the
fooner taken : But in Rivers, the beft An-
gling is where it is deep and clear at the Bot-
tom i efpecially if it be a Gravel or Clay, with-
out Mud or Weeds ; and if there is a Whir-
ling or Turning in the Water, or a Covert, as
a hollow Bank, great Roots of Trees, or long
Weeds floating above the Water, where
the Filh may hide themfelves at certain
Times.

Rivers that ^rtftrait and level are not fo
good to fllh in, as thofe that are crooked^ and
have many Corners and Turnings, Pools and
Pits : For Fifh get into thofe Creeks and Chan-
nels, and hide themfelves in their private A-
partments. If the Water be narrow vou may
fifh on both Sides, and the fooner chop upon
them •, but where broad and deep their Haunt
is uncertain. In a Word,

The fearful Cheven loves the Jhaded Stream ;
Sharp Rills delight the Trout, and Pools the

Bream :
In Deeps the fpeckled Samlet loves to rove^
And marlj Swifts allure the Barbel Drove :

Un-

254 ^^^-^ B R I T I S H A N G L E R. P.III.

Unwary Roach the fandy Bottom chufe.
And Carp the Weeds ^ and Eels the muddy
Ooze,

When any Fiih have taken the Hook from
you, if it be not fwallowed into their Gorge,
they will live : Either the Water will caufe it
to ruft, and in Time wear away ; or the Fifli
will go to the Bottom, and there root like a
Hog on the Gravel, till they either rub it out,
or break the Hook in the Middle.

Cafl into fuch Places where you ufe to an-
gle, once a Week at leafl, all Sorts of Corn
boiled foft, A'e-grains^ or tVheat-hran fleeped
in Blood, Blood dricdi and cut to Pieces, Snails^
Worms chvOpt into Pieces, Pieces of Fowl or
Beafi^s Giits^ Guts di Fowl^ Beaft^s Livers cut
into Pieces, Oat-cake or Cheefe chewed, ground
Malt^ Sec. When you angle for Carp, Tench,
Chuh, Rochy Dace, Barbel and Bream^ you
cannot feed too often or too much. This
Couf-fe draws the Fiih to the Place you defire,
and there keeps them together. Caft alio in a
few Grains of ground Malt or Beans, now and
then, as you angle, or chewed Oat- cake or
Cheefe.

Your Feed for Fifli mull always reft in that
very Place, where you mean to angle, and
that your Bait may come to : Therefore, by
no means, when you angle in a Stream, call
them in at your Hook, but fomething above
where you angle, left the Stream carry them
beyond the Hook , and fo inftead of inviting

them

Chap. I. ^he Praflice of Angling. 2c^^

them to you, you allure them beyond you.
Cloie the Malt or Ale-grains fo faft in Hand-
fuls, that if poflible the Water may not part
it with the Fall. All Sorts of Baits are good to
caft in, whilfl you are angling with that par-
ticular Bait, efpecially Cod-haiis^ Gentles^
Wafp^^ and Pafte. You will find them fnap
up that on the Hook the more eagerly, and
with lefs Sufpicion.

If you angle at any Place you have twice or
thrice baited, and find no Sport, if none has
been there before you, or no grand Impediment
in the Seafon or Water appear, you may be
afllired that either Fike or Perch^ if they breed
in that River, have taken up their Quarters
there, and feared all the other Fifh from thence,
for fear of becoming theirPrey. Your only Re-
medy is prefently to angle for them, with fuit-
able Tackle and Baits -, and when they are
caught, the others will repolTefs themfelves of
their former Station.

To know what Bait and Fly any Fifh will
take, the firfl you catch of that Kind rip up his
Belly, and you may then fee his Stomach, ly-
ing from the Gills to the fmall Guts : Take it
out very tenderly, and, with a fharp Penknife,
cut it open, without bruifmg, and you will
find his Food within it, and thereby difcover
what Bait at that very Inflant he takes beiV,
whether Flies or Ground-baits, and fo fit them
accordingly. And if you have a good Micro-
Icope, you may, with Pleafure and Delight,

eafily

Q.SGne BRITISHANGLER. P.IIL

eafily difcover the very true Colour, Propor-
tion and Shape of the FJy, Some can even do
it pretty well without a Glafs.

Keep the Sun^ or the Mocn^ if you angle at
Night, before you, provided youF Eyes can
endure it; At leaft, be fure to have thofe
Planets on your Side ; for if they are on your
Back, both yourfelf and Rod will, by the
Shadow, give Offence -, and every Creature fees
farther and clearer, when it looks towards
the Light, than the contrary.

All Fifh whatever, that fwim in clear Ri-
vers, are wholfomer, pleafanter, and far bet-
ter tailed than thofe of the fame Kind, that
live in Pits, Ponds, Mears, and ftanding
Waters.

A Hog-back and a little Head, either to
^roiit^ Salmon^ or any other Fifli, are a Sign
they are in Seafon, All Sorts of Fifh that
have Scales on their Bodies, conftantly fwim
together, in Troops and Companies, as the
Roach^ Dace^ Chuh^ Gudgeon^ &c. The
Females of mod Fifh are larger than the
Males.

Let all Baits and Flies whatfoever fall gent-
ly firfl into the Water, before any other Part
of the Line, with as little of the Line as pof-
fible, and without any Difturbance, Plung-
ing, or Circling of the Water, which mighti-
ly fcares and frightens Fifh.

Roach and Dace recover Strength, and grow
in Seafon within a Fortnight after fpawning ;
Barbel and Cbub within a Month , Trout, in

fou r

Chap. I. The Pra6i:lce of Angling. 257
four Months ; and the Salmo?i in like Time,
if he get into the Sea, and afterwards into
frefli Water.

Angle always, if you can, on the Lee-
Shore 5 and obferve, that Fifh lie or fwim
nearer the Bottom, and in deeper Water in
Winter than in Summer. They alfo get near
the Bottom in any cold Day, and on the calm
Side of the Water: And in the Winter they
are caught beft at the Mid Time of the Day,
and in Sun-fhiny Weather.

When you put any living Baits on theHook,
bruife them as little as poffible, that they
may live long on the Hook after baited.

As to the Baits for particular Fifh, I have
fiid enough of that ah-eady ♦, only the Angler
will do well to remember thefe four Lines :

TheFly to Trouts, to Bream the wormySnare^
Areftrong Allurements 5 Gentles to the Dare :
ne Cheven, Cadews^ Pike, the lejjer Fry
Invite ; thus varioujly the various Species die.

Let him that would be a compleat Angler\
fpend fome Time in all Sorts of Waters,
Ponds, Rivers, fwifn and flow, ftony, pebbly,
gravelly, fandy, muddy, chalky, and
flimy *, and obferve the Differences in the
Nature of the Soils and Ground on which they
run or fland •, and likewife the Nature and
Humour of each particular Fifh, Water, and
Bair. By this Means a Man may become a
pcriecT: and judicious Artift, and be able to

take

258 ri;^' B R I T I S H A N G L E R.P.IIL
take Fifli where-ever he angles ; there being
always much Difference between fwift, flow,
and itanding Waters.

Some advife, that the Angler, when he
takes Store of FiQ:!, iliould obferve the Age
of the Moon: But I cannot help thinking
there is fome Saperftition in this. However,
it will certainly not be amifs to remark the
Temperature of the preceding Night, and the
Darknefs, Brightness, or Windinefs of it -, the
Seafon and Nature of the Morning and Day-
together with the Temperature of the Air, the
Water and Wind, and all other precedent,
•concomitant, natural, or adventitious Advan-
tages, that could any v/ays conduce to his
Sport : And likewife, on the contrary, all
Things thatjie linds to be Obfiracles and Ob-
ftrudions of his Paftime. Let him enter thefe
methodically in a Book, by referring to which,
with a little Praiflice, he will be able to raife
Conclufions for the Improvement of this Art.

In all Sorts of Angling, be fure to keep
out of the Fillies Sight, and as far off the Ri-
ver's Bank as poffible, unlefs you angle in a
muddy Water, and then you may approach
nearer.

Several Counties alter the Tme^ and almofl:
the Manner of Fillies Breeding, but efpeci-
ally the Time of their being in Seafon ; as in
the River ^/'^v, in Monmonthjhire^ Salmon are
in Seafon from September to April -, but in the
Thames^ ^rent^ and mod other Rivers, they
are in Seafon almoft all the fix hot Months.

When

Chap. !• "The Praaice of Angling. 2^g
When you angle for Perch^ Chub, Tench,
Carp, Dacey Bream, Gudgeon, ^nd Ruff,
and have hooked one who after makes his Ef-
cape, you will not often have any great Sport
at that Standing for one or two Hours after
fuch Misfortune, becaufe the Fifli is fo fright-
ed, that he chafes his Companions out of that
Place. Therefore after fome Trial, it is beil
to remove, and angle at fome other Standing.
All Fifli are of a cold and moift Tempera-
ture-, but fome of the fame Species exceed
others in Goodnefs, according to the Nature
of the Water, and Places wherein they live.
Sea-Fiflo are accounted better than thofe in
frefh Water, as being more fivoury, and of a
firmer Subftance, hotter and drier, and not fo
vifcous, clammy, and Himy, as the frefh Wa-
ter Fifh. Of Sea-Fifh, thofe that have Scales
and firm Subflances, are beft, and fuch as are
inclofed in Shells, as Oillers, Lobfters, and
Crabs. Fifh that live in Pure Water tofied
to and fro with Waves, are better than thofe
th:it live in calm and muddy Waters, that are
little agitated •, and thofe that live near fandy
rocky Shores, are better than where there is
much Slime and Mud. But Fifli are gvne-
rally the fittell, though not the fweeteft, that
are fed in muddy, weedy Rivers.

When you angle for any Sort of Fifh, be
fare that That Fifh be then in Seafon : Fife
your Labour is intirely loft ; for Fifli out of
Sealbn are the worft Sort of Meat.

A

ado r^^ BRITISH ANGLE R.P.III.

K great Fifh bites more calmly and mode-
rately than ^fmall one \ for thefe latter fnatch
and run away with the Bait, without any
Care or Deliberation. So an old Fifh that
hath been pricked in the Gills or Guts, is very
cautious in making a fecond Adventure.

There are manyCircumftances that conduce
much to the feeding of Pikes^ Perch, Chuh^
Carpy Roacby Dace, and B'reatn ; as particiv
Jarly, Conveniency of Harbour ^ for they that
lie among Weeds and foggy Places, prove the
fattefV, though not always rhe fweetefl : They
are there fecure from the Aflauks and Diilur-
bance of Enemies, and enjoy a more fafe and
contented Repcfe : Reft and Quietnefs being
as natural and helpful to their feeding as to
other Creatures. Alfo, fome Waters may be
more nourilhing than others ; for a thick Sort
of Water, if it be not foul and muddy, is of
a better Confillency, and the Parts better dif-
pofed and qualified for Nutrition, than thofe
of a more thin and rarified Subflance. No
Element that is pure, and without Mixture, is
well adapted for nourifhing : Neither can
Filhlive by pure Water, Refpiration, or fuck-
ing in thofe (lender Particles of his beloved
Element only, without the Concurrence and
Afiiftance of fome groffer and terrene Quali-
ties, which are intermingled with thofe liquid
Bodies.

Having mentioned, in my Introdu5liony
the great Ravages which Fifh areexpofed to>
as well from their own Kind, as from Birds,

four-

Chap. I. ^be Pracflice of Angling. 261
footed Animals, and efpecially Man ; I fliall
fubjoin to this Chapter z. poetical Enumeration
of their irrational Enemies, which I have
(ince met with in reading Mr. Browne's Pifca--
iory Eclogues,

A Thoufand Foes the finny People chace ;
Nor are they fafe from their own kindred Race :
Tloe Pike, fell Tyrant of the liquid Plain ^
With ravenous Wafie devours his Fellow Train :
Tet^ howfoe*er with raging Famine pin* d^
The Tench he fpares, a falutary Kind,
Hence too the Perch, a like voracious Broody
Forbears to make this generous Race his Food :
Thd* on the common Drove no Bound he finds.
But fpreads unmeafur'd Wafie o^er all the Kinds,
Nor lefs the greedy Trout andglutlefs Eel
Incejfant Woes, and dire DeJiru5iion deal.
The lurking Water- Rat /'/^ Caverns preys ^
And in the Weeds the wilely Ontrfiays :
The ghafily Newt in muddy Streams annoys, ^
And in fwift Floods the felly Snake deflroys :
Toads for the fwarming Fryforfake the Lawn^
And croaking jProgs devour the tender Spawn.
Neither the Habitants of Land nor Air^
(So fure their Doom) the fifhy Numbers j^^r^ /
The Swan, fair Regent of the Silver Tide,
Their Ranks defiroys^ and fpreads their Ruin

wide :
The Duck her Offspring to the River leadsy
And on the defiin'd Fry infatiate feeds :
On fatal Witigs the pouncing Bittern yc-^rj,
And wafts her Prey from the defencelefs Shores :

The

26a The BRIT ISHK-^GLE R.P.III.

The watchful Halcyons to the Reeds repair^
And from their Haunts thefcaley Captives hear :
Sharp Herns and Corm'rants too their 'Tribes

opprefs,
A harrafs^d Race^ peculiar in Diflrefs :
Nor can the Mufe enumerate their FoeSy
Such is their Fate^ fo various are their Woes^

CHAP. II.

Of the Seafons proper for Angling,

1 Shall divide my Obfervations on this Ar-
ticle into general and particular^ beginning
with the j/zfy?.

The Time of the Tear proper for Angling
in general, is thus elegantly defcribed by the
ingenious Mr. Henry Needier.

The Months o'er which the nearer Sun dif-
plays
His warfuer Influence ^ a?id direEler Rays^
Are mofi propitious to the Angler'j Toil^
And crown his Labours with the largeft Spoil.
When Birds begin in brisker Notes to fing^
And hail with chearfid Voice returnitig Spring ;
When Weftern Winds in rapid Breezes fly-,
Andbrufid with downy Wings the brightened Sky ;
JFhen teeming Buds their verdurous Ifjue yields
And with their tender Offspring grace theField i
Then let the Angler, zvith induftrious Care, ^
His guileful Arms and Implements prepare, C.
Break Winter'j TrucCy and wage the wat'ry^
War. Bui

Chap. I. Ti6<? Pradiceo/Angling. 26^
Bui when Autumnal Blafls have ftripfd the
Wood,
Ando^er the Ground its yellow Honours/r^wV ^
When ftonny Boreas re-ajjumes his Reign,
And with indignant Breath deforms the Plain %
Let him a while his fnary y^Wts^ forbear ;
'Till, by the Courfe of the revolving Tear^
The fairer Order of the Months returns.
And Nature with frefli Bloom her Face adorns :
Then foon as Morn has chased the Shades of

Sight,
Andjlreak'd the purple Eaji with rofy Light ;
Soon as the Lark difplays her early Wings,
And to the fragrant Air her Matin fings \
The Angler, chearful with the Hopes of Prey ^
Takes to the reeking Brook his dewy Way.

In a Word, from the Beginning o^ May till
the latter End of September, (allowing for the
Diverfity of Scafons) is the Prime of all the
Year for the Diverfion we are treating of.
And as to the Time of Day, it is from four
in the Morning till eight at Night, (when the
Days are fo long) the worft Part of which is
about Noon.

In the particular Dirediions, I fhall firfl
confider which Times are not^ and then which
are, the mofl propitious to the Gentleman An-
gler.

In great Droughts, when the Rivers are
fmall • or in the Heat of a clear Day, in May^
June, July, Augiifi, and the Beginning of
September^ though there be no Drought, you

will

264^neBRlTlSn A NG LER. P. III.

will find fmall Sport, efpecially |in marly,
chalky, flimy, or very fhallow and clear Wa-
ters and Rivers.

In cold, frofty, or fnowy Weather, it is to
little Purpofe to angle. When there happen-
eth in the Spring any fmall hoary Froft, all
that Day after the Filh will not rife kindly,
except in the Evening, and that too mull prove
pleafant.

If the Wind either be Eafterly, or fo high
that you cannot guide your Tools, it is to lit-
tle purpofe to angle. Indeed all lliarp, bitter,
nipping Winds, but the Eafl efpecially, blaft
the Recreation.

After any Sort of Fifh have fpawned, they
never bite to any Purpofe, until they
have recovered their Strength and former
Appetite.

When any Clouds arife, that portend a
Shower or Storm, though in the midft of
Summer, they will not bite •, and even if they
bite well before, yet at the Approach of it,
they will ceafe.

When the Nights prove dark, cloudy, or
windy, and the Moon fhines little, or not at
all, next Day there will be little or no Sport,
except at fmall ones: For ^roi^^s and great
Fifh then range about to devour others.

In fmall, clear, and fhallow Brooks, where
the Mills (land and keep up the Water, you
will neither catch Fifh at Ground or Fly : For
Fifli, efpecially Trouts, dare not then come
out of their Hold, by reafon of the Shallow-

nefs

Chap.2. 3%e Fr^6ticc of Angling, 265

nefs of the Water, and that the Water thea
brings no Aliment with it.

When People wafh their Sheep in Summer,
at the Beginning only Filli bite well ; becaufe
the Filth draws them together as to a baiting
Place : But after they have glutted themfelves
four or five Days, they will not bite again till
wafhing Time be over.

The following Catalogue of Impediments
to the Angler's Recreation, have been given
us by a certain Author, i. The Fault may
be occafioned by his Tackle, as when his
Lines or Hooks are too large. 2. When his
Bait is dead, or decaying. 3. If he angles at
a wrong Time of the Day, when the Fifh are
not in the Humour of taking his Bait. 4.«If
t^c Fifh have been frightened by the Sight of
him, or v.dth his Shadow. 5. If the Waters
are thick, red, or white, being difturbed
with fudden Floods. 6'. If the Weather be too
cold. 7. If the Weather be too hot. 8. If
it rains much and fafl. 9. If it hails or fnows.
10. If it be tempeftuous. ii. If the Wind
blows high. 12. If the Wind be in the
£aft.

But as the principal Rules on this Head

•are better exprelTed in the following Verfes,

than I can pofTibly exprefs them in Profe,

I Ihall leave them to the Reader's Confi-

deration without enlarging.

N Mjeft

266 r/^^BRITISH ANGLER. PJII.

Tf^hen rlfing Floods overtop the mounding
Shores^
And hear to diftant Plains their fcaly Stores \
While oft\ from fteepy Hills ^ the Moijlure

drains^
By [weeping Torrents wajh'dy and trickling

Rains ;
OVr the clear Streams a darkening Cloud it

Jpreadsy
And drives the Earth-worms from their Jlimy

Beds :
Infwarming Shoals refort the finny Brood,
And glut^ infatiatey on the fattening Food:
Jhen vainly waves the Angler's lengthened

Cane,
And cofily Baits allure the Fry in vain.
When parching Droughts the flack'ning
Streams reftrain^
The Fifh with ficTCning Looks their Food re-
frain ^
Andfeek the Coolnefs of the Beep in vain.

Nor wants the Angler pre- advised to knowy
When certain Signs disfavoring Hours for e-fhow;
Oft-times he views ^ awarn'd by adverfe Skies ^
His Fly or gliding Cork with hopelsfs EyeSy
When ihe dry Eaft-wind parches up the Plain^
Or the wet South pours down the drenching
Rain.
When rotting Weeds the thickening Floods
diftain.
And to the Deeps retire the finny Train ;

Seek^

Chap. I. The Pradlice of Angling. iG-j
Seeky Anglers, jhen, no more th' uncertain

Prize 5
Enfuing Rains expe^^ and wintry Skies.

The heft Hours^ in general Efteem, to an-
gle in a clear Day and Water, from about
the loth of 4^n7 until the End o^ Augury is
from Sun-rife till half an Hour after ten a
Clock, and from half an Hour after two a
Clock until Sun-fet. But if the Day be dark,
cloudy, gloomy or lowering, efpecially if at
fuch a Time alfo a gentle Breeze blowirom
any Quarter but the Eaft, you will not fail of
catching Fifli in any Hour of the Day. But
in Marchy the Beginning o{ Aprils Sepcmher^
and all the Winter Months, you may angle all
the Day, from about one Hour after Sun-rife
until about half an Hour before Sun-fet, ei-
ther in a muddy or clear Water. And you
may even angle all the Day in a muddy Wa-
ter, from the Middle of April until the End
of Augiift^ tho' early in the Morning and
late in the Evening are be ft.

When fronts leap out of the Water, and
Pi'kes ihoot in purfuit of other Fifhcs, they will
bite well, if you angle with Tackle and Baits
proper for the Seafon and Fifli.

When a fudden, violent Shower hath a
little muddedthe Water, if you go forth im-
mediately after fuch a Shower, and angle at
Ground in the Stream or Sides thereof, with
Brandlings Gilt-tail^ Tag-tail^ or chiefly i?^^-

N 2 IVOifK

a68 rz^cfBRITISH ANG LER.P.IH.

worm well fcoured, if there be Store of Fifh,
you will have Sport to your own Satisfadion.

When Floods have carried away all the
Filth that the Rain had wafhed from the high-
er Grounds into the River, fo that the River
keepeth his ufual Sounds, and is of a wheyifb,
chefnut, brown, or ale Colour, it is then good
to angle at Ground.

A little before any Fifh fpawn, they come
into the gravelly, fandy Fords, to rub and
loofen their Bellies, and then and there they
bite well.

When Rives are raifed by Rain, and yet
•within their Banks, Fifli feek fhelter in the
milder Currenstof fmall Brooks that fall into
larger Rivers, and at the Sides or Ends of
Bridges, that defend a fmall Space of Ground
from the Impetuoufnefs of the Stream, or in
any low Place near the River-fide : In fuch
Places you will find Sport.

At the Conflux of Rivers, and where it
ebbs and flows, Fifh fometimes bite very well,
but in the Ebb mofl: ufually.

In February, March, the Beginning of ^-
/>r/7, Septe?n'ber, and all the Winter Months,
Fifh bite befl: in the Sun-fliiny, warm, and
middle Part of the Day, no Wind llirring,
and the Air clear : But in the Summer Months,
from the loth o^ April unto the End of Ju-
gtfjf, early in the Morning, and in the'Evening
until Sun-fet, and in dark, gloomy Weather.

Fifti rife befl: at the Fly after a Shower that
has not mudded the Water, yet has beaten the

Gnats

Chap.a. 7)6^ Praiftice q/* Angling. 269

Gnats and Flics into the River. You may,
in fuch a Shower, obferve them to rife much,
if you can but endure the Rain.

In calm, clear, and Star-light Nights, ef-
pecially if the Moon fhines, great Filh, Trouts
cfpecialiy, are as wary and fearful as in dark,
gloomy, and windy Days. But if the next
Day prove dark, cloudy, gloomy and windy,
and the Water in Order, you may be fure of
Sport, if there be Plenty of Fifh in the
River.

In fmall, clear Brooks, if you come imme-
diately after a Shower hath raifed the Water,
or take it juft as any Mill Water begins to
comedown, and fo go along with the Courfe
of the Water, Fifh, efpecially ^routs^ will
bite well.

Morning and Evening are bed for Ground-
line^ for a Trout or other Fifh, in clear Wea-
ther and Water : But in dark, cloudy Wea-
ther, or muddy Water, you may angle at
Ground all Day.

Great Fifh, as Trouts in particular, feed
mofl in the Night, efpecially if it be dark or
v/indy ; and then bite not the next Day, un-
lefs it prove dark or windy, and then a little
in the Afternoon only.

The Wind blowing from the South or
Weft, is good to angle in •, the North Wind
is but indiflerent, and the Eaft Wind very
bad.

All Fifh bite keener and better, efpecially

in Summer, infwift, rapid, ftony, and gravelly

M 3 Ri-

2707^^BRITISH ANGLER. P.IIL

Rivers, than in thofe that run gently, and
glide in Slime and Mud.

Some may expe6l me to infert the Times
inoft propitious to Anglers, according to the
Rules of judicial Aftrologers ; but as moft
People are fufficiently convinced of the Vanity
thereof, it would rather be an Unkindnefs
than a Favour, to puzzle ourAngler with their
ridiculous Notions, as unferviceable to him
as falfe in their Foundations. And as to Prog-
noftics of the Weather, I will only give him
the \¥ords of the Poet.

^0 fiat t'' ring Skies no certain Credit lendy
Nor on precarious Signs too much depend*
^he SpOFtfman oft"* a ruddy Morning fees ^
The Air unclouded^ and without a Breeze^
When fudden Winds with heighfning Gujls a-

rife.
And pitchy Clouds enwrap the darkening Skies \
The drizzling Rains defend in ceafelefs Show*rs^
Andfullen Ku^tr /hakes the dripping Bowers ;
The Anglers homeward o*er the Meads repafs^
And journey cheerlefs thro^ the plafhy Grafs,
And oft'' when Q\ox!A% a threafning Storm de-
lay.
The gloomy Morning hrings a radiant Day.

But, to conclude the Whole in the Words of
^i^t fame ingenious Author,

Hap*

Chap. 2. The Pra(5lice of Angling. 271

Happy the Fifher, when in fportive Hours
No Droughrs prevent hiniy nor intemp'rate

Show'rs ;
When mildeft Zephyrs thro* the JEtherflyj
Or South-W indsfpread their Fleeces o*er theSky \
mile varied Sun-fhine, and alternate Rains,
temper the Streams^ and verdure all the Plains :
The Fifh rife eager at the floating Bait,
Or fink the Cork with their entangled Weight,
But warn /^'unpradlis'd Angler not to ply
In Shallows then, amid the fwarming Fry j
Left haply they on the hid Ruin feed^
And of their Tribes prevent the future Breed.

CHAP. III.

Of the principal Rivers in England, and par-
ticularly of the Thames.

TH E Rivers in England are faid by Dr.
Heylin to be 325, though others in-
creafe their Number to 450, It would be fu-
perfluous here to treat particularly of their
Diverfities, their Situations, their Diftance and
Remotenefs from each other, their Nearnefs
or Vicinity to the Sea, the Qualities of their
Water, and the various Species of Fiflies they
contain. Thofe that have a more immediate
Intercourfe with the Ocean, participate of its
Influences, and have the fame Viciffitudes, the
fame Fluxes and Refluxes, the fame fait Wa-
ter, and the fame Sort of Fifli which frequent
the Seas where they difembogue themfelves.
N4 the

2)2 77j^ B R 1 1 1 S H A N G L E R.P.IIl?

The Mouths of Rivers are too deep to be fa*
thonied by the Cordage of a Line ^ but more
inland, and farther diftant from the common
Receptacle of Waters, the Rivers are moft.
proper for the Angler's Diverfion.

The principal Rivers in England are the
ihaims^ Severn^ Trent^ Tine^ Tweedy Medway^
TeeSy Dove, Ijisy Tame, Willey^ Avon^ Lea^
Irwely Lon., Nen^ Welland^ Derwent\
Calder^ Wharfs Nid, BoHy Swale ^ HuU^
Oiifey and jire. The Rivers in Wales are
reckoned above 200, the principal of v/hich
are' the Bee^ Wye, Conwy , Tivy^ Chedlaydy^
Cluidy Usky Tovy^ Taff^ and Bovy,

But as the Maps will give a better Profpefl
of thefe than any Enumeration of them can do,
let everyAngler havea large one q^ England ^
or at lead of the particular County where he
ufually angles, and therein he may with De-.
light obferve the Spring-head, Site, Diftance,
various PafrageSjAVindings, Turnings," and
Confluxes of each particular River, with what
Towns, Cailles, Churches jGentfemen's Houfes,
and Places of Note are on of near their
Banks ; making, as he angles,' Rem:u*ks pro-
per to the Nature of each. I will only fay a
Word or two of the fix principal.

i,T\\tThmneSy compounded of two Rivers,
^ajne and Ifis, though the latter of thefe is
called Tha7ne5 before its Conjun6i:ion with the
former. The 7'i^;;/(? rifes in ^^<:/^i, fomewhac
beyond Tajne in 0>:fordjhirey and the latter in
CotJwold-hlllSy near Cirehcejler ixiGloiiceftsrpire,

They

Chap. 3. 2t»<? Pradice of Angling, 273

They meet together about Dorchefter in Oxford*
fbire^ and thence run united betwixt thatCounty
and5<?r^i,and httvfttnBuckinghamJJnre^ Middle-
fex^ z.ndEJfex on the one Side,and»S'/^rr)' andA>;;/
on the other, wedding itfclhothQKentiJhMedway
in the very Jaws of the Ocean. This River is faid
to feel the Violence and Benefit of the Sea
more than any other River in Europe, ebbing
and flowing twice a Day, more than fixty
Miles. About its Banks are fo many fine
Towns and principal Palaces, that a foreiga
Poet thus writes of it.

We faw fomany Woods and princely Bower?,
Sweet Fields, gay Palaces, andftately Towers,
So many Gardens drejl with curious Care,
That Thames with royal Tyber may compare.

a. The fecond River of Note is the Se-
vern, which hath its Beginning in Plinilwi'
mon-Hill in Montgomeryfhire, and its End fe-
ven Miles from Briftol ; wafliing in that Space
the Walls of i'^r<?ic;i^//rv, Worcejier, Gloucefter^
and divers other Places and Palaces of Note.
It receives more great Rivers, and is farther
navigable than the Thames, but does not equal
it for Quantity and Variety of Filli.

3. The Trent ffo called, fay fome, for thirty
Kind of Fifhes that are found in it, or for
that it receives thirty leffer Rivers) having it's
Fountain \n Staff or dfhire, and gliding through
the Counties of Nottingham^ Lincoln, Leicefter,
and Tork, augments the turbulent Current of
the Humher^ the mod violent Stream of all the
N5 lile..

fi74^^SRITISH ANGLER.P.III.

Ifle. This Humber indeed is not a diftind Ri-
ver, having a Spring-head of its own, but ra-
ther the Mouth or y^^/^;7//;» of divers Rivers
here meeting together ; among which, befides
the I'rent^ are the Darwent^ and Oufe»

4. The Medway^ a Kentijh River, falling
into the Sea together with the T^bames^ and fa-
mous for harbouring the Royal Navy.

5. The l^weed, the North-Eaft Bound of
England, on whofc Banks is feated the ftrong
and almoft impregnable Town of Berwick.

6. The Tine, famous for Newcaftle, and
her inexhauftibie Coal-pits. Thefe, and the reft
of principal Note, are thus comprehended in
one of Mr. Drayfon^% Sonnets*

The Floods ^^<?;^,Thames, for Ships and Swans
is crowned,

Andjlately Severn /^r her Shore is praised $
The ChryftarVrtnt for Fords and Fijh renown'dy

And Avon'j Famd to Albion'i Cliffs is raised:
Carlegion Chefter vaunts her holy Dee -,

York many Wonders of her Oufe can tell :
The Peak her Dove, whofe Banks fo fertile he^

And Kent will fay her Medway doth excel.
Cotfwold eoimnends her Ifis to the Tame -,

Our Northern Borders hoaft of TweedV fair
Flood ;
Our fVeftern Parts extol their ^iWys Fame;

And the old Lea brags of the Danifh Blood,

But I return again to the Thames^ of which,
and the Rivers that fail into it, I Ihall treat

fomc-

Chap. 3. 7h€ Praftice of Angling. 275

fomewhat more particularly, as they are more
the Seat of this Diverfion of Angling than
any others. And here I mufl own myfelf
obliged to the experienced Author of a Trea-
tife concerning T'hameS'^i^mg.

The higher any Man goes up the Thames^ if
within about forty Miles, the more Sport, and
the greater Variety of Filh he will meet with :
But as few Londoners go fo far from Home, I
Hiall iirft mention the bed Places for Thames
Angling from London-Bridge to Chelfea,

It will be to no Manner of Purpofe to angle
in the Thames ^ if the Air be cold and raw, the
Wind high, the Water rough, or if it be wet
Weather: But when the Sky is ferene, the Air
temperate, and the Water fmooth, you need
not doubt of meeting with good Sport. The
proper Hours for Angling, are from the Time
that the Tide is half ebb'd, to within two
Hours of High-water, provided that the
Land-floods do not come down. Always
pitch your Boat under the Wind ; that is, if
the Wind be at South, then keep on the Surry
Shore 5 if at North, then on the London Side.

The beft Places for pitching a Boat to angle
in the ^ames^ are about one hundred and fifty
'i'ards from Tork-Slairs, the Savo)\ Somerfet-
Garden-Wall^ Dorfet-StairSy Black-Friars'-
St airs y the Dung- Wharf near Water- Lane^
Trig-Stairs and Effepi-Stairs, On Surry Side,
the Falc 071- Stairs •, Barge- Houfes ; Cuper-s^
vulgarly cMtd Cupid' 's- Si airs ; the Wind-Mill^
and LamVeth. When you go to angle at

Chelfea,.

0.^^ r^f B RI T I S H A N G L E R.P. Ill,

Cpelfea^ od a calm fairDay^ the Wind being
in aright Corner, pitch your JBoat almoft op-
pplite.to the Church, and angle in fix or feveti
Foot Water, where you. will meet with Plenty
of Roach,

Mortlack'Beeps h the next Place where
Roach principally refort when the Weeds are
rotten-, and here are good Carp very often.
And from the Sides of the Eights^ oppofite
to Brentford^ IJleworth^ and Twickenham^
there is very good Angling {ox Roach ^ Dace^
Gudgeon^ and Perch, Very often you will
meet with Trouty and fometimes with Carp,
Tedding ton- Banks are remarkable for Plenty of
good Gudgeon -, Kingfton-wick and Kingfton
for Barhelj Reach^ and Dace, At Sunbury^
there is good Angling for Roach^ Dace^ and
Gudgeons ; and from the Eights^ for Trout
and large Perch, Shepper ton- Pool abounds
with large £^r^^/ znd. J)ace. At and about
Windfor is vaft Variety of all Sorts of Fifh ;
but if a Man be found angling in another's
Water, he is fined very high by the Court of
that Town, even though he catches but a
(ingle Gudgeon^ Roach^ or Dace,

Of the Rivers that empty themfelves into
the Thames ^ and of. others which are not far
from it, I begin with thofe on the North-Side.
I. lljord- River y the upper Part of v/hich a-
bounds with Roach and Dace^ and fome Perch ;
but between llford and the Thames^ efpecially
about three Miles from the Tov/n, there is
Pike. 2. IFoodford' River i having Plenty of

Perch^

Chap, 3. ^he Practice p/ Angling. nyy

Perch, Chnh, Roach, and Dace, 3. Stratford
River, which gives the Angler good Diver-
fion for Roach^ Dace, Chub, Perch, and Eels.

4. Bow- River, much of the Nature with
Stratford-River, and flored with the fame Sort
of Fifh. 5, Hackney- River, having Plenty
of large Barbel and Chub, Roach, Dace, Gud-
geoHj Eels, and Lampreys, Its Fifh are as good
as any other River can yield, if not better 5
particularly the Barbels,- Eels, and Gudgeons,

6. Waltham River, befides large Barbel and
Chub, Roach, Dace, Gudgeon, and Eels, has
good Store of fine Pike, and fome Carp,

7. The New-River, well ftored with Roach,
Dac^^ Chub, fmall Gudgeons, and Eelsi

5, Brentford- River, a good River formerly,
but much abufed by Poachers. Here are fome
Roach, Dace, ^nd Chub, g,HounJlow- River ^
which lies fo very open, that the Fifh, which
are Roach, Dace, Perch, Pike, and Gudgeon^
are aware of the Angler, and Ihoot away be-
fore he can lay in his Line. 10. Cole- River ,
abounding with Chub, Roach, and Dace,
above the Town of Colnbrook : And between
that Town and the Thames are Plenty of large
Perch ; but they are very quick- fighted, and
Ihy. II. Uxbridge- River, excellent for its
large and fat Trout s ; but the Water being
leafed out to many who have a Property in
it, it is a difficult Matter to angle there, and
notbedifcovered. If you go into any one of
the Proprietor's Grounds to angle, even by
Confent^you are generally attended by one who

keeps

aySrZ^^BRITISH ANGLER.F.ia

keeps an Account how many Brace of Trouts^
you take, for which you mufi: pay certain large
Prices.

On the South Side of the Thames, are, i.
Depifor d' River ^ very much decayed, and
having but few Filli in it> fuch as Roacb^
Dace, and Flounders \ and by Cha*:.ce, you.
may meet with a Tr^^/. a. Lewijham- River y
in which are fome good Trouts, large Roachy
and Chuhy Gudgeons^ and fome Perch^ and
fmall Dace, 3. fVandfworth- River ^ having,
many large Gudgeons and Dace, FlounderSj
Perch, Pike, fome Carp, and Trouts -, and
very large Silver Eels are often taken here»
4. Mar tin" River, whofe principal Fifh arc
Trouts, 5* Mitcham-River, for Grouts alfo#
6. Carjhalton-River^ abounding with Trouts,
and other white Fifh^ 7. Moulfey- River,
yielding Perch^ Jack, Roach J)ace^ Chub, Gud-
geon, fome Flounders, and a few Trouis, befides
Barbel, S.Efijer- River, good {or Jacks, Perch,
Chub, Roach, Dace^ Gudgeon, Eels, Flounders,
Barbels, and Trout s, 9. Cobham- River, having
Plenty of good Trouts, fat and large ; as alfo
Dace, Perch, Chubs, Jacks, and Gudgeons,
10, Weybridge- River, yielding good Diverfion
for Carp, fome of which weigh eight or nine
Pounds ; Jack, Roach ^Dace, Flounders, Popes,
large Bleak, Barbel, and Gudgeon, 1 1. Byfleet
River, where you have vQij large Pikes and
Jacks, Tench, Perch of eighteen Inches in
Length, good Carp, large FlounderSy Bream^
Roachy Dace, Gudgeon in Plenty, Popes,

Targe

Chap. 3- *Ile ?r2idi\ce of AngWng. ^79^

large Chuhf and Eels, 12. The New-Rivery
in which are vaft Quantities of excellent Gud-
geon, and a few JackSj or young Pike, Dace,
and fome Roach.

I cannot better conclude this Account of the
Tbamesy and the principal Rivers that fall in-
to and compofe it, than by the following
beautiful Lines of Mr. Pope^ in which the
Jargeft of thofe Rivers are enumerated by their
proper Appellations.

Firfl thefam'd Authors of his antient Name^.
The winding Ifis and the fruitful Tamt :
The Kennet fwift, for ftlver Eels renowned ;-
TheluoMmflow, with verdant Alders crowned:
Cole, whofe clear Streams his flower ylflands lavcy
And chalky Wey, that rolls a milky Wave :.
The hlue^ tranf parent Vandalis appears \
The gulphy Lee his fedgy Trejfes rears ;
Andfullen Mole, that hides his diving Flood' ;
Andfilent Darent, Jlain'd with Daniih Blood,

CHAP. IV.

Of the various Methods of Angling.

TH O* all Sorts of Filh will fometlmcs
take Baits at the Ground, yet all will
not take the Fly at the Top of the Water. But
the Running-line, or Angling hy Hand, with-
out any Float, and only one or two fmall
Plummets of Lead, is the mofl proper Way to
angle for a Trout with Worms, either in a
muddy or clear Water at Ground,

La

280 ri?^ B R I T I S H AN G L E R. P.m.

In a muddy Water, or one difcoloured by
Rain, the Running-line fliould be half the
Length of the Rod, more or lefs, and the two
lowermofl Links of three Hairs a-piece. Next
Ihould be a Link of four Hairs, with a Loop
or Water-noofe, to fallen it to another of the
fame Number, having likewife a Water-noofe
at its Bottom. Then proceed with Links of
five or fix Hairs a-piece, to the End. The
three jowermoft Links, or Gildards, fhould be
ofaforrel, brown, or chefnut Colour. Your
Cane or Reed-rod muft have a Top neither
too ftifF, nor too flender : The Rod to be a-
bout three Yards and a half long, and the Top
about one Yard and a half, or two Yards of
Hazle, either in one or two Pieces, and five
or fix Inches of Whale- bone, made round,
fmooth and taper. All this will make the Rod
9iVQ Yards and a half long, or five Yards at
lead.

The Line fiiould have more Lead in a
great, troublefome, rough River, than in one
that is fmaller and more quiet : As near as may
be, always juft fo much as will fink the Bait
to the Bottom, and permit its Motion, with-
out any violent Jogging on the Ground. Car-
ry the Top of your Rod even with your Hand,
beginning at the Head of the Stream, and let-
ting the Bait run downwards as far as the Rod
and Line will permit, the Lead dragging and
rolling on the Ground, No more of the Line
muft be in the Water, than will permit the
Lead to touch the Bottom j for you are to

keep

Chap. 4. The Pradice of Angling. 2 Si

keep the Line as ftrait as poflible, yet fo as
not to raife the Lead from the Bottom. When
you have a Bite, you may perceive it by your
Hand and the Point of your Rod and Line :
Then ftrike gently, and ftrait upwards ; firft
allowing the Fifh, by a little (lackening the
Line, a fmall Time to take in the Bait. In a
clear Water indeed, it has been found beft to
ftrike at the firft Biting of the Filh, when
you angle for Trout s. Graylings, or Salmon-
fmelts.

Your Bait may be a Red-worm well fcour-
ed \ but a Brandlings Meadow-worm^ or Tag-
tail \% ftill better \ or, which is beft of all,
both a Brandling and a Gilt-tail^ or two
Worms of the fame Sort, at the fame Time,
m the Manner as is hereafter direcfled. Obferve
often to renew your Bait : But tho' when you
angle for Trouts, with any Worms except the
Dew-vjortn^ they take the Bait dragging on
the Ground, either in a muddy or clear Wa-
ter 5 yet a Grayling loves it nine or twelve
Lnches from the Bottom.

If you angle for a Trout with a well-fcoured
DeW'Worm, in a muddy Water, put the
Hook in him towards the Tail, fomewhat a*
hove the Middle, and out again a little below
towards the Head : Then draw him over, the
arming of the Hook, which ought to be large,
and put the Point again into his Head, till
it come near the Place where the Point of the
Hook firft came out : Then draw back that

which

aSa^^BRITISH ANGLER.P.IIL

which was above the Arming of the Hook, and
fo proceed with your Sport.

But if you angle in a muddy Water for
Grouts of the ufual Size, from eight to twelve
Inches long, then is the Time to have two
Brandlings^ or two Meadow-worms^ or a
Brandling and Gilt -tail on the Hook at once,
which you are to bait thus : Run tlie Point of
the Hook in at the very Head of the firft,
which when you have two Sorts fhouJd be the
Brandlings and fo down through his Body^
till it be pad the Knot, or about the Middle
of the Worm :'Then pufh it out, and thruil the
Worm above the Whipping or Arming, that.
you may not bruife it with your Fingers, t\\\
you have put on the other, by running the
Point of the Hook in below the Knot or Mid-
dle, and upwards through his Body, till it be
juft covered with the Head ; This being done^
Hip the firft Worm down over the Whipping
again, till the Knots or Middles of both meet
together^ Any two Worms may be thus
baited.

But if you angle with one Worm only,
which is the moft proper Way for a Trout j
Salmon-fmelt^ or Graylings in a clear Water
at Running-line, put the Point of the Hook
in at the very Tag of his Tail, and run it up
his Body quite over all the Whipping, and al-
mofl" an Inch upon the Line. Many Anglers let
the Head hang downwards, and leavethe Point
of the Hook bare ; but others cover the Point
with the Worm's Head, nipping off juft the

Tip-

Chap. 4. ne Pradlice of Angling. 183

Tip-end of it. When you angle with the
Worm^s Head hanging down, and the Point
of the Hook bare, ftrike inimediately
upon the firft Bite of a "^rout^ or Salmon-
fmelt.

When you bait thus with only one Brands
ling^ Gilt'taily or Meadow-worm on the Hook
at a Time, your Hook fhould be fmall, and
your Line have two or three of the lowermoft
Links of one Hair a-piece, and then one or
two Links of two Hairs a-piece, and io pro*
eeed with three and four to the topmofl Link..
The Hair ihould be of a duskifh white or
grey Colour ; the Line generally about two
Yards Ihorter than the Rod, and leaded with
a fmall blackifh Plummet or Shot. Thus
tackled and baited, always prefer a clear be-
fore a muddy Water, and angle up the.
Stream, flill calling out the Worm before
you, with a light one-handed Rod, made of'
Hazle, Yew, and Whalebone, and at lealL
five Yards and a half long. Sometimes the
Bait will be taken at the Top, or within a
very little of the Superficies of the Water, and
commonly before the light Plumb can fink it
to the Bottom, which will not be immediate-
ly by reafon of the Stream, and that you mud
always keep your Hand and Worm in Motion,
tho* very flowly^ by drawing the Bait
flill back towards you, as if you were ang-
ling with a Fly. The Rod muil be light,
pliant, long, and not top-heavy, true and
finely made \ and this is the beft Way of ang-

284 7Z^^ BR I T I S H A NG L E R.P.III.

ling for Trotit^ Grayling^ and Sahnon-fmelts
with Worms, in a clear Water efpecially.
If your Conftitution would endure to let you
wade to the Calf of your Leg or Knee, into
the Tail of a fhallow clear Stream, and fo
keep off the Bank, you may almofl take what
Trouts^ Graylings^ or Sabnon-f7nelts you can
defire, in a Place where they abound. How-
ever, fome had rather uie this fineTackle when
they angle for Graylhigs only^ with Worms^
Cod-hait^ AJJo-gruh^ or Dock-worm^ and a
Float of Cork •, becaufe they take their Baits
befl: 6, p. or 12 Inches from the Bottom.

The Manner of Angling in very clear Ri-
vers, by realbn of their exceeding Brightnefs,
is very different from that commonly ufed in
others not fo rranfparent •, thefe latter admit-
ting of ftronger Tackle, and a nearer Ap-
proach to the Stream *, nor are they fo diffi-
cult for Novices as the more rarified Rivers,
which require an able and judicious Artift,
and very fine Tackle. However, upon the
whole. Angling with a Worm and a fingle
Hair, for two Links next the Hooks, in a
clear Water, for Tronts^ Graylings^ and
Sahnon-fmelts y on frequent Experience has
b«en found fo advantageous, that it is gene-
rally fubftituted inftead of the artificial Fly^
efpecially from the Rifing of the Sun till eight
o'clock.

The Line for Float- Angling m a River
Ihould be longer than the Rod two or three
Foot, but fhorter than the Rod in Pits, Ponds,

and

Chap. 4; The Pra6lice c/Angling. ^S j

and Meres. For Troufs, Graylings^ or Sal-
mofi'fmelts^ in a clear Water, but one Hair
next the Hook, and fuch a Rod and Line as
direded for a Trout with the Running-Line
in a clear Water, is always beft : But for mod
other Fifh, and in a muddy Water, with
three Hairs next the Hook, and proportion-
ably ftrong upwards ; with large Pellet-Shot,
or fmall Bullets, for the Plumb.

In general, the Bait muft be fuited to the
Fifh you angle for •, your Plumbs fitted to
the Cork or Float ; your Cork to the Condi-
tion of the River you angle in, that is, to
the Swiftnefs or Slownefs of it : According to
the Diredions given in the feveral Articles of
particular Fifli, Plumbs, and Floats. You
mufl cad the Bait up the River, and let it
run downv/ards as far as the Rod and Line
will fuffer. In a clear Water, when you ufe
fVormSy bait with but one Worm only. In a
muddy or difcoloured Water, bait with two
Worms at a Time.

And as in clear Water, the Colour of your
Line mufl be a dufkifh white or grey Colour ;
fo in Water that is difcoloured, your Line
for two Yards next the Hook ought to be of
a forrel, brown, or Chefnut, and the upper Part
of it white.

This Way you may angle for mofl forts of
Fifh, letting the Bait drag on the Ground for
the T^rout^ Gudgeon^ Bream^ Barhely Floimder^
and Sahnon ; for Grayling and Perch keeping
it fix or nine Inches frcni the Bottom ; and for

Pike,

28(J^^ BRITISH ANGLER, p.m.

Pike^ Ruff^ Carpj ^ench^ Roach^ and Bledk^
about Mid Water, fometimes lower and fome-
times higher. The Chub is often taken with
the Bait on the Bottom, fometimes at Mid
Water in hot Weather, and fometimes at the
Top. The Dace takes all Ground-Baits at
Bottom ; and fome let the Bait touch the
Ground when they angle for Perch^ Tench ^
and i?i7^r/^ in Rivers, tho' this Way is more
generally difapproved. In Ponds, for Roach
and Tench ^ angle always about two Foot with-
in Water. Thofe who angle for a Trout with
a Float, keep the Bait as near the Bottom as
they can, without dragging •, which is difficult,
if not impoffible, to be always obferved, by
Reafon of the Declivity of the Bottom, and
Unevennefs thereof in mod Places : And the
daily Experiment of the Running-line, fhews
that to be a very effedbual Way for a Trout »
The Eel is never to be angled for with a
Float, but always with a Ledger-bait, Snig-
ling, Brogling, or Bobbing.

You may ufe all Sorts of Baits when you
angle with a Float, but Ground-baits and
Paites are moll common, and fometimes Flies
for Roach within the Water, particularly the
jint'Fly. Let your Lead neither be fo heavy
as to fmk the Cork or Float, nor fo light as
not with the fmalleft Touch to make it dip
under Water j the infallible Signal of a Bite,
unlefs the Bait ftick, or the Line be entangled
on Wood, Stones, or Weeds.

To

Chap. 4- The ?r^d:iCQ of Angling. 2S7
To angle at Top with a Worm^ you mull
tife a Line longer than che Rod, and a Brand-
ling or Gilt-tail Worm. Your Line Hioulu be
without FJoat or Lead. You muil draw your
Bait up and down the Stream, at Top of the
Water, as you do a Cod-hait for Trout. In a
clear Water and Day, perhaps you may take
more Trout s and Salmon-fmelts this Way than
any other.

In order to lay Night Hooks, procure afmall
Cord fixteen Yards Jong, and at equal Dif-
tinces tie to it five or fix HempenLines, of the
Thicknefs of the Trowling-line, about eigh-
teen Inches long a-piece, faftening them in
fuch a Manner as you may eafiiy remove or
put them to again. To each of thefe whip a
Hook, and bait it with a iVfz>;?^'K;, Loach, or
Bull-head, his Gill-Fins cut off ; or, for want
of them., with a fmall Gudgeon, a fmall Roach ^
a Seven Ey€S, or one of the fmall Brood of
Eels ', or with Beef, or the Pith and Marrow
in an Ox orCow^s Back-hone, If you bait with
any Fifh^ put the Point of the Hook in at
the Tail and out at the Mouth, the Head of
the Fifh refting on the Hook's Bent ; and co-
ver the Point of the Hook with a fmall Worm :
Then to one End of the Cord faften a Stone,
or a Lead Weight of about two Pounds, and
throw itcrofs the River in ^m.e ftill Deep, or
at the Tail or Side of a deep Stream. Fallen
the other End to feme Bough or Stick on the
Water-bank you ftand on ; and in the Morn-
ing you will fcldom fail to find Fifh en-

fnared

a88 ^^BRITISH ANGLER.P.irL

fnared, Ufe a great Filli Needle to draw the
Line thro' the Bait, and out at its Tail, and
then let it flip down to the Hook's Bent, the
Head being downwards, tying the Tail to
the Line with Thread, and the Top of the
Hemp Line to the Cord.

Eelsy Chubs ^ hrgQ7routs,Q.ndPike, are taken
this Way : But if you lay for Pike, keep the
Bait with a Float about a Foot from the Bot-
tom. For other Fifh let it touch the Bottom.
Your great Lohwonn is as good a Bait as any
for Night-Hooks •, only if you lay them in
Rivers, perhaps the fmall Fifh may pull your
Bait off, and mifs being taken. Therefore
Minnows^ Loaches, Bull-heads, {w.iiiX Gudgeons^
Bleaks, fmall Roaches, fmall Daces,Seven'Ejes^
^c. are the moft certain to fucceed.

Havmg omitted the Artificial Minnow in
fpeaking of Baits, I will here add Mr. JVal-
ton^s Dire<5lions for making it, who fays it
will catch a ^rout as well as an artificial Fly,
and takes care to inform us, that he had one
made, by a handfome Woman, who had a
fmeHand, and a live Minnow lying by her.
The Mould or Body was Cloth, and wrought .
over with a Needle •, the Back with very dark
green Silk, and a paler green Silk towards the
Belly, fliadowed as perfedly as a natural Min-
now. The Belly was wrought a Part of it
with white Silk, and another Part with Sil-
ver Thread : The Tail and Fins were of a
Quill, which was fliaved thin: The Eyes
were two little black Beads, and the Head

'3

was

Chap. 4. 'The Pradlice of Angling, 289

was fo fhadowed, and all of it fo exadly
imitated, that it would beguile any Iharp-
fighted ^rout in a fwift Stream. Others have
an artificial Minnow made of Tin, which may
be bought at the Tackle-Shops. They are
ufed for Perch as well as Trout,

When you angle at Ground for fmall Filh,
as Gudgeons ; or at Mid- water ^oy Roach and
Bleak ; put two or three Hooks on your Line,
the one about eight or nine Inches lower than
the other : Which you may do, by having
two or three Gildards, that is Links arm'd,
or whipped with Hooks, and tied at the low-
ermoft Water-Knot. Thus you may put on
two or three different Baits, and you will try
with more Eafe and lefs Time which is befl
taken -, and often catch two or three Fifh at
once. You may alfo have one Bait for fuch
as feed clofe upon the Ground, as the Gudgeon,
And another for fuch as feed a little higher,
as Roach and Dace. But if your Bait be to
run on the Ground, you muft have a fair fandy
Bottom, free from Wood, Stones, and Weeds :
Your Lead is always to be on the lowermoft
Link. This is the Pater-nofter Line.

Give all Filh Time to take and fwallow
the Bait, efpecially Pike^ Perch^ Gudgeon^
and, in a muddy Water, 'Trout^ being not
over-hafty, unlefs you angle with fuch tender
Baits as will not endure nibbling at, asPaJleSy
Sheep' S'Blood^ Flies^ &c. which are taken away
at the firft Pull of the Fi(h, and therefore at
firft Pull oblige you to try your Fortune. The
O Roach

apo r/j^BRITISH ANGLE R.P.III.

Roach generally nibbles at the Bait, and does
not bite furely ; but if he does bite furely, it
is commonly a very good one : Therefore
ftrike at the firfl Touch when you angle for
him.

It is common, efpecially when the Angler
is tired, to angle with a Ledger-hait^ that is, a
Bait always fixed in one certain Place; which
is fo called in oppofition to other Baits, that
are always in Motion, and thence called Walk-
ing-haits. The Manner of the Ledger-bait is
thus.

Take off your Cork from your Float Line,
it being leaded as ufual ; and within half a
Yard of the Top of the Line, wrap about it a
thin Plate of Lead, one Inch broad, and an
Inch and a half long : Then ?ix your Line to
the Rod, and bait your Hook, and call it into
a very gentle Stream, or ftill Water, and
there let it fink, and reft on the Bottom. Ei-
ther firmly hold the Rod, or ftick the thick
End thereof in the River's Bank, and as you
fland or fit by it, you will perceive, by the
Motion of the Lead on your Line's Top,
when you have a Bite. This Way you may
angle for all Sorts of Fifh whatfoever, efpeci-
ally the Chuh and Eel. Let Ledger-baits for
the PikeoQ always kept, atleaft, a Foot from
the Bottom, by the Help of a Float.

Angling with the natural Fly is called
Bibbing^ Dabbing^ or Dibbling. It is u-
fually performed upon the very Surface
of the Water, but fometimes by permit-
ting

Chdp;4- ^^Pradice^^ Angling. 291
ting the Bait to fink two or three Inches, ef-
pecially when you join a Cod-hait^ or Clap-hait^
with the Oak'fly^ for I'rout or Chub,

You may dib- with any Sort of natural Fly ;
but principally for a Trout with a Green-
drake and Stone-fly^ or with the Oak- fly and
Cod-bait^ or with Fern-fly^ for about ten Days
in May : But the Fern-fly is good for the Chub
all the Sumnier, Cankers^ Palmers^ Caterpil-
lars^ Grafshoppers^ their Legs and outermoft
Wings taken off, Oak- zvo r??t ^nd Hawthorn-
worm^ or Grub^ are alfo good. Some often
pull off the uppermofl Wings of the Fern-fly^
when they ufe it in dibbing for a Trout, You
may likewife dib with the Water-cricket ^ or
Creeper^ in the Month of April,

The Salmon,, Trout ^ Graylings Bleak ^ Chub,^
Roacb^ and Dace^ are the only Filh that will
take Flies. The four firfl take the natural Fly
no better than the Dub-fly^ except in very hot
calm Weather, or in the Evening of a hot
Day, at which Times it is moil proper to dib»
The rcil take natural Flies^ either at top, or
under, or within the Water ; and fometimes a
Dub fly ^ efpecially if a Cod-bait^ Oak-worm^
Clap-bait or Gentle be joined with it. The
Dace takes Flies belt at top of the Water, or
within an Inch thereof \ but the F^oach takes
them be ft a Foot within the Water, or more
deep fometimes.

Dibbing for Trout or Grayling is performed

with a Line about half the Length of the Rod,

if the Air be ilill, or with one almoft as long

O 2 as

2^2 TheBRlTlSH ANGLER. P.TII.

as the Rod, if there be a Wind to carry it
from you. There Ihould be four Hairs next
the Hook for Trouts, but five or fix for the
Chub. Let the Fly play on the very Top of
the Water before you, up and down the River,
as the Wind ferves -, and angle as near as you
can to the Bank of the fame Side whereon you
(land : Though when you fee a Fifh rife with-
in Reach, you may guide your Fly quick over
him, whether in the Middle or on the contrary
Side ; and if you are pretty well out of Sight,
either by kneeling, or the Interpofition of a
Bank or Bufh, you may almoit be fure to
take him, if it be prefently done. The Fifh
will otherwife, perhaps, be removed to ano-
ther Place, if it be in the flill Deeps, where
he is always in Motion, and roving up and
down for Prey •, though in a Stream you may
alm.ofl always, efpecially if there be a good
Stone near, find him in the fame Place. A-
bove an Inch of the Line ought not to touch
the Water in dihhing •, therefore you may be
the flronger tackled. For in this Kind of
Angling you are toexped the largefl Fifh-, and
wanting Length to give him Line after he is
flruck, you mud be forced to tug for it.

Some highly commend a Bibbing- Line made
of white Virginal Wire, the Brittlenefs or
Stifihefs of it being firfl allayed and tempered,
by laying it upon clear hot Coals, for fome
fmall Time, which will caufe the Metal to be
more tough.

When

Chap. 4- ^/^^ Pradtlce <?/ Angling. 293
When you have got the Green-drake and
Stone-fly^ which are two of the Species of
May-flies^ take one of them, and put the
Point of the Hook into the thickeft Part of
his Body, under one of his Wings ; run it di-
redJy through, and out at the other Side,
leaving him fpitted crofs on the Hook : Thea
taking the other, put him on after the fime
Manner, but with his Head the contrary Way,
in which Pofture they will live, and play with
their Wings a Quarter of an Hour, if you but
let them touch the Superficies of the Water.
But if you dib with an Oak-fiy and a Cod-
baity put the Oak-fiy on length- ways in under
his Head, and out at his Tail, and a Cod-hait
on the Point of the Hook, and let them fink
a little into the Water. You may bait any
other two Flies after the fiime Manner. If
Fifh will not bite very well, take your natural
Stone fiy at Dibbing, pull away his Wings,
and angle with him within the Water, as you
fometimes angle with a Cod-halt ^ and Troutiy
Salmon-fmelts^ ^c. will eagerly take it.

You muft always dib in a clear Water, and
on the Surface thereof, and you are neither to
have Lead nor Ploat on the Line. A hot,
calm Day, or the Evening of a hot Day, is
the molt proper Time, and in ftill Deeps, but
fometimes in Streams or Sides of them, efpe-
cially when the Water is clearing after a Flood.
You may dib with the Green-drake both in
Streams and Stills, all Hours of the Day : But
the Stone fiy it mofl proper for the Streams
O 3 only,

5.g4 ^^ B R I T I S H A N G L E R.P.IIL

only, and that early and late. Yet if there be
a whiftJing Wind in the Evening, dib in the
Hill Steeps with an artificial Stone-fly^ where
and when it will murder the bed Filh, Some-
times you may pull off the Wings of the Sto/te-
fly^ and angle with it within Water.

When you bait any Sort of Fly, let youf
Fingers be dry : And in ufing it, keep out of
Sight, if pofTible : For to fiih fine and far off,
is the great Rule in all Manner of Fly-angling,

To conclude, how delightful is every Spe-
cies of this Diverfion, in fuch a Paradife as
i\\Q Poet defcribes I

Behkd^ where iklders fr6?n the Weather
fcreefiy
Before, the Lawn prefents Hs lengthened Scene ;
Clofe on that Side trills f oft the empying Brook,
While ihhfrejh Woods and Jloping Hlils o^er-

look :
Tkdck over-head the Rofe and ^oo^hint meet.
Uniting Shade to Shade ^ and Sweet to S-weet :
The Fcd' and bloomy Bean their Odours yield.
And new-fnown }l^.y perfumes the fragrant

Fteld,
To hear the Nighting-ale delights the Meads,
And Grafshoppers chirp Jhr ill amid the Reeds \
While from the]? infold^ there, the Mating Shtcp
Chear the fill Twilight, and divert from Sleep:
The GaleV Pofiime, the EchoV 7m?nic Sound,
The Nightbird'j Song, and Low ofKmt around:
In hcllow Banks the Hum of inuft^ring Bees,
And Zephyrs whifp*rin7foft amid the Trees.
\--- ^ ' ■' ^J CHAP.

Chap. 5. 'The Pradice <?/ Angling, K);^

CHAP. V.

Of Rock and Ssa-Fijhlng,

I Before obferved, that when 1 fpeak of
Rock or Sea-fifhing, I only extrad what
ethers have written, having never pradiled
that Diyeriion mylelf,

Rock-fiJJjing is to be followed only during the
Summer Seafon, and is chiefly pradifed in the
South and South- weft Parts oi England^ and
in fome Places in Ireland, In this laft-men-
tioned Country, the Rocks of Diirdery, v/hich
are eight or ten Miles in Length, and the near-
eft Part about five Miles Eaftvvard of Dublin^
are remarkable for this Way of Fifiiing.

In freih Water Rivers you are obliged to an-
gle with a very fineLine y but in Rock-fiihing
your Line ought to have at leaft five or fix
Hairs in every Link. A Float is necelTary,
and two Hooks ; one to reach the Bottom,
and the other to keep in Mid- water. The beft
Time to follow this Sport, is when the Tide
ishalffpent, and to be continued till within
two Hours of high Water. The Morning and
Evening are the moft propitious Parts of the
Day, provided that the Tide then favour your
Defign.

The Baits which are ufed generally in

Rock-fifhing, are the Cockle, the Lob, and

the Marjh-worm, But there is another Sort,

called the Hairy-worm, which is preferable to

O 4 all

296^^^BRITISH ANGLER. PJII.

all the reft. Hairy-worms^ if full grown, are
near four Inches long, flat and broad, and re-
femble an Earwig. They are found on the
Sea-fhore, when the fait Water has left it,
and to be dug out with a Spade, as you would
dig for Earth-worms. When you have wafli-
ed them from their Filth and Dirt in fait Wa-
ter, they will appear to be of a fine, pale, flefh
Colour. They are to be placed upon the
, Hook with their Heads foremoft, leav^ing a-
bout an Inch to play in the Water,

The Angler muft not be furprized if in
Rock-fifhing he fometimes finds his Hook to
be faftened under Water. If he cannot get it
Joofe in two or three Offers, he has nothing to
do but to wait with Patience, or take off his
Line from the Rod, and make faft the Top
of it, that it may not be drawn into the Wa-
ter. It often will be loofened in half a Quar-
ter of an Hour, and fometimes not till the
Tide ebbs almoft as low as the Place where it
is faftcned. This Accident is occalioned by
an ill-favoured little Fifli, called a Cohler, or
Miller's Tijumby which, as foon as he has
fucked in the Bait, retires into the Cleft of the
Rock, and turning him about, renders it im-
poflible to difengagehim, till he has a mind to
come out himfelf, or till the (inking of the
Water compels him to it. As there is but
little Meat upon this Fifh, and that too is reck-
oned unwholfome, his Fate, for the Trick he
plays, generally is, to have a fmall Stick

thruft

Chap. 5. ne Pra<fiice of Angling, ^'97

thruft through his Eys, and then to be call in-
to the Sea, where he fwims till he dies.

The Rock- fi (her ought to have a ftrongRod
jointed, which he may fhorten upon occafion,
or keep it at its full Length, the better to
command his Line. And the Line mud be
ftrong, the better to endure pulling, when
it Ihall happen to be faftened to the Sea-
weeds.

He muft alfo be provided with a fufHcient
Stock of every Thing that is requifite, as Silk,
Hooks, Lines, Wax, ^r. left by Mifchancc
he may happen to break a Line or Hook.
Nor muft the Landing-net and Landing-hook
be forgotten, which are abfolutely necefTary
when the Tide is low, or when you ftand up-
on a Rock too high above the Water,

They who divert themfelves with catching
Crahs^ fhould bait their Hooks with Chicken-
guts^ or with the Guts of Fifh ; and when they
bring a Crah near the Surface of the Water,,
have theirLanding-net ready, or weigh him on
Shore with all the Expedition imaginable.

The Manner of Sea-fifhing, as ufed by
Gentlemen for Recreation, is either in a Boat
or a Ship. When in a Boat, or Wherry, they
feldom catch any other than JVhiting ^nd Had^
dock^ and the former ofthefe moft frequently.

In order to ^divert yourfelf with this Kind
of Fifhing, you muft iirft find the Place
where Whitings refort, by obferving diligent-
ly the Sea Gulls \ for where they hover, efpe-
cially when they fly down, and feem to dip

tern-

apS rbe'B RI T I S H A N G L E R.P. III.

themfelves in the Water, you may conclude
that .a Scale o{ Whitings d^rt there. In this
Place you muft caft anchor, and prepare your
Fifh-tackle. You will not have occafion to
ufe a Rod^ which is here altogether ufelcfs.
Faflen one End of your Fater-nofier-line to
the Infide of the Boat, with half a Dozen
Hooks, each half a Yard diftant from the o-
ther.;, and having baited them vj'ixki Hairy-
"Worms^ if you can get them, (if not, with the
Loh or the Marjh^worms^) caft it into the Sea.
You need not wait long before you draw it
lip ; neither have you any Occafion to hold it
in your Hand, to know when the Fifh bite :
For as Whitings are a very greedy Fifh,
they will quickly gorge the Bait, and by
that Means make themfelves faft to your
Hooks.

When you filh for Haddocks^ your Line
muft be deep in the Water, and your Hook
baited v/ith two or three Loh-worms : Your
Tackle muft be ftrong •, for they ftrugglc
hard, efpecially if chey have arrived to a tole-
rable Growth.

As to the other Part of Sea-fjhing, namely
in a Ship under fail, your Line ought to be
fixty Fathom in Length, having a large Hook
affixed to it, and a Piece of Lead^fufficient to
keep it as deep under Water as poffible.
Your Line muft be made of Hemp, and faft-
ened to the Game) of the Ship.

Cody Mackerel, and large Haddock^ are the
Fifb ufuaily taken this Way, and fometimes

Ling :

Chap. 3. The Pradlice of Angling. 299

Ling: The Bait for them, except for the
Mackerel^ is a Piece of raw Beef\ and it is
fcarce pofllble to feel either of them bite, even
tho' you hold the Line in your Hand, by
Reafon of the continual Motion of the Ship.

It is in vain to fifli for MackereU except
when the Ship lies by, or is becalmed. A
Piece of fcarlet Cloth hung upon a Hook, is
the firft Bait that is ufed, v/hich never fails of
anfwering the Intent it was defigned for. And
when you have taken a Mackerel^ cut a thin
Piece off from the Tail, a litde above the
Fin, and place it upon your Hook, and you
need not fear taking many of them. Thus one
or two will ferve for Baits, till you are tired
with the Sport. One Mackerel^ if dreffed as
foon aff it is taken, will be preferable to a Do-
zen that are brought to Shore.

Some Gentlemen and Ladies, who live
near the Sea- fide, divert thcmfelves, during
the Summer Seafon, in catching Shrimps ancl
Prawns, For this, the Time of the Tide
muil be punctually obferved, and the Perfon
ready to go upon the Rocks as foon as the Wa-
ter begins to leave them. A Net muft be pro-
vided in the Shape of a Cabbage- net, but deep-
er, and the Meflies fmaller : This is to be
iaftened to a Bow with a Handle, the fame in
Siiape and Size with a Tennis-ball Racket.
Obferve the Hollows between the Rocks, and
efpecially thofe in which there are many Sea-
weeds, for under them the Shrimps and Praijons
cake Iheker, And all that you have to do, is,

to

3CO r/j^ B R I T I S H A N G L E R.P.III.

to thruft your Net clofe to the Side of the
Rock, under a Part of thofe Weeds ; and then
take it up, and turn out what you have taken
into a Pail or little Tub.

I conclude this Treatife of Angling with turn-
ing xkitReader's Meditation into the fame Chan-
nej to which I firft direded it ; the Providence
of Him^ at whofe Command, for the Ufe and
Advantage oi Mankind ,

Forthwith the Sounds and Seas, each Creek
and Bay,
JFith^ Fry innumerable fwann^ and Shoals
Of Fifli, that with their Fins and Jhining Scales
Glide under the green Wave, in Sculls that off
Bank the Mid-fea, Part fingle, or with Mate
Gr^ze the Sea- weed, their Pajlure^ and thro'

Groves
Of Cora] ft ray ; crfporting with quick Glance,
Shew to the Sun their wavM Coats dropped with

Gold:
Or, in /te> pearly Shells, at Eafe attend
Moifi Nutri?nent ; or under Rocks their Pood
In jointed Armour watch. On fmooth the Seal
And bended Dolphins/;^ ; Part, huge ^/Bulk,
Wallowing, unwieldy, enor?nous in their Gait,
■^empeft the Ocean : There Leviathan,
Hugeft of living Creatures^ on the Deep,
Stretch d like a Promontory^ fteeps orfwims
Andfeems a moving Lake ; ayid at his Gills
Draws in, and at his Trunk Jpouts out a Sea.

Milton.
End of the Third Part.

A P^

APPENDIX-

DISCOURSE I.

Of Fifh-Ponds.

S every Gentleman who can afford
to make himfelf a jF^-PW, will,
it is prefumed, have the Work
done, or at Jeaft over- looked, by
Perfons skilful in fuch Opera-
tions, I ihall take no notice of that mechani-
cal Part, which could be of little Service
here. But the following Extra6ts, from Wri-
ters who have treated philofophically of this
Matter, will doubtlefs be uieful and enter-
taining.

It has been obferved, that every Kind of
Fifh requires a certain Depth of Water to
maintain itfelf in \ the fmaller Sorts delight-
ing and thriving in fhallower Waters than
and thefe Waters are more or lefs
to fome Fifli, as they pafs through

different

the greater *,
nourifhin

5152 APPENDIX.

different Strata^ or Beds of Earth, every
Kind of Earth giving its Tindure to the Wa-
ters paffing through it, or joining with it.
The moft nourifliing Waters for Carp, are
fuch as are found in Heathy-Grounds, which
are commonly of a Tandy Soil ; and if it is
pofTible to chufe the Situation of a Pond, it
is counted much better to have it near the
Bottom of Hills, that upon the Fall of great
Rains may wafh down Infedts, and other
nourifhable Matter into it : And if it could be
contrived, the Water Ihould be always cur-
rent through it. Where this happens, the fame
Fund of Water will maintain one third Part
more Fifh than it would do, if it was onlv a
llill Water. ^

In the Making of a Pond, we ought to
contrive, that it may have all Degrees of
Depth as far as fix Feet ; for if the FiHi hap-
pen to breed in it, the young ¥vy or Spawn
muft have fhallow Water to live and fwlm in ;
and the Spawn itfelf, while it is in the Egg,
would be unfruitful was it to lie in deep Wa-
ter. Again, as the young Filli grow bigger,
they change their Station more and more to-
wards the Deep, till they become of a fit Size
to breed and produce others.

It is rarely known that in a good breeding
Pond the Fifii ever come to be very large •,
for the Number of them become fo great,
that they over^ilcck the Water, and are ilrait-
ened for Food. I have b^en told, that where
the ihallowefl Fart of a Fond is about two

Feet

Of Fifli-Ponds. 303

Feet in Water, neither C^rp, Pike, "Tench,
or Perch, will breed in it, becaufe it is
too deep for the Spawn to hatch, if the l;ifh
fhould be inclined to lay any •, and in Icich
Places the Fifh grow very large, and thrive
a-pace, if they were at firft rightly propor-
tioned to the Quantity of Water, and put in
at a ri9;ht Age. ^ ^ ,

An Acre of Water (if all the Parts of the
Pond, one with another, meafure three Feet
deep) may well enough bear ninety Brace ot
Carps, which is about a Rod of Water to each
Fifh \ or elfe eighty Brace of Carps, and
twenty Brace of Tench •, and fo in Proportion
for every ten Brace of Chrp wanting, allow
twenty Brace of Tench. Thefe Fifh delight
to be too-ether ; and the vifcous Matter upon
the BodTes of the Tench is often ferviceable
to fuch Carp as have by Accident been

wounded. , , , 1 1 r

It is found by Experience, that both tnele
Kinds of Fifh thrive much better in old Ponds
than thofe that have been newly made ; and
there is this Reafon for it, that in a Pond
newly cut or dug, the Water is not all of one
Piece, or parta4cing of the fame Qualities,
which it m.uft have fufficient Time to draw
from the Earth, and circulate through, or
mix with every Part alike of the Water •, for
it is a Maxim, that Fifh never thrive which
have any Change of Water after they are two
Years old, and therefore always flock Ponds
with Store of the fecond Year,

304 APPENDIX.

It is likewife obfervable, that a PJantatiorr
of Trees too near a Pond, is apt to infed the
Water with its falling Leaves ; but, on the
other Hand, Shelter is neceilary, and is
much the bell, as it confifts of Herbs and
Plants, which naturally grow in the Waters,
iuch^sfVater-Lillies, Pond- Weeds ^ and F%j,
which feed and afford a great Number of In-
fers for the Filh to feed upon, and help to
guard them from the too great Heats of the
Sun : But chiefly thefe Weeds are ufeful to
Pike and Perch, and they are better fed Fifh,
and much larger in fuch Ponds, than where
they have only a naked Water. The Pike
being a Fifh of Prey, will admit of no Fifh
to abide with it but the Perchy and that only
avoids the voracious Appetite of the Pike by
Means of the thorny Fins on its Back. In
thefe Ponds however, it is a common Prac-
tice to fling in a Parcel of Roach for the
Food of the Jach. Thefe, as well as the
Carp and Tench, may be fed with Blood and
Bran mixed together, Rafpings of Bread, or
the Entrails of Fowl or Sheep ; and, if they
are regularly ufed to be fed in this Way, at a
conftant Hour and Place of the Pond, they
will in a fhort Time become undaunted, and
htd before us.

It is proper to cafl in Bavins in fome
Places not far from the Side, and in the mofl
fandy Spots, both for Fifh to fpawn upon,
and to defend the young Fry, efpecially the
Spawn of the Carp and Tench,

All

Of Fiili-Ponds. 3^5

All Authors advife, that you make Choice
of fuch a Place for your Pond, that it may be
refreihed with a little Rill, or with Rain-wa-
ter running or falling into it •, by which Fifh
are both more inclined to breed, and are re-
freihed and fed the better.

Such Ponds as are large, and have moft
Gravel and Shallows where Fifli may fport
themfelves, are held to afford Fifh of the
pureft Tafte. And in all Ponds it is beft
for Fifh to have fome retiring Place, as hol-
low Banks, or Shelves, or Roots of Trees, to
keep them from Danger -, and, when they
think fit, from the extream Heat of Summer,
and Cold in Winter.

Cleanfe your Pond, if you expetSt either
Profit or Pleafure, once every three or four
Years, and then let it lie dry fome Months.
If you fow Oats in the Bottom, it is efteemed
good, for the Fifli feed the faflec. And your
Pond being fometimes let dry, you may oh-
ferve what Kind of Fiih either increafes
or thrives beft in that Vv^iter ; for they differ
much both in their Breeding and Feeding.

Carps and Tench thrive and breed beflwhen
no other Fifli is put with them into the fame
Pond ; for all other Fifli devour their Spawn,
or at lead the greateft Part of it. Clods of
Grafs thrown into any Pond feed the Carps
in Summer ; and Garden-Earth and Parfley
refrefli them when fick. When you (tore
your Breeding-Pond, put into it two or

three

3o6 APPENDIX.

three Metiers for one Spawner -, but in a bare-
ly feeding Pond, no Care is to be taken, whe-
ther there be moft male or female Carps..

DISCOURSE II.

Of the Laws of i^ngling.

TH E Laws of England being all public,
Ignorance of their Contents excufcs no
Offender. It will not be amifs therefore to
fay fomething of thofe which concern the
Angler, that he may have a certain Know-
iedge, how, without Offence, to demean
himfelf amongft his Neighbours, when he
goes about his Sport.

Tho* this Recreation be fimply in itfcif
lawful 5 yet none iliould go on another's
Ground, without the Licence of the imm.e-
diate Owner. But if one have Licence to
enter into a Clofe for fuch a Space of Time,
tho' he praftife Angling all that Time, he is
not a TrefpafTer, becaufe his Fi filing is no
Abufe of his Licence ; but this is to be un-
derftood only of Running-Streams, and not
of Pits, Ponds, and Handing Pools, the Own-
er whereof hath a Property in the Fifli. Brook,

No Felony can be committed by taking
Fifh out of their natural Liberty in Rivers,
becaufe they are no Man's Property •, but Fe-
lony may be committed of Fi flies in a Trunk,
Net, or Pond, becaufe they are not at their
natural Liberty, Coke Inil. 3.

. If

Of th€ Laws of Angling. 307

If I continue fifhing in another Man's-
Ground after Warning by the Owner, or his
Servant thereunto authorized, the Owner, or
his Servant, by his Command, may put me
off by Force, but not beat me, except in caie
of Refinance by me : For then I, by refiibng,
make the Affault : But if he beat me, I not
refilling, in that cafe he makes the Afiault, and
I may beat him in Defence of my Perlon,
and to free myfelf from his Violence. 9 Ea.

IV. 21, ^c. . , ,

If I leave my Angle-rod behind in Another s
Ground, he may take it Damage-feadnU but
he can neither take itfrom my Pcrfon by Force,
nor break it, but he is a^Trefpailer to mc.
Revnel^ndCbampernoon'sC^fQ.'

None fhall take Salmons betwixt the 8th ot
September, and the 1 1 th o'iNoveinher^ nor young
Salmons with Nets or other Engines, at Miil-
pools, betwixt the Middle ol Apnl and the
l^tho^ June, on pain of having then- Nets
and Engines burnt for the hrft Oiience •, for
the fecond, to fuffer a Quarter of a Year's Im-
prifonment; for the third, a Year's Impri-
fonment :; and after to have their Funifhment
increafed according to the Trefpafs : And in
Places where frefh Waters are, Overfeers of
this Statute (hall be affigned and fworn to en-
quire of the Offenders. Weftm, i. 47- ^3 ^^•
1. cap. 47. _ .

None Iliall ufeany Net, Device, or Engine

whatfoever, to dettroy, kill, or take the

Spawn or Fry of Eds, Pike, Salmon, or of a-

^ nv

3o8 APPENDIX.

ny other Fifh •, nor take Salmons or Trouis, no^
being in Seafon -, nor take or kill Pikes fhorter
than ten Inches, Salmons than fixteen, Grouts
than eight, or Barbels than twelve, or more •,
nor iliall ufe any Engine or Device whatfoever
to take Fifh, other than and except an Angle,
era Net or Tramel of two Inches and "'a half
Mefh or Mafk ; on pain to forfeit 20 s. the
Fifh fo v/rongfully taken, and the Net or
Engine fo wrongfully ufed. i Eliz. cap. ij.

Every Perfon who, between the firfb Day
of March and the laft of May^ fhall do any
A(5i whereby the Spawn of Fifh fhall be de-
flrdyed, fhall forfeit the Inftruments, and
likewife 40 s. one Moiety to the Poor, and
the other to the Profecutor. Stat. 3. Car. a.
cap. 9.

Whoever fifhes in the River Severn with,
or fhall make ufe of, any Engine or Device,
whereby any Salmon^ Trout ^ or Barbel, under
the Length appointed by the Stat-. 1 Eliz. c,
17. fhall be taken or killed, or fhall fifh with a-
ny Net for Salmon- Peale^ Pike^ Carp, Trout ^
Barbel, Chub, or Grayling, the Mefh whereof
ihallbe under two Inches and a half fquare from
Knot to Knot, or above twenty Yards in
Length and two in Breadth, or above fifty in
Length and fix in Breadth in the Wing of
the Net, in the faid River, from Ripplelock
Stake to Gloucefter Bridge ; or above fixty in
Length, below Gloucefter Bridge, and fix
Yards in Breadth in the Wing of the Net ; or
iliali fifh with more than one of thefe Nets at

once.

Of the Laws of Angling. 309

once, or fhall ufe any Device for taking the
Fry of Eels, fhall forfeit 5 s. for every Offence,
and the Fifli fo taken, and the Inftruments,
to be divided as above. Ibidem,

Perfons taking Fifh by any Device, in any
feveral Water or River, or afTifting therein,
without the Owner's Confent, fhall make fuch
Recompence, and within fuch Time, as the
Juftice of Peace fhall appoint, not exceeding
treble Damages, and fuch Sum to the Over-
feers of the Poor as he fhall alfo appoint, not
exceeding 10 s. The Convidion is by Con-
sent of the Party, or Oath of one Witnefs •, the
Profecution to be in one Month. In Defliulc
of Payment, to be levied by Diflrefs and Sale ;
and for Want of Diflrefs, the Offender to be
committed to the Houie of Corredion, for any
Time not exceeding one Month, unlefs he
gives Bond, with one or more Sureties, to the
Party injured, not to offend again. Stal, 22
and 23 Car, II. c. 25.

If any Perfon fhall keep any Net, Angle,
Leap, Piche, or other Engine for taking Fifh,
(except the Makers or Sellers of them, or the
Owners or Occupiers of Rivers or Fifheries)
fjchEngines, if they fhall be found fifhing with-
out the Conient of the Owner or Occupier, or
fuch other Perfon or Perfons as he fhall autho-
rize and appoint, fhall be feized ; and any
Perfon, by a Warrant under the Hand and Seal
of a Juflice of Peace, may fearch the Houfes of
Perfons prohibited and fufpeded, and feize to
their own JJk, or deftroy fuch Engines. 4 afid
SW.andM.c.'i^. No

3IQ A PPEN DIX.

No Servant Ihall be queftioned for killing a
Trefpafler, within his Mafter's Liberty, who
will not yield, if not done out of former Ma-
lice : Yet if the Trefpafler kills any fuch Ser-
vant it is Murder. 21 Eliz.

The Stat, i Eliz* c.ij. not to refl:rain the tak-
ing oi Smelts .^Loaches ^Minnows ^Bull-heads ^Gud*
^<?^?;j,orE(?/j, with Nets orEngines formerly ufed,
fo that no other Fifh be taken therewith -, nor
to abridge any former Privilege of Confervancy
lawfully enjoyed, or fifhing in ^weed^ Uske^ov
Wye, or in Waters let to Farm by the Crown ;
fo that the Spawn or Fry of Fifh be not there-
in wilfully deflroyed.

None iliall unlawfully break, cut down, cut
out, or deftroy any Head or Heads, Dam or
Dams, of any Ponds, Pools, Moats, Stagnes,
Stews, or feparate Pits, wherein Filh are, or
fhall happen to be put by the Owners or Pof-
fefTors thereof; or ^ fhall wrongfully fifh in
the fame, to the intent to deftroy, kill, take,
or ftealaway any of the fame Fifh againft the
Mind of the Owners thereof, without Licenfe
of the Owner, on pain offuffering three Months
Imprifonment, and to be bound to good Beha-
viour for feven Years after : And the Party, in
Seflions or eifewhere, fhall recover treble Da-
mages againft the Delinquent. 3 Eliz,

None lliall ered a Weir or Weirs along the
Sea-fhore, or in any Haven or Creek, or within
5 Miles of the Mouth of any Haven or Creek,
or fball willingly take or deftroy any Spawn,
Fry,, or Brood of any Sea-filh, on Pain of

10/.

Of the Laws <?/ Angling. 311

10 /. to be divided between the King and the
Profecutor. Neither fhall Any fifh in any of
the faid Places, with any Net of a lefs Mefh
than three Inches and a half between Knot
and Knot (except for Smoulds in Norfolk only)
or with a Canvas- Net, or other Engine, where-
by the Spawn or Fry of Fifh may be deftroyed,
on Pain of forfeiting the faid Net or Engine,
and 10 J. in Money, to be divided between
the Poor and the Profecutor. 3 Jac, cap, 12.
By the Statute of 17 Ric, II. cap. 9. Ju-
flices of Peace Ihall be Confervators of the
Statute of fVeftm, %. cap, 47. and 13 Rk\ II.
cap, I p. and fhall have Power to fearch all
Weirs, left by their Straitnefs the Fry of Fifh
may be deftroyed. And the faid Juflices
fhall have Power to appoint and fwear
Under-Confervators, to hear and determine
Offences of this Kind, and to punifh the
Offenders by Itnprifonment and Fine, where-
of the Under-Confervator which informs is
to have the half. The Mayor or Wardens of
London have, by the fame Statute, like Power
in the Thames^ from Stajjes to London^ and in
Medway as far as the City Grant extends.
And every Juflice of Peace before whom fuch
Offender fhall be convided, may cut in
Pieces, and deftroy all and every the Nets
and Engines whatfoever, wherewith the Of-
fender is apprehended.

Receipts

Receipts forDrefling of Fiili.

To drefs a Chiih^ fcale and wafh him
clean, and take out his Guts ; put Tops
of Rofemary, Thyme, Sweet Marjoram,
Parfley, and Winter Savoury, into his Belly,
and then tie him with two or three Splinters to
a Spit, and roaft him, balled often with Vi-
negar, or rather Verjuice and Butter, and good
Store of Salt mixed with it. This Way makes
him a good Difh of Meat, and dries up the
watery Humour, with which all Chubs a-
bound. Other Fifh may be drefTed thus, as
Barbel^ Tench^ Br£a?n^ (^c, balling them with
Butter only.

Or, when you have fcaled a Chub^ cut oifF
his Tail, Fins, and Gills ; walli him very
clean, and taking out the Guts, flit him thro'
the Middle -, then give him three or four
Seethes on the Back with your Knife, and
broil him leifurely on a clear Fire, balling him
with the belt fweet Butter and Salt, to which
add a little Thyme cut fmall, or bruifed into
the Butter. Turn him often whillt he is
broiling.

To drefs a Trout^ v/afli and dry him with a
clean Napkin ; then open him, and having
taken out his Guts and Blood, and cut away
his Gills, wipe him very clean within, but
walli him not, and give him three Scotches

with

Receipts for Br effing of Fi^ci. 313

with the Knife to the Bone on one Side only :
After which take a clean Kettle, and put in as
much Vinegar, with a little White-wine and
Water, as will cover the Fifli you intend to
boil. Then throw into the Liquor a good
Quantity of Salt, the Rind of a Lemon, a
Handful of diced Horfe-radifh Root, with a
little Bundle of Rofemary, Thyme, Sweet
Marjoram, Parfley, and Winter-Savoury.
Set your Kettle upon a quick Wood-fire, and
let your Liquor boil up to the Height before
you put in your Fifh. If there be many, put
one by on^e, and whilft they are boiling, beat
up the Butter for your Sauce, with a Ladleful
or two of the hot Liquor, an Anchovy or two
being difiblved in it. Being boiled enough,
immediately pour the Liquor from the Fifh,
and laying them in a Difli, pour your Buttci:
upon them, ftrewing plentifully over it fhaved
Horfe-radifh Root, and a little pounded Gin-*
ger. Garnifh the Sides of your Difh, and
the Fifh itfelf, with a diced Lemon or two*;^
In this Manner you may drefs a Samlet : Alfci
Graylings Cairp^ Bream ^ Roach ^ Dace, n)d.y.
be drelTed after the fame Manner, only they-
are to be fcaled, which a Trota never is. /L
Pike too may be thus d reded, the Slime being
well fcoured off with Water and Salt •, and a
Perch and Tench,

To ftew Salmof/y take the Fidi, draw ft,'
fcotch the Back, put it whole or in Pieces into
a Stew-pan, with Vinegar, White-'.,'ine, and
Water, as much as will cover the Fidi : Put

P alfo

3f4 A PPEN DIX.

alfo to it fome whole Cloves, large Mace,
fliced Nutmeg, fliced Ginger, a Bay-Leaf, a
Bundle of the Tops of Rofemary, (tripped
Thyme, fweet Marjoram, Winrer-ravoury,
and picked Parfley, fome whole Pepper, Cur-
rants, Salt^ Butter, and an Orange in half ;
ftew all leifurely together, and, when well-
Hewed, difh them with carved Sippets ; lay
on the Spices and diced Lemon ; run it over
with Butter beaten up in fome of the Liquor
it was ftewed in. Thus you may alfo ftew
any other Fifii, as Carp^ Pike, Perch, &:c.

Take a large C^r/>, alive, ifpoflible, fcour
him clean with Water and Salt •, then open
him, and put him, with his Blood and his Li-
ver, into a fmall Kettle : Then take Sweet
Marjoram, Thyme, and Parfley, of each
half an Handful, a Sprig of Rofemary, and
another of Savoury, bind them into two or
three fmall Bundles, and put them to your
Fiih, with three or four whole Onions, twenty
pickled Oifters, and three Anchovies. Then
pour upon your Carp as much Claret as will
cover him, feafoned well with Salt, Cloves,
Mace> fliced Nutmegs, and the Rinds of
Oranges and Lemons, Cover your Pot, and i'et
it over a quick Fire, till it be fufficiently boil-
ed. When you take out the Carp^ lay it with
the Broth in the Difh,- and pour upon it fome
of the befl frefli Butter melted, and beaten
with half a Dozen Spoonfuls of the Broth, the
Yolks of :wo or three Eggs, and fome of the
Herbs Ihred. Garnifh your Difh with Lemons.

The

Receipts for Dr effing of Fifli. 3 1 5

The beft Way of dreffing a large Eel is this.
Wafh him in Water and Salt ♦, then pull off
his Skin below his Vtnl^ and not much fur-
ther: Take out his Guts as clean as you can,
but walli him not ; then give him three
or four Scotches with a Knife, and put into
his Belly and thofe Scotches the Tops of fweet
Herbs, as Rofemary, Sweet-Marjoram, Win-
tc;r-Savcu y, Thyme, and Parfley ; and An-
chovy, with a little Nutmeg grated. Your
Herbs and Anchovies mufl be cut very fmall,
and mixed with good Butter and Salt. Then
pull his Skin over him all but his Head,
which you are to cut off, that you may tie his
v^kin about that Part where his Head grew,
*iQ as to keep all his Moifture within the Skin.
Fallen him with Packthread to a Spit ; roaft
liim leifurely, and bafte him with Water and
Salt, till his Skin breaks, and then with But-
ter. Having roailed him enough, let what
was put into his Belly be mixed with beaten
Butter for his Sauce. You may fpitchcock^
or broil him, with the fame Ingredients.

To collar Eels^ take thofe that are large,
flay, draw, and wipe them clean with a Linnen
Cloth 5 part them down the Back, and take
out the Bone ; then take the fweet Herbs be-
fore mentioned^ mince them all fmall, and
mingle them with Nutmeg, Cloves, Ginger,
Pepper, all beaten into Powder \ and Salt.
Strew this on the Infide of the Eels j then roll
them up like a Collar of Brawn, and put them
in a clean Linnen Cloth, tied at both Ends,
Pa and

3i6 APPENDIX.

and bound clofe with Packthread. Boil them
in Water, Vinegar, and Salt, till they be very
tender. But Jet the Liquor boil before you
put in the Eels. When boiled enough, take
them out, and when they and the Liquor are
cold, put them in again, and you may therein
keep them five or fix Days, or more. But if
you will have the Eels to keep a Month or
more, put no Herbs to them, but very highly
feafon them with Cloves, Mace, Nutmeg,
Peppe*", and Salt, and then proceed as before,
&c. Boil the Pickle they are kept in every
fourteen Days, and add the Water and Vine-
gar at the Boiling.

Mr. Walton gives this excellent Receipt for
Toafting a Pike, Firft, open your Pike at the
Gills, and if there be Occafion, cut alfo a
little tSlit towards the Belly : Out of thefc
take his Guts, and keep his Liver, which you
are to fhred very fm all with Thyme, Sweet-
Marjoram, and a little Winter Savoury : To
thefe put fome pickled Oyfters, and two or
three Anchovies, both Oyiter and Anchovies
whole *, for the latter will melr, and the other
fliould not : To thefe you muft add a Pound
offweet Butter, which you are to mix with
the Herbs that are flired, and let them all be
well faked. If the Pike be above a Yard long,
the Quantity of Butter fliould be more than a
Pound ; or if he be under, then lefs will fuf-
fjce. Thefe, being thus mixed, with a Blade
or two of Mace, mufl be puc into the Piy(Vs
Belly, and then his Belly \o fewed up, ' if

poflible,

Receipts for Dreffing of Fifh. 317

poflible, as to keep in all the Butter ; if not,
as much of it as you pofTibly can, without
taking off the Scales. Next thruft the Spit
through his Mouth out at his Tail \ and then
take four, five, or fix fplit Sticks, or very
thin Lathes, and a convenient Quantity of
Tape or Filletting : The Lathes are to be tied
round about the Pikers Body from his Head
to his Tail, and the Tape tied fomewhat
thick, to prevent his breaking or falling off
from the Spit. Let him be roafted very lei-
furely, and often bafted with Claret Wine,
Anchovies, and Butter mixed together, and
alfo with what Moifture falls from him into
the Pan. When you have roafted him fuffi-
tiently, you are to hold under him, wheu
you cut the Tape that ties him, the Difh that
you propofe to eat him out of ; and let him
fall into it, with the Sauce that is roarted in
his Belly, by which Means the Pike will be
kept unbroken and compleat. Then, to the
Sauce which was within, and alfo that in the
Pan, addafufficient Quantity of the beft But-
ter, and fqueeze the Juice of three or four O-
ranges. Laftly, you may either put into the
Pike^ with the Oyfters, two Cloves of Garlick,
and take it whole out when the Pike is cut oil
the Spit j or, to give the Sai^ce a high Fla-
vour, let the Difh be rubbed. The ufing or
not ufing this Garlick is left to your Difcretion.
The following is a general Way for all
Sorts of Fifh. To boil your Fijh^ take one
Qiiart of White-wine, or a Pintof White-
P 3 wine

SrS A P P E N D I X.

wine Vinegar, three or four Quarts of
Water, a Bunch of {v/eet Herbs, and
a good Handful of Salt: Let it boil a Quar-
ter of an Hour before the Fi/h be put in. And
to make Sauce, take a few Cloves and Mace,
Anchovies, and half Pint of Whire-wine :
Dr you may, other wife, melt your Butter
with a little Water and the Juice of Lemon>^
with fome Nutmeg, Horfe-radifh, and Le-
mon-pcrel, an Onion, and two Drops of Spi-
rit of Salt, one Pintofflewed Oyfters, and a
little whole Pepper among the Butter. Let
not the Onion or Horfe-radiHi be put into the
Difli of Fiih with the Sauce.

To boil a '^ench^ let the Liquor be made
of Water ^x^di Salt, a Bunch ol Thyme, an
Orilon, Lemon- peel, a little Horfe-radifrj,
and a Quarter of a Pint of Vinegar. Take
no more Water than is fuificient to cover the
"J^ciuh^ which mud be put in before the Water
boils, to prevent them from cracking. When
they are boiled, make your Sauce with two
Anchovies, boiled in a little Water till they
are diffolved. Then let it Hand to fettle, drain
it off, and add what Quantity of Butter you
think fit, half a Pint of ftewed Oyfters, and a
Quarter of a Pint of Shrimps. Garnilh the
Diih with Lemon and Mufhrooms.

FINIS.

A N

INDEX.

Wherein feveral Terms ufed by Anglers
arc occalionally explained.

A.

^CTION and Contemplation compared',
yj Page 6, 7.

JL JL Angler^ Diredions concerning him, 251.
for his Choice of Stands, Baits, ^c, 252—
260*

^/jv^///7^ praifed and defended, 5- 13. Its Anti-
quity 5. Utility 6» Lawfulnefs, 10. Dignity, ib.
Sir Hitiry JVottorh Character of it, 13.

Anglings Pradice of, interfperfed in the firft and fe-
cond, and through the whole third Part.

Angliiig^ Seafons of, 262—271. Various Methods
of, 279. with Running-Line, 280- -284. Floats
284,285, 286. At Top with a Worm, 287.
At Ground for fmall Fifli, 289. Ledger- Bair, 290,

Atigling'Scene^ Defcription of one in Verfe, 294.

Angling y Laws of, 306—311.

Ant-fly^ to procure, 83. to ufe, 84.

Apparatus^ the Angler's. See the whole firft Part,

Arm a Hooky how to, 52.

AJh-gnih Bai t, 7 7 . Fly, 9 1 .
B.

Bacon, for Bait, 94.

Bags of Air in Fijh, their Ufe, 25.

Bags for Anglers, 59.

BaitSy natural, an Account of them, 61— 96. Verfes
• on, 81,96. Artificial or favftitious, 96—127. of
feveral Fifh, inVcrfe, 257.

P 4 Barbel^,

INDEX.

Barbel, his Defcription, Chara^fler, and Haunts, 197,
198. Baits, 199. how to angle for, 20a Verfes
on, 201.

Bfiivky a Knot in a Hair or Link.

Bed Hairs bed well when they twill kindly.

Bering, the Body of an artificial Fly.

Berries, feveral Sorts for Baits, 90.

Black- bee for Bait, 94.

Bleak, Defcription, Baits, and Manner of takinghim,
2-345235. Verfes on him, 236.

Bobs, the two Sorts of them, 70, 71.

Bobbing for Eels, 221.

Brandling-wcrm, 63, 66.

Bream, his Defcription, Charader, and Haunts,20i,

. 202. Baits 202, 203. Large Diredlions in angling
fnr him, 203— 208. Verfes on him, 209. Sea-
Bream ^ 246.

Break, a Knot in the Joint of a Rod.

Brood of IFafps, Hornets, and Humblo-bees, 85.

i»r^^^/^';7^ or Sniggling for Eels, 220.

Browne, >; r. Verfes of his, 81.261.

BuU-heads for Baits, 87. Defcribed, 238.

Bull-trout in Northumberland, 141.
C.

Cadezvs, the feveral Sorts of them, 72—74. how to
angle with, 74, 75. Artificial, how to make, 76,

Carp, his Character, 185, 1 86. Fecundity, 22, 186.
Strangely deftroy'd, 187. Manner of Spawning,
ib. Baits and Haunts, 188— 191. Ways of tak-
ing, 190, 191, 192, Verfes on him and \.\\tTe?uh^
195, 196.

Caterpillars, Cabbage, and Crabtree- worms, 87.

Char, alocalFifh, Accountof him, 240, 241,

Cheefe for Bait, 9 0.

Chine a Salmon^ cut him up.

Chuh,

I N D E 7<.

Chuh, or Chevin, his Charader, 210. how to catch ,
ib.2ii. Baits, 211-214. Haunts and Seafons,
213. Biting- time 5 214. Verfes on, 215. To drefs,
312.

Clap-baity or Cow-turd-bob, 71.

Cobkr^ or MillerVThumb, an Impediment to Rock-
iifhers, 296.

Co{k. A Float cocks when it fwims upright above
the Water.

Cockjpur Cadews, 72.

Ccdbaitj, the beft Way to carry and keep, 59. Sec
Cadews.

C^^-y^, Remark on them, ig.Their Fecundity, 22.

Cold, Verfes on its Effeft on Fifhes, 192.

Conger^ or great Sea-Eel, 222.

Cricket^ Houfe, for Baits, 89. Water, or Creeper, ib.

Coning fton- Mere, famous for Chars, 241.
D,

X)ahhing, angling with alive Fly, 290— 294.

Dace, his Charadter, 226. Baits, and Manner of
taking him, /^.— 230. Verfes on him, 230.

Davon, Mr. his Poem on Angling, 29, 31,

DeW'Worm, 62.

bibbing^ or Dibbling, the fame as Dabbing, 290 —
294.

Dock-ivorm, 79.

Drag, an Inltrument to difentanglc the Line.

Dub-Jlies, fee Flies, artificial.
E.

Earth-bob, or Grub, 70.

Earth-woi-ms, what, 61, 62.

Earwig for Bait, 94.

Eel, his Charader, and how produced, 216. Haunts,
217. Kinds, 218. Baits and Times of biting, ib.
Chief Places, 219. Brogling or Snigling for him,
220. Bobbing, 221. Verfes on him, 223. To drefs.

Eel,

INDEX.

Eel or Elver Cake, 217, 220.
Eel-pouts defcribed, 222.
Eyes of Fifh for Bait, 93.

F.
Fernfiy^ or Fern-bud, 94.
Fins of Fifties, their Ufe, 22*
Fit! a Chuh^ cut him up.
Fijh^ general Obfervations on their Nature, 14— 2f,

Their Element, 15. Clothing, 16. Numbcrs,i7_.

Pailage, 19. Wars, 20,21. Fecundity, 22. Food^

23. Figure, ib. 24. Ufe of their Tails and Fin$,24 ►

Bags of Air, 25. Gilb, 27. Other Parts, ib. Senfa-

Tions, 28. Enumeration of their Enemies in Verfe,

261.
Flfiermeny the Apo(Ue$ fo, 8, 9. Their plain Stile^

10.
Fifi-ponds,2i EMfcourfe of theni,30 1—306. Depth of

them, 302. Proportion to a Number of Fifh,

303. Howinfedted, 304. Other Remarks, 305.
Fljh-hooh mentioned in the Old Teftamcnt, 6.
Flag-wonn^ 79.
/7/W, natural, 84.91— 94. Verfcs on 94. Artificial, -

106. -1 26. Verfes on, 126. How to ufe, 108. To-

make, 109, no. 114, 115, 116. Catalogues of,

106, 107. 117 126.

Floats for Angling, 53—56. Of Cork, 53. To ce-

^'^ritj 55' Double, 56. To angle with, 284,

285, 286.
/y^//;/^^n,Defcription, Haunts, and Manner of taking

them, 243, 244. Verfes on them andothers, 245 .

Sea, 246.
Fordige y 01 Fordwich Txouty 140.
Frogs for Bait, 93. Their wonderful Enmity to Pikes*

163.
Frujh a Chuby drefs him.

Garden- wormy 62.

Gentki

I N D E X.

G^/.W^i or Maggots, to procure, 79, 80. To imi-
tate, 81,

Gildard, the Link of a Line.

G/7/5of Fiflies, their Ufe, 27,

Gilt' tail-worm, 63.

Gctbet a Trout, cut him up. , r • •

Grabble. One filhes on the Grabble when the Line is
funk with a running Plummet faft to the Bottom,
fo that the Hook-Link plays in the Water.

Gr^7«forBait, 83.

Grafikoppers for Bait, 88.

Gray -dr ale-fly y 92. artificial, 120.

Grayling, his Charader, 153- Haunts, 154. Scafon^,
155. Baits, and how to angle for,;^. Vcrlos oa
him, ib,

Gr£en-drahfly,(^l, Artificial, 12O.

Gudgeon, his Charaaer, Haunts, and Baits, 231.
Verfes on him, 232.

Guiniad, a local Fifh, Account of him, 240, 24 '•
H.

Haddock, an Account of him, 248. how to take him^
298.

Hang a Fijhy hook him.

Hairs for Lines, to chufe and prepare, 39.

Haunts of fevcral Fifh, in Verfe, 25 3.

Hawthorn-fly, 93.

Hearing, Senfe of, enjoy'd by Fifh, 28.

^^^^5, Fifh, how to make, 51- to chufe, th. to arm
or whip, 52.

HQoki7tg2LY±t, 179.

Huxing for a Pike, 168.

Kink. A Line kinks inTrowling when it istwifled

between the Top of the Rod and the Ring.
Kipper^ what it means, 79.
L.
Lamprey for Bait, 88. .

Lampreys in the Severn^ 219. ^^^'^'

INDEX.

LtSrtdbt^'hooJi and Landing-net, 60.

Laws of Angling, 306 — -- — 311.

Leap^ fee Salmon,

Lea/hofFiJh, three.

Leather -mouthed, the Meaning of that Term, 212.

Ledger-bait for a Pike, 165 — 168. To angle with,
290.

Leuwenhoeck^ Mr. his Obfervation on the Fecundity
ofFifh, 22.

Limperh-Pool^ where Tor-coch,are found, 241.

JL/W, Angling, to prepare, 39. To dye, 40, 41.
To make up, 42, 43. For Caft-iiy, 44. Run-
ning Worm, 46; Float, 47. Dibbing, ib,
Grjound, 48. Trowling, ib. Barbel and Chub,
ib. Verfes on, 49. How to lead, 56.

Lme-cafes^ how to make, 58.

Loach for Bait, 87. Defcribed, 237.

Lob-zvorjn, 62.

Luce, fee Pike.

M.

Machrel^ how to take, 299.

Magazine, the Angler's, 59. Verfes on, 6x.
for artificial Flies, no, 112.

Maggots or Gentles, 79, 80.

Marrow or Pith, z Bait, 94.

Ma^:/h or Meadow-worm, 64.

May 'Flies, feveral Sorts of them, 91, 92, 93. ar-
tificial, III, 120, 123. How to bait the natu-
ral ones, 293.

Miller's -Thumb, ihQ fame as Bull- head and Coblcr.

Milton, his Lines on theSeaFifh, 300.

Minnow for Bait, ^tj. Defcribed, 236, 237.
Verfes on him and others, 239. Artificial, 288.

A/^/zr/;; of Angling, artificial Flies for each, 117 —
126.

Moths for Bait, 93.

Mul^

INDEX.

Mullets y Defcription and Manner of taking them
244, 245.

N.

Needier^ Mr. Henry ^ his Verfes on the Seafons for
Angling, 262.

Night-hooks y how to lay, 287.

Nowelly Dr. a great Angler, his Charadler, 11.
O.

Oak'WortTtf 68.

Oak.fyy 91.

Oat-Cake {ox BTiXty 91.

Ointments or Unguents^ 99 105.

P.

Pajfes for Bait, feveral Sorts of, 96 — 99. How
to ufe, 99.

Palmer-worm and Fly^ 68. Artificial, 109.

Perchy his Charad:er, 181. Haunts and Biting-
time, 182. Baits, 183, 184. How to angle for,
ib, Verfes on, 184, 185.

Perriwinkle-bait^ 95 .

Pike,how produced,i56, 164, long-lived, 156, 157.
defcribed, 157. Haunts, Baits, and Biting-time,
158, 159, 164, 165, 177. Voracioufnefs, 158,
160. Charadter, 161, 162. At enmity with
Frogs, 169. Spawning, 162, How to take,
165. By a Ledger-bait, /^. — 168. By Hux-
ing, 168. With a dead Bait, /^. By Trowling,

169 175. By Snapping, 175, 176, 177. By

Snaring and Hooking, 179. Verfes^on, /^. 180.
To Drefs 316.

Piper C^idewsy 72,

Plummets for Lines, 57, 58,

Pope, Mr. his Lines on Angling, 20. On the Ri-
vers that compofe the T'hames, 279.

Pope^ox RufF, Delcriptionand Manner of taking him,
233. Verfes on him, 234.

Pr^z;/t/^w^, Inftances of its Care, 18.

PemhU'^

INDEX.

PembU-mere^ famous for Guiniads, 240.

Pouch. A Pike pouches when he fwallows the

Bait.
Prime, leap out of the Water.

^lilis^ how to dye, 156.

Red-worm y 63.

■Re^jektions, where generally made, 7.

Rivers J their Beauty and Ufefulnefs, 2 5. The

principal in £//^/i?//^, 271- — 278. Enumerated
in Verfe, 274.

Roachy his Charadler and Seafon, 223. Haunts and
Baits, 224. Ways of Angling for liim, 225.
Verfes on him , ib.

Rucks, l\(hiz\itn on, 246, 247. Verfes on them,
249. Manner of taking them, 295, 296, 297.

Rods, when to provide, 33. How to chule and
order, ib. 34. For the Ground Angle, 34. FIv-
Angling, ib. For Roach, Dace, ^c. 37. To
colour, 36. Verfes on, 38.

Rud, a Kind of Roach, defcribed, 224, 225.
Verfes on him, 226.

Ruffy the fame as Pope.

Ruff-coat Cadews, 73,

Running-Line, to angle with, 280 — 284.
S.

Salmon, his Haunts 129, 133, 135. Spawning-
time, 129. Neceflity of getting into the Sea,
X30. His Leap, 131. Growth, 132. Baits,
^33> 137- Times of Biting, 136. Verfes on,
131, 138. Laws for preferving them, 307,
How to drefs, 313.

Sabnon-Peale, his Haunts and Baits, 138.

Salmon-Spawn, for Bait, 86.

SamUt^ Salmon Smelt, or Salmon Fry, J 38.

Sc^l^y any great Number of Fifh together.

Sea-

INDEX.

Seafom for Angling defcribed in Profe and Verfej

262 271,

Sea-Fi/hingy the Manner of it, 297 300.

Seven-Eyes for Bait, 88.

Severn, Laws of Angling there, 308.

She^S'bioodl^ity 83.

Sh'imps and Prawns, how to take them, 299.

Side a Had dock i cut him up.

Size of Fifli that may be taken, 308,

Siegg£rSy a Sort of Salmons, 130.

Smelts, when, where, and how taken, 245.

Snails for Bait, 88.

Snapping for a Pike, 175, 176, 177,

Snaring zV'ike^ 179.

Sniggling for Eels, 220.

Solay a Bream^ cut him up,

SpIateaPikey cut him up.

Stile of the facrcd Writers^ a Remark on it, 9,

Stone-fly y 92. Artificial, 121.

5'r?-JZi^-«/or«i Cadews, 73.

Sticklebagy his Defcription, ^c, 238.

Swallows y a Way of Angling for them, 235.

T.
Tag-tail Worm, 64.
7:^/7; of Fifhes, their Ufe, 24.
Thames, River, a particular Account of it, 272, 275,

276. and of the Rivers that fall into it, 276

279. In Verfe, 279.
Tenchy his Charader and Defcription, 193. Baits,

Haunts, Seafonand Biting-time, 194, 195. Verfes

on him and the Carp, 195, 196. To Drefs, 318.
Thrajby any Thing which fwims down the Water,

and incommodes the Angler.
Tickle-hack, the fame as Sticklebag,
Tor-coch, a local Fifh, 241.
Trsut^ the Venifon of the Waters, 139. Sorts of,

140, 141. Seafons, 142. Haunts, 143. Bai;s,

J44>

INDEX.

14.4, 145, 146. Places remarkable for, 1454

How to angle for, 1 47 151. Verfes on, 1 5 1 ,

152. Dibbing for, 291. To Drefs3i2.

Trout-Ike or SugSy 14.2. ^
Trounchen atiEel^ cut him up.
Trawling for a Pike, 169 — 175;
Tusk a Barbely cut him up.
Tw at chd- wormy 62,

U.
Veer your Line, let It out from the Reel after Striking.
Umber ^ fee Grayling.
Unguents or Ointments for Bait, 99—105.

W.
If^alton^ Mr. his Lift of Flies, 106, 107.
/^/^r, Element of, 15.
/^/^r-fnVyf^/ or Water-loufe, 89.
JFeirs, Law concerning them, 310.
ivhet-Jione for Anglers, 58.
IVhiting Pollock, 247. Rock, ib. True 248. How

to take them, 297, 298.
Whip?i Hook, how to, 52.
IVhite-grub or Boh y yo.
IVinander-mere, famous for Chars, 240.
IVooU-bed or Canker-worm, 68.
Woodcock-fly y 91.
Worms, the feveral Sorts of them, 62 70. How

to keep, order, and fcour, 65 68.

IVotton, Sir Henry, a great Angler, 12. His Cha-

rader of Angling, 13. Verfes of his, ih.

ERRATA.

PA G E 50. Title' of Chap. III. Landing- Line Sy read
Landing- Hooks: p. 90. 1. lO. Bare erries, r. are
Berries, p. 1 3 2.1. 17. all Terlking, T. StiilTerking. p. 133.
1. 15. that, T.thixn. p. 192. 1 30. Doze, r.Oeze. p^ 294.
1«^ 27. blatingy r. bleating*

) -

V

mm

m JHR^ ' ^^^ISn^K: '»^\'*"