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THE
BJRIJFFIEILB ANG-JLEjR :
TO WHICH ABE ADDED,
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SHOOTING,
RULES FOR
TRAINING AND MANAGING
POINTERS; SPANIELS, AND^GREYHOUNDS,
GAINSBOROUGH :
FEINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, AND SOLD BY H. MOZLEY :
SOLD ALSO BY J. ETHERINGTON,
BOOKSELLER, DRIFFIELD 5
ANI> THE BOOKSELLERS AT HULL, YORK, SCARBOROtJGSy
/kSALlON, BEVERLIY, BURLINGTON,
THE
©MFFIEILB ANGjLEM;
IN TWO PARTS:
CONTAINING^
Defcriptions of the different kinds of FRESH WATER FISH,
and the bed methods of taking them in rivers, lakes, and
filh-ponds; with full directions for BAITS, and the
manner of making ARTIFICIAL FLIES
for every month in the feafon.
TO WHICH ARE ADDED,
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SHOOTING :
With rules for the breeding, breaking, and management of
POINTERS AND SPANIELS;
AND THE CHOICE OF
GUNS FOR GAME AND WILD FOWL.
With a description of
THE FOREST OF BLAIR,
In Perthshire, belonging to his Grace the Duke of
Athol ; and the manner of killing the Deer.
ALSO,
A SHORT TREATISE ON COURSING,
AND THE
TRAINING OF GREYHOUNDS.
BY ALEXANDER MACKINTOSH,
OF GREAT-DRIFFIELD, i^ORKSHIHE.
GAINSBOROUGH :
tUlNTED FOR THE AUTHOR, AND. SOLD BY H. MOZLEY, MARKET^
fLACE: SOLD ALSO BY LONGMAN, HURST, AND CO, AND
LACKINGTONy ALLEN, AND COt LONDON.
( t'f
V
TO *
HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF ATHOL,
&c. &c. &c. &c.
My Lord Duke,
With the utmost humility I
presume to dedicate to your Grace the fol-
lowing sheets.
Your Grace's well known liberality, and ,
the protection you afford to the fair sports-
man, will plead in my behalf for the liberty
I have taken.
That you may long continue to enjoy
those amusements, which you so happily
blend with pursuits far more important, for
the good of your country, and the benefit of
mankind, is the sincere wish of,
My Lord Duke,
your Grace's most
devoted and most
obedient servant,
ALEXANDER MACKINTOSH,
A 2
065
ADVERTISEMENT.
A.LTHOUGH I have given this work the
title of the Driffield Angler, the rules it con-
tains will equally apply to other northern
rivers ; and I apprehend, with little varia-
tion, to every part of Great- Britain ; but as
my own practice has been confined to the
North, and particularly to Driffield, where I
have resided thirty years, I imagined it
could not be rendered less acceptable to tlie
reader for being compiled near the banks of
one of the finest trout streams in the king-
dom : I do not deny that I have sometimes
quoted from other writers in the descriptive
parts of this work; but the instructions, and
particularly those for making artificial flies,
are my own ; and will, I hope and trust, be
found of considerable use.
A 3
OBE TO MEAJLTM.
^'^^i^^^'S^I^
O Tttou ! the sportsman's guide and frieHd,
Hygeia, to our plains descend;
Inspire the theme, attune the voice,
'Midst nature's blessings to rejoice :
Without thee pleasure turns to pain.
And the lark's matin song is vain.
Soon as the frozen earth unbinds
Her loosened glebe, when southern winds
On rippling streams begin to play,
Conduct us forth at early day ;
Whilst on fair Flora's front are set,
The primrose and the violet :
Each morn together let us trace
To unlock'd springs the Naiad race ;
See their rich urns the task apply
Our fruitful rivers to supply ;
Thence roving the gay banks along,
(Whilst musing on the silver song)
View the bright salmon swiftly glide,
Thii trout in all his speckled pride.
The red finn'd perch of num'rous breed,
And the bold tyrant pike succeed i
vni
Still mindful with our line and hook,
To tempt the monarch of the brook.
Thee, goddess, every month reveres.
As Phoebus down the zodiac steers,
But chiefly May, if blithe she comes
Beneath thy smiles, and spreads her blooms
O'er hill and dale, and grove and field,
Which then their richest verdure yield ^
Whilst odoriferous sweets dispense
Their choicest fragrance to the sense :
But O 1 conduct her by the hand.
Nor lingering let the virgin stand ;
Haste, haste, and'bid her quick display
Her bosom to the genial ray ;
The zephyr's balmy breath inhale,
And loose her tresses to the gale :
Then borne on joy's ecstatic wings
The mounting lark thro' ether sings ;
Then stream and forest, plain and grove.
Rejoicing in the month of love.
Shall nature's gifts profusely bear.
The promise of the ripening year.
Thus bland and cheerful, led by you,
Let us our varied toils pursue :
Protect us summer's heats along.
And ere rich autumn claims the song,
(Waving on high his crops of gold)
The furze clad heath to us unfold.
IX
The moorland and the mountain's side,
Where numerous packs of grouse abide.
Soon as the harviest rites are paid,
And safely stor'd its grain convey'd,
Our true bred pointers to the mead,
Or thick set stubble must succeed ;
Where (many coveys brooding round)
Eager they snuflf the tainted ground ;
And catch the gales that may convey
Unto their scent the destined prey.
With spaniels let us next repair.
And make the woodland haunts our care,
Whilst pheasants mount on whirring wings,
And from his copse the woodcock springs.
Now the wide forest's lengthened shade.
Blithe goddess, let our steps pervade,
And thence the Grampian hills survey,
Renown'd in many an ancient lay ;
Whilst feudal chiefs for empire sought,
And for the deers' dominion fought ;
When seldom faiPd the bugle horn
To rouse with valorous deeds the morn :
In happier days where peace resorts
And Athol courts thee to his sports.
Then to the uplands guide us on,
Or outstretched wolds where glory won,
In many a noble course his speed
Snow-Ball + resigns unto his breed;
Hung round with trophies of his praise^
The prizes of his youthful days ;
His palms secure now yields the plain,
But dreams his conquests o'er again ;
And still in sleqp (beyond compare)
Outstrips the field and turns the hare.
Thus joys on joys pursue their lead
Till winter comes, whose hoary head,
And beard, whence icicles depend,
At once bid rural pleasures end:
The honest sportsman will forego
To track the hare thro' depths of snow ;
Or cause the feather'd race to bleed,
Tho' at his very barns they feed ;
But lifting up his grateful voice
To him who bids all hearts rejoice,
Thanks heaven that thro' the circling year
Thy treasures give his heart to cheer ;
To sooth him 'midst the winter's gloom,
And bid the spring his sports resume.
t One of the beft and fleeteft greyhounds that ever run,
belonging to Edward Topham, Efquire, of the Wold-cot-
tage, in the Eaft Ridiug of York/hire, and his breed all
moil excellent*
THE CONTENTS.
PAGE
OF fish ^.... 1
In making fish-ponds - , 99
Instructions and observations on angling 110
Rules for making flies. « 119
Description of the artificial flies proper to
angle with in any trout stream in the king.
dom -. » 145
Instructions for fly-fishing , 172
Rules for fishing, and other observations. -«. 181
Laws as to angling, &c. . 195
Of shooting, coursing, &c. .. 207
Instructions for the choice of gunpowder,
shot, wadding, &c 216
Instructions for shooting well ... 227
A few general instructions to the young
sportsman, for his conduct in the pursuit
of game 234
Instructions for training pointers . 238
Of game 251
How to train a water-dog, and the use thereof 289
Of the forest of Blair 295
Of the deer 300
Of coursing with greyhounds - 320
Dogs' diseases remedied, and their hurts heal-
ed, &c. &c 332
On the election of dogs and bitches for good
whelps 342
How to take badgers, f02.es, &c. by train. «« 344
J i^J^ii^ t
THE
JDRIFFIEI^D ANGLER.
PART I.
OF FISH,
CHAPTER I.
THE SALMON.
jL HE Salmon is justly stiled the king of
fresh water fish, and has different names ac-
cording to its different ages ; those that are
taken in the rivers Tay and Spay in Scotland^
and the Mersey in Cheshire, tlie first year are
called Smelts ; which Smelts, or Fry, leave
these rivers towards the end of May, and are,
then about three ounces each, and retun> in
August and September, when they are three
or four pounds weight. In the second year
B
8 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.,
they are called Sprods, in the third Morts, in
the fourth Fork-Tails, in the fifth half Fish,
and in the sixth year, when they have attained
their growtlij are thought worthy of the name
of Salmon: their greatest magnitude is
much the same in all parts of Europe, the
largest weighing from tliirty to sixty pounds.
I caught one when angling with the fly at
Castle-Menzies in the year 1 765^ that weigh-
ed fifty-four pounds and a half.
The Salmon is a beautiful fish, and has
50 many excellent qualities that it is every
where in the highest esteem : it has a longish
body covered with small thin scales, a small
head, a sharp snout, and a forked tail, the
colour on the back is bluish, on other parts
white generally intermixed with blackish or
reddish spots in a very agreeable manner : the
male is distinguished from the female by a
longer and hooked nose, his scales are not so
bright, and his body is speckled over with
dark brown spots ; his belly is flatter, his flesh
more dry and not so red ; the excrescence
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 3
which grows out of his lower jaw, is a ho-
ney or gristly substance Uke a hawk's beak,
and is a defence provided by nature against
such enemies as would devour the spawn,
(which most fish search after with eagerness)
it grows to the length of about two inches,
and falls off when he returns to the sea. The
teeth of this fish are but small in proportion
to the body ; its gills are quadruple, with a
broad cover full of red spots the same as the
sides, and dusky towards the back ; the flesh
is red if in season, and is sweet, tender, flaky^
and luscious, and of excellent flavour. Those
who pretend to the best judgment insist, that
the Salmon cannot be too soon brought on the
table after it is caught, and whilst the flakes
are curdled with fat; whilst others contend it
ought to be kept a few days before it is dress-
ed. About the time of spawning its taste is
more insipid, and it loses its lively colour,
insomuch that, when quite out of season, the
fish appears almost of a different species, and
are then called Kippers. The Scaggers, or
young Fry, called in some countries Salmon-
B 2
4 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLEK;
Smelts, leave those rivers as before mention-
ed, and all other rivers in May and June.
Sahnon choose the rivers for their abode
about seven months in the year ; they gene-
rally begin to enter the fresh water in Janu-
ary, and sometimes even in December, and
abound in February and March ; where they
continue till the autumnal season, at which
time they cast their spawn, and soon after re-
turn to the sea. But directly the contrary is
reported of the river Ex in Devonshire, and
the Wye and Uske in Monmouthshire, where
it is said they are in season during the other
six months ; and what is more remarkable,
(if true) they never frequent the Wye and
Uske in the same year ; for when the fish are
found in one of those rivers they are wanted
in the other, which is probably the case in
other parts of the kingdom ; however this may
be, it is certain that the salt water wonderfully
promotes their growth, and the fresh chiefly
contributes to make them fat.
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 5
At spawning time the female seeks a pro-
per place in a gravelly bottom, where she is^
observed to work with her whole body till she
has formed a bed of the same dimensions
of herself, into which she discharges her
spawn and retires ; then the male, or milter,
advances and covers the spawn with his belly,
emitting at the same time a whitish fluid like
milk : this is no sooner done but the female
returns to the male, when they use their joint
endeavours to cover their brood with the gra-
vel, in which they work with their noses. —
They then return to the deeps to recover their
strength, which they do in about a month.
At this time the fish are of small value, but
to prevent their being destroyed, the law in-
flicts a penalt}^ on those that kill Salmon be-
tween the nth of August and the 23rd of
November.
There is nothing relating to this fish which
has been more talked of, than its agility in leap-
ing over any obstacle which opposes its pas-
sage either to or from the sea. They are fre*
B 5
0 THK DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
quently seen to throw themselves up cataracts
and precipices from ten to fifteen feet high;
making at times several essays before they can
gain their point, and when they have so done,
it is often to their own destruction, by leaping
into baskets and nets placed on purpose to
catch them.
There is a remarkable cataract in the river
Gaerey, in the pass of Gillicrankey, in Athol,
Perthshire, and one much of the same kind
on the river. Tumble, within five miles of the
former : there is another at Old Aberdeen in
Scotland, and another at Keith, near Blair-
Drummond, where sueh quantities of Salmon
have been caught that they constitute the
chief traffic of the place. I have heard of a
cataract on the river Tivy, in Pembrokeshire,
so high, that people stand wondering at the
strength and sleight used by the fish to get out
of the sea into the river. On the river Wear
near Durham is another, but not so high as
any of the former. When their passage to
the sea is intercepted by weirs, or any other
THE DRIFPIEXD ANGLER. 7
contrivance, they soon grow sickly, lean and
languid, and in the second year pine away
and die.
It is worth observation, that the Salmon is
not only desirous of returning back to tlie ri-
vers, but that very river where it was spawn-
ed ; as is evident from experiments made by
fishermen on the river Tay, who have caught
them when very small, and have run a small
brass wire through the tail fm, by which mark
they have been certain that they have taken the
same fish at the same place as they returned
from the sea ; by this means they have like-
wise discovered that the Salmon is of very
quick growth; and much more so than any
other fish.
The chief rivers in England that yield this
excellent fish, are the Thames, Severn, Mer-
sey, Trent, Medway, Dee, Ex, Uske, Wye,
Don, Tyne, W orkington, and Tweed ; how-
ever the London markets are supplied soonest
from the North, where they are not only
k
8 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
more plentiful, but earlier in season than
those in the southern rivers.
Thus having given a general account of the
nature of this noble fish, I shall now proceed
to the method of taking him with the angle,
and referring the reader for the description
of his rod and the manner of making artifici-
al flies ; (see instructions and observations
under that head) I shall only remark in this
place, that every part of his apparatus must
be proportionably larger than for Trout;
the rod at least eighteen feet long, with a
reel or winch capable of containing from one
hundred to one hundred and fifty yards of
line ; for a large fish, when first struck, will
sometimes run out an immense length with
ihcredible swiftness, and however you may
depend on the goodness of your tackle, if
you be not also prepared with your heels to
follow and keep him in proper play, he will
very often break your line.
And here let me remark that •the Salmon
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 9
does not lie long in a place, but seems desi-
rous of getting still nearer the head of the
spring; he does not lie near the bank side,
nor under the roots of trees, but swims in the
deep and broad parts of the water, generally
in the middle, and near the ground. But the
Salmon-Smelts commonly lie in shallow and
rapid parts of the stream, and always near
the middle.
The most alluring bait for the Salmon in
almost all the rivers in Scotland, is four or
five raw Cockles, or Muscles, fresh taken out
of the shell; with this they fish at bottom,
using a small running bullet, when the tide
flows into the fresh water : this method is
practised with success — let the Cockle fall in-
to a shallow from which there is a gradual
descent into a deep hole, you will generally
be sure of sport : other usual baits are lob-
worms, small Dace, Gudgeons, Minnows,
or two well scoured dew-worms; which
should be often varied, in order to suit the
humour of this fickle fish, for what he likes
10 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER*
one day he will despise the next, which it must
be owned is a very mortifying circumstance
to an angler. But what often exercises his
patience is to see the fish sporting on the sur-
face of the water and not be able to tempt
him with any of his baits : however he gene-
rally bites best from six o'clock in the morn-
ing till nine, and from three to eight in the
evening through the months of May, June,
July, and August, especially if the water hap-
pens to be clear, and is stirred by a good
breeze of wind ; and there will be still greater
likelihood of success if the wind and stream
set contrary ways.
I shall here notice one particular fly which
they are remarkably fond of, called the horse-
leech fly, which although a native of the lat-
ter months they will take the resemblance of
it early in the spring ; they are of various
colours, have great heads, large bodies, very
long tails, and two pair of wings placed be-
hind each other : in preparing the artificial
ones, however, you may vary the colours ;
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 11
whip the body about with gold or silver twist,
and do the same by the head, remembering
the hook must be very strong and large ;
with this fly, fish at length as for Trout, &c.
See a more mmute description of this fly in
the twelfth chapter.
But although this method of angling be far
more agreeable than any other, yet as the fish
are not often in the humour to rise at a fly,
I would advise you to be always provided
with some well scoured lob-w orms, as I have
found this bait very successful in fishing at
the bottom : for this purpose let your hook
be large, and tied upon small gimp, or three
strands of silk-worm gut twisted together ;
for though a Salmon when struck, seldom or
never attempts to bite the line, yet as you
will be obliged to play with him some time, it
must rake against his teeth, for without this
precaution you will be in great danger of
losing your prize.
Whenever you see a Salmon leap out of
-the water, you may conclude there is a deep
12 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
hole, or large stones, not far off; and if the
river be too broad for you to throw a fly, or
the wind hinders you, then lay your ledger-
bait as near the hole as you can, as he always
chooses such places for his retirement; if you
bait with a Minnow, Dace, Gudgeon, &c.
and cannot reach with trolling, put on your
baits alive, by hanging the hook through the
iipper jaw, or back fin, and with a large cork-
float, let them swim down about mid-water
into the deep.
For the Salmon-fry, or Scagger, the pro-
perest baits are ant-flies, brandlings, red
worms, gentles, black and dew gnats, all-
coloured small hackles, and dubbed flies,
according to the season : when they rise at
the fly, and a little before they leave the ri-
ver, they usually get in large shoals, where
you will see twenty or thirty rise at a time :
if you meet with a shoal, you may use three
hooks on one line, tied to single hairs, or very
fine gut, and as they rise very freely, you
will be sure of excellent diversion*
THE DRIFFIELD. ANGLER. 13
The chief Sahnon- fisheries are along the
coasts of England, Scotland, and Ireland, — ■
The fishing begins about the first of January,
and ends the eleventh of August ; it is per-
formed with nets, in places where the rivers
empty themselves into the sea, and along the
sea-coast thereabouts, because these fish are
seen to crowd thither from all parts in search
of fresh water : they also fish for them high-
er up in the rivers, sometimes wdth nets,
and sometimes with locks, or weirs, made
for that purpose with gates, w^hich are so
contrived, that the fish in passing up the ri-
ver can open them with their heads, but they
are no sooner entered than the gate claps to
and prevents their return ; thus the Salmon
are inclosed as in a reservoir, from whence it
is easy to take them with a click-hook.
In some rivers in Scotland they fish for
Salmon in the night-time, by the light of tor-
ches or kindled straw, which the fish mistak-
ing for day-light, make towards and are
struck with the spear, or click-hook : it is
C
14 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
also very common to dart Salmon as they
are endeavouring to get over tlie weirs.
When the fish are caught, they open them,
take out the guts and gills, and salt them
in large tubs made for that purpose ; out of
which they are taken before October, when
they are packed up in cases from four hun-^
dred and fifty to five hundred pounds weight,
and sent to the London market.
Salmon spawn is a very good bait for
Trout. The common way of using it is to>
take the spaw^n and boil it so hard as to stick
on tlie hook, though many people use it
without boiling ; others put a great quantity
of salt to their spawn, and hang it in a li-
nen bag, in the kitchen, far from the fire,
and they steep it the night before it is used,
in rum, brandy, or geneva, which will give
it a lovely colour ; it is the best ground bait
I know for Trout, Chub, &c. early in the
springs especially if used near those [)kces
where Salmon are accustomed to spawn,
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 1$
for thither the fish will come ia expectation
of it.
Another method of preparing, and pre-
serving the roe (and the best of any) is, aftei^
boiling it, to take a glazed earthen pot, and
sprinkling a little salt over the roe> put a
layer of very fine wool at the bottom of the
pot, as thin as possible, and then a layer of
the roe, and so on till the pot is filled : it is
an excellent bait, and by these means will be
preserved both for winter and spring fishing*
The night before you use it, steep it in rum,
brandy, &c.
Would fortune give, to close my earthly race
By Tay's or Tumble's banks, a dwelling-plat^,
Where I might stray beside the river's brink.
And throw my line for Salmon, Trout, or
Pink }
Such luxury I prize, such blest estate,
Nor count the real, or the seeming great.
C 2
l6 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
There let me range, where towVing to the
skies,
High mountains o'er the plains are seen to
rise ;
The rivers clearing each opposing mound
That bars their passage, thro' the level ground,
To reach the distant main, whereon to look
Affords this lesson drawn from Reason's book :
''^ As constant flowing streams thy waves sup-
ply,
'' So rolls all nature thro' eternity ;
'* From thee they draw their source, thy tem-
pests rise,
** And fill the lofty sluices of the skies ;
'MVhence powerful rains, or gentle dews
descend,
** Which still towards their native centre
tend."
Thus would I pass in peaceful sport my
days,
Attentive to my great Creator's praise ;
That life he gave, with cheerfulness resign.
And hope at length in heavenly bliss to join.
THE DRJFFIELD ANGLER. 1/
CHAPTER IIv
THE TROUT.
jFjFJE Tr<M4^ may be deemed the monarch-
of the beek^, or rivulets, and small breoks,
as the Salmoii^ fe' of the larger rivers. This
feh i^ of a longish make, and resembles a
Salmon more than any other of its species :
the head is short and roundish, the nose
W««% the body thick,, and the tail broad ;
^e mouth is wide, and it haa teeth not only
iu^itiie jaws, but in the palate and tongue.
'Front' generally take delight in the cooler'
and' smaller rivers, which descend from hills,
and rocky mountains, and they seem to take
a' pleasure in striving against the stream ;
it'is^ really wonderful to see with what force
and agility they will surmount all difficulties
in travelling towards the source of rivers> tet
C 3
18 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
the ascent be ever so rapid : and several au-
thors tell us, that they are found among the
Alps, in waters so very cold, that no other
fish can live therein.
Their time of spawning is in the latter end
of October, November, and part of Decem-
ber, when they dig holes in gravelly or stony
places, in the same manner as the Salmon,
and deposit their spawn therein ; but they
are not in season when full of spawn, for
they are fattest, and have the most delicious
taste in June, July, and August; however,
they begin to be in season in April, and are
sooner so in some rivers than others ; the
reason is hard to guess, for there are variety
of small fish in every river frequented by the
Trout. In the winter-time they are sickly,
lean, and unwholesome, breeding a kind of
w^onn, with a large head, w hich is not unlike
a clove in shape ; they then appear to have
heads of a larger size than ordinary, their
beautiful spots disappear, and the lively co-
lour of the belly becomes of a dusky and dis-
agreeable hue ; but towards the latter end of
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. IQ
March, when the sun, with genial warmth,
begins to invigorate the earth, they then
make a show of some spirit; and, rousing as
it were from a sort of lethargy, forsake the
deep still waters for the more rapid streams,
where they rub off their foes against the
gravelly bottom, and soon after recover their
former strength and vigour. The flesh is a
little drier, and not so luscious as that of a
Salmon ; however it is esteemed the most
agreeable of all fish that make their constant
abode in fresh water.
There are several kinds of Trout, but the
most valuable are those of a red or yellow
colour ; and of these, the female is prefer-
able, she is known by a lesser head, and a
deeper body than that of the male.
This fish, as before observed, delights in
the swiftest streams ; in spring at the tail, in
May they keep the upper end, and through
the summer they love to frequent shallows,
or the aprons, or tails of mills; they are
k
particularly fond, of a hole covered witlf
boughSj and where the roots shoot down to
the waters edge, if they can find a good
hotd ; in such places you may find the largest
Trout. VFhen they watch for their prey,,
tteey generally shelter themselves under
a bank, or a large stone, or in weeds^,
where they are often seen lurking, entirely
covered except their heads; when they are
cfiscovered in this situation, go a little up the
sti^eam, and with great care and caution
muddy the water, putting in your bait im»
mediately to the troubled place, then keeping
yourself as far from the bank as you can, to
be out of sight, follow your float and expect
success ; but I thinii it much better to angle
without a float.
The usual baits for Trout, are minnows,
flies, (either natural or artificial) worms,
grubs, gentles, cadisses, &c. The proper
worms are, the brandling, lob-worm, dung-
worm, &c. but especially the two first ; yet,
indeed, for bottom^-fishino:, the lob-worm
TH£ DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 21
is preferable, and more generally used. Sal-
mon*-spawn is also an excellent bait in the
spring, as I noticed before.
There are two methods of fishing with the
minnow for Trout, one of w^hich is called
the spinning-minnow; the simplest way of
putting this on, is with a large plain hook,
No. 6, (Salmon-hook) pretty long in the
shank ; draw your hook first through the
mouth of the minnow and out at the gill,
then turning it again through the mouth,
bring the point of the hook all the w^ay down
the side, rather nearest the belly, and quite
to the fork, drawing out the point at the tail,
and leaving it somewhat on a 'curve, which
will make it spin the better ; for this purpose
use the strongest gut you can procure, of
which you should have, at least, a yard a-
bove your hook ; two swivels will also assist
the minnow in spinning, though one may
do ; and I would recommend about an inch
and an half of strong silk, whipped at the
bottom of the gut, to fasten your hook on,
22 THE DKIFFIELD ANGLER.
which will make it turn round much easier
in the minnow's mouth, the strong gut be-
ing too stiff for that purpose: you must
have a shot or two, of a large size, on your
gut Une, to prevent the bait from drawing
too high, but this will only answer in sharp
streams, of a ruffling wind.
The other may be properly called fishing
with the trolling minnow, and is by far the
most killing way, at least I have found it so
in all the rivers and streams within my know-
ledge, though I am told the spinning-min-
now is chiefly used in the south of England.
I shall now describe the trolling method.
Take three hooks, (No. 5 or 6) and a
good, round, and even silk-worm gut, with
half a yard of small silk, well waxed, wrap^
one of the hooks neatly, the same as for a
worm, then lay the other two hooks back to
back, and place tlie hook you have wrapped
with its back to the otliers; wrap all three
together, tight and neatly up to the top, mak-
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLERs, 25
ing twa or three nooses, covering the top
G-f the hooks with your silk and \vax, make a
toop on the length of gut, witliout a knot,
wrapping it neatly and as fast as yoti eaa :
you must also have a small lead made in the
shape of an egg, with a hole through it, it
must be no larger than the minnow's mouth
will contain ; when you bait, take a middle-
sized minnow, put the loop of the gut through
the eye of a large darning needle, then put
the needle in at the vent, and as even asyoui^
can out of the mouth of the minnow ; after-
wards run your lead down the link of gut;,
putting it neatly into the minnow's mouth ;
thread your needle again, put it through the
under and upper lip, and draw the gut up
tight, the lead will be sewed up, and not to
be seen ; have a large loop at the end of
your swivel-line^ which should be two yards
long, that will admit of the minnow going
tlirough every time you bait ; or you. may
have a fine spring swivel to hang it on, the
same as for Pike, which will be the least
trouble. When you fish, this way, thraw \his
S4 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
minnow across the stream, or rather up-
ward, let it sink to mid-water, or a little
more, before you begin to draw it across ; do
not draw too quick till it comes near the side,
then turn the rod against the stream and
draw smartly, by which means the bait will
spin like lightning, and cannot be discovered
from a live minnow.
When you fish with worms, let your hook
be large, (No. 3 or 4) with about a yard of
gut below your reel-line, and put two worms
on in the following manner ; the first on the
hook with the head foremost, and then slip-
ping it a little up the line to make room, put
the other on with the tail foremost, after
which, draw the first down to it so close that
they may seem to be knotting, or engender-
ing, for they often perform this naturally on
the banks of rivers, and sometimes fall into
the water, where they become a prey to hun-
gry fish : the tails of mill-pools, and deep
holes, are the best for this kind of diversion,
and after rain, when the water is discoloured,
THE DRIFFIELD AXGLER. 25
you may fish all down the sides of the banks,
taking care to keep your worms a little off
the ground that they may glide down the
easier, and by this method you wall catch fish
when they are not to be obtained by any
other means : put two or three shot upon
your line to make it sink properly ; and in
places where you suspect there may lie any
large Pike, I w^ould advise you to use a large
hook tied upon small white gimp, that he
cannot bite off, and which he would infallibly
do with the gut. The lob-w^orm is also an
excellent bait early in the morning, at twi-
light, in the dusk of the evening, or even in
the night when it is dark ; in this case, you
must have no lead on your line, but throw
your bait as gently as you can across the
stream, and draw it softly to you on the top
of the water ; this is the E^st method to catch
the oldest and largest Trouts, for they are
very fearful and shy in the day-time, but in
the night they are bold and undaunted, and
generally lie near the top of the water in exr
pectation of meeting with food ; for if they
D
26 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLETl.
see any thing in motion, let it be what it
will, they certainly follow if it moves gently
along. But this kind of sport is only to
be had in very warm nights, and chiefly ia
deep smooth waters. Remember always to
put two large lob-worms on your hook, in
the manner before described.
At water-clearing, (as mentioned before)
after a flood, or in dark, cloudy, and gloomy
weather, when it is windy, are the most fa-
vourable times for worm fishing, in the
months of March and April, and the latter
end of August, September, and October ; but
in hot months, the warmest sun-shine, and
the*middle of the day, is the best.
N. B. Fly-fishing I shall treat of more at
large in a future chapter.
I have angled in many parts of Scotland,
and the north of England, but of all the places
on this side of Great-Britain, most delight-
ful for this charming recreation, I must prefer
the river at Driffield. It is fed by several
THE DRlFfelULD ANGLER. 27
small rivulets, or becks, rising at Ivirkburn,
Emswell, and Little-Driffield, which falling
into one large stream just below the town of
Great-Driffield, is called the west beck ; and
about three miles below, at. Wansford, it is
jpined by a small stream from NafFerton ;
and two miles lower still, at Emmorland-
Stakes, by that of Lowthorpe, from which,
place it takes the name of the river Hull.
The lords of the different manors are, on
the north-east side, Richard Langley, Esquire,
Wykeham-Abbey, and Sir Mark Sykes, Ba-
ronet, Sledmere ; on the south-west side,.
Richard Arkwright, Esquire, Croomford^
Derbyshire, and Sir Charles Hotham, Ba^-
ronet. Souths Dal ton ; to whom it ia neces-
sary to make application for the liberty o£
angling,, whiclifor gentlemen, and. fair aports-
meiij will not be very difficult to obtain ; and
iaid^ed nothing, caxi more contribute tO' pre-
vent the depredations of poachers, than a
aumber of peraoas, in the fishing season, mov-
ing about ill various directions near every
D2
28 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
part of the stream, by some of whom they
must be detected in their hides and lurking-
places. All the rivers or becks abound with
Trout of the finest flavour, and largest size ;
and it is reckoned unfair to kill a fish under the
weight of a pound, many being caught from
two to six pounds, and sometimes even of
nine or ten pounds weight. The streams roll
through the finest meadows, and there are
no trees or bushes to intercept the sports-
man's diversion ; but the country round, par-
ticularly near Driffield, is beautifully diversi-
fied with picturesque views of hills, dales,
and woodlands, and all the walks about the
town are remarkably pleasant ; besides there
is a navigation-cut, beginning at Driffield,
which is also well filled with Trout ; and, a
mile or two below Wansford, w^ith numbers
of large Pike and Perch, affording in their
turns much amusement : there are also great
numbers of Eels, Roach, Gudgeons, &c. and
in all the streams innumerable shoals of
minnows that feed and fatten the Trout. In
the church at Little-Driffield, about a mile
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 29
distant, lie the remains of Alfred, one of the
kings of Northumberland during the Saxon
Heptarchy. Great-Driffield is besides ad-
mirably situated for hunting, hawking, cours-
ing, and other field sports^ from the very
extensive wolds lying behind the town.
There are several good inns at Great-
Driffield, and also a. large room built by
the gentlemen of the hunt for their own use,
left in the care of the master of the Red-Lion;
their meetings for the season begin in Octo-
ber, and end in February, lasting a week
each time; there arc several packs of
hounds in the neighbourhood. — N. B. There
is likewise an inn erected by the late Sir
Christopher Sykes, Baronet, at the town of
of VV^ansford, the sign of the Trout, a plea-
sant situation, where gentlemen-anglers may
be accommodated with good beds, and o"6od
stabling;, &c. &c. &c.
DS
30 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
CHAPTER III.
GRAYLING, or UMBER.
il HE Grayling is in proportion neither so
broad nor so thick as a Trout, and in size sel-
dom exceeds from fifteen to eighteen inches :
I have taken them from half a pound to two
pounds, in several parts of Yorkshire. They
delight in rivers that glide through mountain-
ous places, and are to be met with in the
clearest and swiftest of those streams : this
fish may be eaten all the year, but its princi-
pal season is November and December, at
which time its gills, and the list that runs
down its back, are all black. The time of
its spawning is in May : it is accounted by
some the most delicious of all river fish ; the
flesh is white and firm, in flakes like a Sal-
mon, and is esteemed very wholesome : it is
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 31
a brisk sprightly fish when in the water, and
remarkably swift^ but when he feels the hook
he is dead-hearted, and yields rather too
soon to afford the angler much diversion :
he feeds upon flies, grasshoppers, worms,
and such like insects ; therefore these sort
of baits must always be used for him ; but a
well-scoured red worm is preferable to any
other bait, if used about two inches from
the bottom.
The same rules that have been laid down for
taking the Trout, will also serve for the Gray-
ling, only let your tackle be somewhat finer :
some anglers when they make use of a fly,
fasten their hooks to two or three hairs
twisted, but the smallest and finest silk-
worm gut is far preferable.
The Grayling has so quick an eye, that he
has been known to take the bait four inches
or more out of the water, when the sports-
man has been angling for him standing on a
bank or bridge. You may observe also that
S2 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
he is a rnuGh simpler fish than a Trout, for
if you miss him ten times, he will still conti-
nu€ to- rise at your fly, and this being Im
peculiar property, that hie is- more apt to*
rise than descend, your bait should never
drag on the ground, but be three or four
inches from the bottom, and for the same
reason it will be more proper to use a float
than a running line ; but should, you use the
latter, the best ground-baits are brandlings,
gilt-tails, tag-tails, meadow-worms well
scoured, cod- bait, bark-worm, and flag-
worm ; and at the top he may be taken with
either natural or artificial flieSj or with the
earth-bob, or clap-bait.
The bull-trout, SALMON-TROUT,
SALxMON-PEAL, ok SCURF.
These are all different; names for the same
fish) in some places it grows to the length of
twenty-four inches, in others it seldom ex-
ceeds sixteen or eighteen. 1 have caught
them weighing from ten to fourteen pounds.
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 3$
This fish differs in shape from a Sahnon in
not having a forked tail ; its head is shorter,
and its body adorned with a variety of spots,
the flesh is not so red, and the taste more
strong and rank.
About the beginning of May they enter
the rivers ; where they delight in deep holes,
and commonly shelter themselves under the
roots of trees, generally choosing that side
next the stream, the more readily to catch
their food. They will rise keen at the ar-
tificial fly, like a Salmon ; but the best baits
for them are well-scoured brandlings, espe-
cially those that breed in a farmer's yard. —
You may angle for them any time in the
morning, and in the afternoon from four till
night; they are in season all the summer:
when you try to catch them, remember you
keep out of sight, let your line fall into the
stream, without any lead, except one single
shot, and then it will be carried gradually
into the hole. When you have a bite, you
34 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
ought not to strike too eagerly ; they feed
freely enough and struggle hard for their
lives.
THE SAMLET, FINGERING-PARR,
OR PINK-TROUT,
Never exceeds three or four inches in
length, and has teeth in the jaws, palate, and
tongue ; the body is covered with small scales
like a Trout, the back full of black spots,
and on the sides are five or six impressions
of such a form, as though they had beea
made with fingers across the fish, hence some
give them the title of Fingerings ; in every
one of these pits thei'e i& generally a red
spot ; their bellies are white,, and their tails
forked like a Salinaa;, their spawning, time
is about the beginoiiig of November, at
which time also Salmon spawning is at the
height; and they are found only in places
where these report, and whether they waiir
der into the sea or not, remains a doubt ;.
I have taken them in the Tweed, the Tay,
TflE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 35
the Spray, and all other rivers where Salmon
frequent. They delight in the most swift
and rapid streams, where no other fish is
able to abide.
You may angle for them at any time of
the year ; early in the spring they bite in
sharp streams, where there is plenty of gra-
vel, or wood, and very near the sides of
rivers: the best baits are brandlings, gilt-
tails, earth-bobs, and gentles ; and from
the middle of March to the middle of Octo-
ber, for your flies use the following, viz. the
black, dun, brown, grey, and green or yellow
gnat. After a hot day in summer, they al-
ways make to very shallow places in the even-
ing, or the sides of large sand banks, where,
with as small a fly as can be made, and
pointed with a very small gentle, you may
have excellent sport ; use about two yards of
the best single hair at the bottom of your
line, and if you fish at ground give him time
and you will be sure to take him. When
you dress these fish, take the guts out at the
36 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
gills without opening them : they have a very
good flavour, and are always in season. —
They are excellent baits for Salmon and large
Trout, the same as minnow.
THE GUINIAD.
This fish is only found in a large water
called Pemble-Meer, near Chester ; but what
is most remarkable appears to be this, that
the river which runs by Chester, hath its head
or fountain in Merionethshire, and, in its
course, runs through this Pemble-Meer,
which abounds as much with Guiniads as
the river Dee does with Salmon ; and yet it
was never known that any Salmon were
caught in the Meer, or Guiniads taken in the
river. I should imagine the same means
must answer in angling for this fish, as for
others of the truttaceous kind : but it is so
little known, even by report, that I can only
hazard the conjecture ; it is however said to
be good food, of rather an insipid taste.
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 37
THE CHAR,
In this kingdom, is chiefly found in Win^-
dermere lake, in Westmoreland, which is
from eleven to twelve miles in length ; and
it is said, perfectly smooth at the bottom.
The Char is spotted like the Trout, and its
length seldom exceeds from fifteen to sixteen
inches. They are reckoned very delicate
food, and have scarce a bone except on the
back ; they swim together in shoals, and
tliough they appear on the surface of the
water in the summer, they will not suffer
themselves to be taken either with the ano;le
or nets. But when they resort to the shallow
part of the lake in order to spawn, about
Michaelmas, they set trammel-nets baited,
and leave them for a whole day and night,
into which the fish enter of their own accord.
I apprehend also, that at this season the Char
are to be caught by the angle, with the same
kind of ground-baits as are before recom-
mended for other fish of this species.
E
38 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
I have now described such fish of the trut-
taceous kind as are known in England ; but
there are others which will give sport to the
angler, both with flies and ground-baits,
which are the Chub or Chevin, the Dace or
Dare, the Roach, and the Bleak ; the ac-
count of which will follow in the next chap-
ter. I might add to these, the Smelt, which
is to be met with in rivers near the sea ; and
the Flounder, which is to be taken with min*
nows, worms, &c. but being generally esteem-
ed inhabitants of the salt water, and univer^
sally known, I shall omit giving a particular
account of them.
CHAPTER IV.
THE CHUB, OR CHEVIN,
Jl HE Chub is of a longer make than the
Carp, and has a larger and flatter head than
a I)ace; the back is of an obscure green, lik^
an unripe olive. It is bred in rivers, and
tHE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 39
delights to abscond in holes, and under the
shade of trees, in a sandy bottom, where
cattle come to dung in the fords ; in hot
weather they generally swim in droves, and
keep to one residence like the Barbie ; in a
Chub-hole I have met with many that have
weighed from six to eight pounds. They
spawn in May, in sandy or gravelly places,,
and in the very midst of the stream : they
are best in season in the spring, when they
are full of spawn.
Of all fish this is the best to enter a young
angler, for it is very easily taken : however
let me prescribe some rules for that purpose.
You must find out some hole where you can
meet with twenty or thirty of them together,
in a hot day, floating almost on the surface
of the water ; then bait your hook with a
grasshopper, but be sure to keep out of his
sight, for he is a very fearful fish, and there-
fore the least shadow will make him sink to
the bottom of the water, but he will rise again
suddenly : having baited your hook, drop it
E 2
40 • THE PRIFFIELD ANGLER*
gently before the Chub which you have se-
lected by your eye to be the fairest and best ;
he will instantly bite greedily, and be held so
fast by means of his leather mouth that he
can seldom break hold ; and therefore you
will do well to give him play enough, and so
tire him, otherwise you may endanger your
line : if you cannot find a grasshopper, bait
your hook with a fly or beetle, cod or case-
worm.
In March or April angle with worms, or,
if 3^ou have it properly prepared, with Sal-
mon-spawn, which is a most excellent killing
bait : in May, June, or July, you may chuse
flies, snails, or cherries; the may-bug, or
flying-beetle, is also an admirable thing in a
hot evening under the boughs ; but note, they
will seldom refuse a grasshopper on the top
of swift streams, or at the bottom, a young
humble-bee.
In August and September, &c. make use of
a paste of cheese pounded with saffron in a
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 41
mortar, adding thereto a little butter. —
Make a paste of Holland cheese and turpen-
tine, for the winter season, at which time the
Chub is in his prime ; for then his forked
bones are either lost or converted into gris-
tle> and is excellent meat baked or stewed,
with rich sauce, in the manner you w^ould
dress a Carp.
There is another method I am told much
practised in the Thames, and other wdde and
deep rivers, with a verj^ strong rod or long
»tafF from a tree, and a line about twice the
length, they whip with a black snail under
liie boughs, the boat moving gently down the
stream ; the snail must be opened, and will
then shew a white inside : in this manner
they catch the lai'gest and strongest Chubs,
THE DACE, OR DARE.
The Dace is not unlike a Chub, but far
less ; his body is whiter and flatter and his
tail more forked, he is not so broad as a
^3
k
42 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
Roach, and is a leather-mouthed fish. He
breeds almost in all rivers, and generally lies
near the top of the water ; he is a very brisk
and lively fish, and swims swiftly, like a dart,
from whence he derives his name. These
fish spawn in February and March, and are
fit to eat by April or May, but their highest
season is in September. They delight in
gravelly or sandy bottoms, and the deepest
parts of rivers, under tlie shade of trees, or
dock leaves : they are a very simple breed,
and will often bite when you least desire it ;
however their darling bait is a gentle at the
bottom, and a small fly at the top ; in the
summer months an ant-fly is best ; they will
likewise take any paste, as well as all sorts
of small worms. Angle for him with a very
slender rod, a line of very fine single gut,
at least for two yards above the hook, which
must be a very small one; one small shot,
a float made of two very small goose
quills, cut within half an inch of the feather,
thrust one of the open ends into the other
and whip it fast with fine waxed silk : when
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 43
you are so provided, get some white bread
and bran, knead them well to the consistency
of paste, and making it up into small balls,
with a pebble in each, throw them into the
water : bait with gentles and you will have
excellent sport.
The Dace will take all sorts of flies if you
point your hook with a gentle. In the spring
he takes an earth-bob very well.
If the water be so high as to rise almost
to the banks, fasten to your line an artificial
fly called the caterpillar-fly, then take a
large yellow gentle, the yellower the better,
run your hook through his skin 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 ex-
pert, you may assure yourself of good sport.
44 THE DUIFFIELD ANGLER.
THE ROACH,
Is a handsome fish it ; has a small head, a
leather mouth, which is small also, and its
teeth are in the throat ; tlie cii'cle of the eye
resembles a gold colour ; it has a hog back,
which is tolerably thick for its size, the scales
are large, the fins in general red, particular-
ly when in season, and the tail is a little fork-
ed. It is a very silly fish, and the flesh of
it but little esteemed, being rather bony,
though exceedingly wholesome, and the roe
is particularly good. The Roach are much
better in some rivers than others, but there
are none good in ponds. They are taken in
the Driffitld river as large as from two to
three pounds weight ; but the best size for
eating is from one pound and a half to two
pounds, and in my opinion are not so de-
spiseable as many affect to think them, per
haps because being so numerous they are
very common.
They delight in deep gentle running water,
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 45
and holes that are well shaded, having a bot-
tom of fine gravel, sand, or a kind of slimy
marL In the summer they often frequent
more shallow water, about the tails of fords,
under banks, or among weeds, particularly
when the water is thick. They spawn in
May, begin to be in season in July, and
continue so till near the same time of spawn-
ing again, but are far the best in winter :
when out of season their scales are very
rough, of a duller colour, and their fins not
so red and beautiful.
The best way to angle for these fish is as
follows : let your rod be long or short, pro-
portioned to the place you fish in, rather
stiff, and such a one as will strike true ; your
line about a foot and a half shorter than the
rod, pretty strong, and taper to the bottom ;
the lower part should be a fine round and
smooth silk-worm gut, of a water colour,
and the hook No. 7 or 8 ; put one shot
No. 3, four inches from the hook, and two
or three more, No. 2, about five or six inches
46 THE DRIFFIELD i^NGLEIi,
higher up, sufficient to sink the float (which
should be a swan's quill) so that you may
just discern the top of it above water.—-
When you fix on a place for sport, plumb
the bottom, and let the bait float not more
than two inches from the bottom, provided it
is level, the run gentle, and the water deep
and clear ; in this manner I have had better
sport in winter than at any other time. —
When the water is coloured with a fresh, and
especially if on the rise, you may take them
best at the depth of a yard, or a yard and a
half.
When you have thus taken the depth lay
aside your rod, and throw in at the top of
your swim three or four balls of ground bait,
about the size of an egg, with a small stone in
each to sink them to the bottom ; this will gra-
dually break and spread about, and entice the
fish to stop there after being drawn together.
The bait is thus prepared : take some coarse
wheat bran, and a little sweet coarse flour,
or bread, sufficient to bind the bran with
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLEU. 4?
scalding water, so as you may make it up in
a large ball, but not so stiff as dough, so that
it may not break in going down, for if it
sticks together too much it will not divide in
the water, if too little it will wash away and
all the fish follow it. Be careful also when
you throw your little balls so that they do
not go too far out, for you should fish over
them ; bait with two or three grains of Sal*
mou'^roe if you have any, which is by far the
best bait; if not, a small round bit of red
paste, (such as mentioned before for the
Chub) or gentles, will supply the want of it.
You must keep a sharp eye on the float,
striking at the least nibble; and when you
hook a fish, if it be large, give him play, for
they are very strong and struggle much,
therefore use the roundest and smallest silk-
worm gut for near two yards of your line
next the hook.
They are also to be taken in warm weather
with cads and natural flies under water, and
with artifici^.! flies at the top. In winter you
48 THE DRIFFIELD ANOLER.
may fish for them with paste or gentles, and
in spring with worms or cod-bait ; but in very
hot weather use small white snails, earth-
bobs, and new cheese.
THE BLEAK,
Is a very small fish, scarcely ever attain-
ing to more than five inches long, his body is
beautifully covered with thin silver scales, he
is of a more slender make than a Dace, and
his head is proportionably less ; he has large
eyes, and the lower part of the iris is spotted
with red, the inside of his mouth is like that
of a Carp, and provided in the same man-
ner : they are to be met with in most inland
rivers of England in great plenty, and reck-
oned to be best in season in autumn, when
they are delicious food. They spawn in
March, and recover their strength in about
a month's time.
The best baits for them in the cold months
are well scoured red worms, or gentles ; and
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 49
in summer I have taken twelve dozen at a
time with the artificial ant-fly; there can be no
better sport than whipping for Bleak off a high
bank in swift water on a summer's evening.
I would recommend for this purpose, to tie
two small black wings on a very little hook,
and instead of a body to the fly, supply it
with a gentle or tw o : this is by far the best
method that can be used.
Having now given an account of such fish
as will promiscuously take the fly and ground-
bait ; I shall, in the next place, proceed with
those that are in general only to be taken by
the latter means, and which are equally the
inhabitants of rivers, lakes, and fish-ponds;
beginning, as the first for dignity and sport,
with the Pike, on whom I shall bestow a
long cliapten
F
so THE DRIFFIELD AKGLEft.
CHAPTER V.
THE PIKK
JL HE Pike is a very long lived fish, and is
supposed to attain a greater age than most
others, which may be deemed a misfortune,
he being so extremely voracious ; and is
properly called, Tyrant of the fresh waters.
Ttie largest.Pike are the coarsest food, the
smaller being ever the best; contrary. to the
nature of Eels, which increase in goodness
in proportion to their bulk and size.
He is a solitary fish, never swimming in
shoals, but resting himself alone : if we may
credit report, a Pike has been known to
fight an Otter for a Carp he had taken and
THE DRIFFIELD AXGLER. 51
was carrying out of the water. Another bit
a woman who had a gold ring upon her fin-
ger, when washing her hands in the river
Gosta^ near Pickering, pulled her into the
water, and nearly drowned her ; from which
circumstance the town of Pickering in York-
shire is said to have derived its name. I
shall add one other instance of its voracity,
which I can depend upon from the person
who informed me of it.
On a large lake belonging to a gentle-
aaaan's domains, in the south of England, a
swan was observed for two or three days
with its head under the water, as if div-
ing for weeds; at length, the servants ob-
serving the bird still in the same posture,
acquainted their master with it, who imme-
diately ordered them to make use of their
drag nets ; which, when pulled on shore,
discovered that the swan had been seized by
a very large Pike in the act of dipping its
head, and both of them dead.
F2
52 . THE DHIFpiELD ANGLER.
In short, this fish from its greediness has
justly obtained the name of the fresh water
Shark ; and frequently for want of other
food, or being the nearest to him, will de-
vour its own kmd ; perhaps kindly intended
by nature, that the breed may not supera-
bound: there will still be enough left utterly
to ruin ail rivers and other places where
they are not kept under, although they breed
but once in a season.
The Pike usually feeds on fish or frogs,
and sometimes it is said on a weed of his
own called pickerel. Some idle and fanci-
ful speculatists suppose that the fish them-
selves are produced from this weed ; those
•who maintain this opinion asserting, that
though none have been put into ponds, yet
they have always been found in abundance
^^vhere there has been plenty of that w^eed.
Were they indeed viviparous, like the Eel,
there would at least be more ostensible pleas
in their favour ; as the young coming forth
alive would some of them be deposited at
^HE DIUFFIELD ANGLlill. 53
randbin, on weeds^ raots, <>r stones ; but so
absurd a doctrine sliould be by this time
sufficiently refuted : in the present enhghten-
ed age, let this vulgar error, among many ^
others, yield to the universal law of nature,
which holds in vegetables as well as animals,
that nothing can be produced but by the
seed of its own sp'e'cies; even the flies in
corrupted flesh ate no otherwise the efffect
of that corruption, than as it serves them for
a proper nest and nourishment ; and doubt-
less, by parity of reason, there will be more
Pike found where there is plenty of their
fevourite weed than in other places, without
the w^eed pontributing in the least to their
original production.
Pikes grow to a vei'y large size ; I hav€
seen one taken out of Mr. Bethefs pond at
Ilisfe, near Beverley, Yorkshire, upwards bf
thirty-eight pounds weight, with a trimmer.
In the year 1 790, John Wilson, Esquire, of
Hull, caught one in the Driffield river that
weighed twenty-eight pounds, and was thirty-
F3
54 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
five inches in length ; it was presented to
Ilichard Langley, Esquire, of Wykeliam-
Abbey, lord of the said manor, and was
judged to be one of the best fish of the kind
ever eat : it was certainly the largest and
finest ever taken at Driffield. I have taken
several in the same river that have weighed
from twelve to eighteen and twenty pounds,
by trolling, and also by the snap ; and even
when trolling for Trout with the minnow,
and gut next the hook, have by chance taken
them from five to ten pounds.
They begin spawning about the middle of
February, if the season be forward, and re-
tire till towards the latter end of March into
creeks or ditches, as is supposed that other
fish may not devour their spawn, and where
there is a sufficient supply of water. . In
ponds they seek the neck or shallow parts
of the water, among weeds, mud, roots,
gravel, &c. where the spawner casts her
eggs, and the milter performs his office. —
About the middle of September you may see
THE DlilFFIELD ANGLER. 55
hundreds of the small fry (if the water be
over the banks by a flood, or stopt by flood-
gates) among short weeds and grass, feeding
on very small yellow frogs, and worms ; at
which time they are from two to two and a
half inches long: next year about the same
time, they will grow from eight to ten and
fifteen inches in length, if the river be clear
in which they are spawned.
When the Pike arrives to twenty-eight or
thirty inches in length he is generally at a
stand, and then thrives niost in thickness :
it is a very uncommon thing to meet with
them full four feet long, though I have seen
one that measured four feet two inches. —
The best fish are those that are bred in
rivers; the females are preferable to the
males; the worst are taken in meers or
ponds. They are in season from the begin-
ning of May till spawning time ; the flesh
is firm, dry, and sweet ; from seven to twelve
pounds are the best fish, and under three
they are watery and insipid.
56 Tin: ©^ii?fx^ld angler.
The Pite is fond of a quiet, shady, *im-
frequented water, and lurks in the midst of
weeds, flags, or bull-rushes; yet he often
-makes fexeursions from thence, and ranges
abotit in search of prey. In winter arid
cold weather, lie hes deep and near the bot-
tom : his best biting times are early in the
m-ornin^ and late in the evenino;, when there
is a brisk wind, and where the water is cledr ;
if they are inclined to the bait, they will take
it after three or foul* trials ; it is therefore
needless to throw it often in the same plax^e.
Towards the summer, as the weather grows
warm, he frequents the shallows ; in a very
hot, clear, sultry day, he may be seen lying
6n the surface of the water, but then you
cannot tempt him with any bait. I have
frequently shot them thus basking themselves
in the sun, which is to be done by aiming
right under them ; for there is a great de-
ception in the water, both by varying the
appearance of the object, and, when fired
into, by causing th6 shot to rise.
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER, 6^7
To angle for Pike.
Let your rod be strong, such as you troll
with for Salmon, with a reel or winch plac-
ed on the but-end of it, sufficient to hold
about forty or fifty yards of strong hair line,
at the end of which must be a swivel to fasten
on your armed wire, or gimp : there are
many w^ays of taking this fish, the first that I
shall describe is called dipping, and is per-
formed as follows :
Let your hook be a large proper-sized
gorge-hook, very slightly leaded on the
shank, bait it by putting the wire or gimp in
at the mouth of a small fisli, such as a Gud-
geon, Roach, Dace, small Trout, Salmon-
fry, &c. and bringing it as near the tail as
possible, for which purpose you should have
a needle seven or eight inches long ; put the
gimp loop on the small curve or eye of the
needle, thrust it into the mouth of the fish
and bring it out as above-mentioned; draw
it out for the hook to be close in one corner
38 THE BRIFFIEILD ANGLETl.
of its mouth, which must be then sewed up, ,
and the tail tied up to the wire, or gimp, very
neatly with a bit of white thread ; cut away
the back fin, and loop on to your swivel.
When you begin to angle, let out your line
to a convenient length, and fish where the
water is not very deep, but overspread with
docks and weeds, except in some parts where
you have room to get in your bait: the fish
hanging with its head downward, will, with
a gentle motion, sport and play among the
weeds very naturally, and the Pike will be
eager of taking it this way, even near the
surface of the water : when he seizes your
bait, slacken your line and let him take it
down and run with it, if he has room ; in a
short time afterwards you will perceive the
line and rod top to shake, which is a good
time to strike, or else give him time to gorge
it, as your judgment may direct: when you
hook one manage him gently, winding up
your line by degrees ; and when you think
it is time to land him, bring him quietly
through the weeds, with his nose above them ;
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER:. 59"^
and if you have not a landing net^ be careful
hpw you- take him out of , the water, for his
bite ia very sharp-; the best way is to take
him with your finger and thumb inr his
eyes. Be sure to let your baits be fresh
and clear.
The. next method, which is very pleas-
ing, is called trolling.
Your rod and line must be the same ^aa
before, the hook either double or single : the
double hook is made of two large ones, with
ong shanks, tied together nearly back to
3ack, then whipped to a piece of proper
brass wire about five inches long, and to the
wire half a yard of gimp should be added,
with a small loop at top ; the hook must be
l^ded two inches up the wire,> the piece of
l^d running small to the upper end, and a
quarter of an inch square at the lower end:
the-single hook is completed the same way,
aWays^ observing to choose one Avith a long
shank ; they are baited the same way as be-
60 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
fore directed, only cutting away one of the
fins at the gillsj and another at the vent on
the contrary side, and keeping the points of
the double hook towards his eyes when it is
drawn close to his mouth : angle for them
this way in deep strong water, near to
weeds, bull-rushes, water-docks, hollow
banks, stumps of trees, &c. cast your bait
across the water, and work it up and down
in such places as you judge proper, keeping
it in continual motion, by sometimes letting
it sink a considerable depth, and at other
times raising it gradually : you need not
make more than three or four trials in a
place, for if a Pike be there he will seize the
bait within that time if he intends taking it
at all ; when he has got it, give him line
and he will run to his hold to swallow it:
in a short time afterwards you may use 3^our
rod and line sharp, (as before observed) if
that be not the case let him alone for five or six
minutes from the time that he first made off,
then strike and manage with discretion, and
be is your own : but, if after he has run with
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER* 6l
the bait, he makes scarcely any stay at his
hold but goes oft' again, you should not
strike him till he has rested a second time,
allowing him still about five or six minutes ;
but should he run once more before that
time is expired, draw a tight line and strike
instantly ; if you hook him, and he proves
a large fish, give him line enough, which will
exhaust his strength ; in time wind up your
line by degrees, but do not pull him roughly,'
for if you do he will plunge in such a man-
ner that tliough he m^y not be able to breal^
your tackle, yet he may t(?ar away his hold ;-
when you have brought him within sight, if
he begins again, proceed in th^ same manner
till you master and kill him. pike are to
be enticed by a large bait, but a, small one
is much more certain : take care that all 'm
clear from dirt and weeds when you recast it
kito the water, which must be don^ gently,
or you will frighten the fish instead of 'on^
couraging him to take it.
There is another way of trolling by, the
G
6a' THE DRIFFIELD AXGLER,
hand : the hook being baited and fixed to
the end of the line, the other end must be
tied round the wrist of the person using it,
or through the butfon-holes of his coat ; the
Mae naust be gradually taken up in length in
the left hand, except about three quarters of
a yard, which is held in the right hand near
the bait ; then with a spring-jerk away flies
the bait to the extent of thie line in general,
letting it sink a little, drawing the line with
such a motion as to keep the bait in good
play ; by this method many large fish are
eaught.
The next way is called taking them at
snap, for which you must be provided with
a double spring hook, being much preferable
to all others, as it never fails.
When you bait fbv the snap, you must
make a hole in the side of the fish-bait, as
near the middle as you can, with the point
of a probe, or your hook ; put in your arm-
fed wire or gimp, draw it but at the fish's
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 63
mouth and sew it up. When you fish thus
for the Pike, be sure you strilce liim tlie con^
trary way from that which he runs : the snap
is best used in March or April, the Pik^
being very shy, and though they will seize the
bait with seeming eagerness, yet they will
often let it go. again immediately ; to be even
with them, therefore, I generally, strike a$
soon as they take the bait; when the Pike
comes you may see the water move, and tlie
moment you feel him, atrike the contrary way
from that he takes it; you must play your
fish-bait with a quicker motion at the snap
than in other ways.— Another,. and most de-
structive means, is the following ;
Let your hook be single, with rather a
long shank, and before you fix your swivel
at the bottom of your reel-line, put a cork-
float that will swim a Gudgeon ; then put on
the swiviel and fix the gimp, on which your
hook must be well and neatly whipped ; add
a large shot or two to make the float stand
up a little, that when the Gudgeon is on, it
G 2
64 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLEU.
may do so properly : you must have your
Gudgeon quite alive, and when you bait w^ith
one, stick the hook either through the upper
lip or back fin ; then angle in deep and
likely places, letting the bait swim at mid-
water, moving the float either higher or lower
according to the place; w^hcn you have a
bile, let the fish run a little and then strike ;
by this means you will take large Perch as
well as Pike, especially if you fish with a
very small Gudgeon, or minnow: in this
way you will often meet with a double prize ;
for as the Perch is descending with his prey,
he will sometimes be seized by a Pike ; as
they are both tyrants alike, I wish you suc-
cess in securing them.
Although this fish does not belong to the
species that rise naturally at flies, yet let the
angler take notice that there is very extraor-
dinary sport to be had with them, particularly
with such a one as I shall describe. The fly
must be larger than even those used for Sal-
mon ; it must be made on a double hook,
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. €5
formed of one piece of wire fastened to a
good link of gimp ; it must be composed of
very gaudy materials, such as the feathers of
the gold and common pheasant, peacock,
mallard, &c. with the brown and scfftest part
of bear's fur, a little dark and reddish mo-
hair, with yellow and green mohair for the
body, and four or five turns of gold twist
slanting round the body ; the head must be
formed of a little dark brown mohair, some
gold twist, and two small black beads for the
eyes ; the body about three inches long, and
made rough, full, and round ; the wings not
parted, but to stand upright on the back, and
some smaller feathers continued thence all
down the hatk to the end of the tail, so that
where you finish they may be left a little longer
than the hook, and the Whole to be about
the thickness of a tom-tit, and near three
inches long.
N. B. These sort of flies, and all othef
artificial baits for Pike, are to be had of
Mr. Ustenson, in the Strand, Mr. Chevalier^
and other" tackle-makers, iri London,
G 3
66 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
I have also taken them at times with an
artificial may-fly, and other large flies ; but
this is chiefly to be done in lakes, and broad
waters, in dark and windy days, when the
wind is at south or west, and best in a boat
carried gently across, or driving down the
stream ; observing to move the fly quick, and
to keep it about two inches under the surface
of the water if possible : in this manner you
may take Pike when other baits avail nothing.
They are also to be taken with artificial
frogs, water-rats, mice, and calves'-tails; a
small Eel is also a good bait for them, or
Perch with the fins cut oflf; and indeed, in
laying trimmers, I have known all those that
were served with this bait to be taken, whilst
the others were totally deserted ; thus nature
has determined that one despot shall prey
upon another ; and was it not for that strong
defence given them of the prickles on the
back, the Perch, I believe, would not be so
fond of choosing the same haunts.
Your live baits should be kept in a tin ket-
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 67
tie, with holes made in the side : change
your water often, which will keep them
alive a long while.
There are other ways of taking Pike wWch
do not strictly come under the head of ang-
ling ; but being so enormous a depredator,
I think too many means of destroying him
cannot be marked out; for do all you can
there will still be too many of them left.
I shall now describe a ledger-bait, which
is fixed to a certain place, and may be
left whilst you angle for other fish : it
is best to have your baits alive; stick the
hook through the upper lip, or back fin, if it
be a fish; if a frog, put the arming-wire in at
his mouth and out at his gill, and tie the leg
above the upper joint to the wire ; the yel-
lowest frogs you can get are always the best ;
fasten your wire or gimp to a strong line,
fifteen or sixteen yards long, the other end
to a stake made fast in the ground, or the
stump of a tree, near the Pike's haunt ; then
S8 THE t)litFFl£L& ANfeL:]^U.
place a forked stick conveniently near the
water, and let the line pass through the fork,
suspending the bait about a yard or more
in the water, and fix the line slightly in a
notch made at one end of the fork, that
when a Pike takes the bait it may easily slip
out, so that he may rtm off with the line
into his hole. A better way still is to have
a large winch, or reel, to hold your line,
made fast to an iron spindle to fix into the
ground.
The next method, and the last I shall
mention, is called the decoy-bait ; which, al-
though it will occasion much diversion to the
spectators, is at the same time very cruel
and terrifying to the poor birds concerned
in it.
Make fast a line, t\ith a baited hook and
armed wire, to one of the legs of a goose^
or large duck, of such a length as to swim
about mid-water ; throw it into the fiver or
lake where Pikes frequent, keeping it off
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 69
t?ie land as much as you can ; upon the
bait being taken, the duck will instantly
be drawn under water, but upon recovering
from the surprise, will soon force her head
up again, and attempt to set up a loud
quacking, when in a moment she will be
taken down again; and this contest will
continue for some time, if the fish be tolera-
bly large, till at last the duck, though some-
times nearly exhausted, will drag her prize
on shore. A goose being a much stronger
bird, is seldom or never taken under water,
even by very large Pike; but will be so
much scared at the attack, and so bewildered
for a time, by being pulled about in so many
directions, that at last, upon taking courage,
she begins to lash the water with her wings,
and adding every effort of strength to her
activity, secures a landing.
You may also take them by a quantity of
blown bladders tied strongly together, at
the bottom of each having a line to carry the
bait about midvvvater : set them off with a
70 THE DRIFFIELD ANtJLEE.
gentle wind, sufficient to move them properly :
the Pike having taken the bait, the bladders
will dance and tumble about in a diverting
manner ; when tiie fish is spent, you may
throw out a grapple to recover them, if
within your reach ; but in broad waters a
boat will of course be necessary : these, with
trimmers and night-lines, include all the
methods I have seen practised of catching
Pike wdth a bait.
There still remains to relate a means by
which numbers of these fish may be taken in
a day, but that nmst be in the warmest part
of it, and in the hot months, this is by snar-
ing, or haltering.
The Pike at this titiie will lie near the top
of the water ; when yon see one tlius, fix
your eyes stedfastly upon him, without look-
ing oft', or else he wiil be gone ; have your
snare ready prepared, as follows : choose a
taper pole that is stiff and strong, but not
too heavy, and about four yards in length ;
THE DRrTFFrELD ANGIKR. 7t
at the small end of which, fasten a well-
tempered brass wire, made into a noose or
snare: having opened the noose wide enough
to slip over the fish's- head without touching
him, let it down in the water with your pole,
even in depth with the Pike, but two yards
before him, and guide it very gently towards
his head, fixing your eyes full upon him, till
you have brought the snare over his head and
gill fins, but no farther, then immediately
with a strong upright jerk, hoist him to
land.
CHAPTER VI.
THE PEARCH, OB PERCH.
Jl HE Perch, as a fish of prey^ \» n6)tt ia
greediness to the Pike ; having a very wide
mouth, with large teeth; a hog back, on
>^hich. aiie two fins aa2me4?ii^iA* sharp pric-
72 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER*
kles, which rise to a considerable height, and
are his chief defence against other watery
monsters ; his skin is covered over with
thick, hard; dry scales, which form a kind
of coat of mail, and his body is thick and
broad : these fish are taken, where they run
large, from ten to sixteeji inches in length ;
they are very ravenous, and bold feeders,
devouring even their own kind, but are
very wholesome and good eating.
In the early part of the season they are
chiefly to be found in gentle streams, that
are not very deep, and where there are
weeds and other lurking-places ; under hol-
low banks, in gravelly bottoms, and at the
turning of eddies ; at the end of isummer, 1
and in autumn, they frequent deeper parts
of the river, generally choosing deep and
wade holes, if they can find them, by bridges,
or atiy wooden piles, or near the roots of
trees. ^
They spawn Ae latter end of February,
THE DRIFFXKLD ANGLER* 73
and in March. There are many baits for
taking the Percli, but a worm, minnow, or
very small frog is the best ; your worms
should be well scoured brandlings, red dung-
hills, or those found in rotten tan : your hook
No. 4, 5, or 6, being well whipped to a
strong silk-worm gut. If you fishk with two
worms, put them on as heretofore described
for the Salmon and Trout ; but, in my opini-
on, a single one is best: use a small float,.
and keep the bait aboiit nine inches from t4i:e^
bottom, and sometimes near mid-water.. H
you angle in a large water, or lakCj where,
you may chance to meet with Pike, I would
always recommend to tie the hook on very^
small gimp. . - ■ ♦
To draw the fish together, take thr-ee or.
four balls of the best stift'clay that can be pro-
cured, make holes in them, put one end ofi
a lob-worm in each hole and close the clay ^
fast upon them, then throw them into the
water where you mean to angle, about a.
yard distant from each other ; the worms
H
74 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
being alive in the balls will, when loosened
by the water, move and twist about, which
tempts the fish to feed upon them ; but the
worms that you angle with being of a supe^
rior kind, they will, on sight of them, leave
those in the clay and seize yours with the
greatest eagerness. When you have thus
brought them upon their feed, you may have
sport with them till they are nearly all de-
stroyed ; but give them time to swallow the
bait, for if you should suffer two or three to
esca})e after being hooked, it is ten to one
but they all leave off bititig, as by one con-
sent, and perhaps quit the place. It is
pleasant sometimes to see seven or eight of
these fish, rising after the one that has takers
^our bait, nearly to the top of the water,
seemingly anxious for the fate of their com-
pahion, or perhaps in hopes of taking the
bait from him, which it is not possible to de-
termine; however beware of letting your'
prey go in this situation, or you may seek
out for a fresh biting place.
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 75
Not only Perch, but many other kinds of
fish, Barbel, Bream, &c. are to be draw4;i
together by means of these clay balls.
If you are out in a bad day, and the
fish will not be thus brought to feed, slip
your float up the line near to the point ojl'
your rod, or take it off, and begin to rove
for them thus :
Let down the line longer than the rod,
or as long as you can properly throw it out
without injuring your bait, which should be
w^orms or small minnows, and throw it some-
times right across the water, sometimes up
or dowOj and in all directions, drawing the
bait towards you, and playing it witii the
same motion as you spin the minnow; so
keep moving about, angling in such places
as you think proper ; when a fish takes the
bait, slacken the line and give him time be-
fore you strike : there is good sport to be
had in bad weather by this means, when all
other methods would avail nothing; : but
H2
76 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
more especially when there has been a rough
wind from the south or west.
When you rove with a minnow let it be
alive ; stick the hook in at his back fin, or
upper lip, and let him swim in mid-water
or a little lower, by means of a cork float,
' such a one as the minnow cannot take under
water, with a fevv shot on your hook, about
eight inches from it to keep the bait down,
otherwise when tired he will come to the
top of the water. When you fish with a
frog, put the hook through the skin of his
back and he will swiin the easier : when you
have a bite, be sure that you give him line
enough, and let him gorge the bait; this
w^ay of fishing is best in the latter end of
April, May, and all June, for then the Perch
are roving about in search of young fry of
the DacC; Roach, and other fish.
Perch bite best in the latter part of the
spring, and in the autumn, but are to be
taken all the year round, in warm weather,
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 77
when there is a little wind, generally frbm
sun-rise for three or four hours in the morn-
ing, and in the evening for some hours before
sun-set; but in the month of September I
have had great diversion with them for the
whole day through.
THE BARBEL,
Is a handsome well-shaped fish ; the back
is of an olive colour, the belly silver ; it is
speckled on the back and sides with small
black spots ; his make is long and roundish,
and his snout sliarp ; the mouth not large,
but the upper jaw is more prominent than the
lower; he has four barbs, or wattles, from
which he derives his name, two at the cor-
ners of his mouth and two near the end of
the snout. The Barbel cannot well endure
cold, and therefore in the winter-time is sick
and languid, but in the summer clean and
sound ; the flesh is soft and flabby, and in
no great esteem : the spawn is said to be
unwholesome ; the male is thought much
H3
78 THE. PRIFFIELD ANGLEE.
better than the female : their principal sea-
son is August and September ; their size
from one and a half to two feet long ; the
sort that are usually met with are from two
to six or eight pounds weight. This fish is
bred in most rivers ; in the summer he
haunts the swiftest and shallowest streams,
where he lurks, under the weeds, and works
and roots with his nose in the sand like a
hog : in autumn he retires to bridges, flood-
gates, locks, and weirs, or the midst o-f
streams, where the waters are swift and
deep ; he never feeds off the ground, and
takes any sort of worm, bits of bacon, or
old cheese if it be kept in a linen bag, dipped
in honey, two or three days to make it tough ;
the greaves that are to be had at the tallow-
chandler's, for a ground-bait over night, are
very good ; yet most commonly the same
worm is used that is baited with. They are
a very subtle strong fish, struggle hard far
their lives, and will often pick ofl* your baits :
his time of biting i^ early in the morning till
nine or ten o'clock, and from four in the
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 79
evening till sun-set ; but at times^I have had
excellent sport with them the whole day
through : you may fish for them from the
latter end of May to the end of autumn, but
I prefer September before any other montli,
as by that time they are sure to be met
with in deep holes, and the weather is not
too cold. In the summer they come to the
shallows about sun-set, where they may be
taken with a well scoured lob-worm; you
have no occasion for a float, but must put
a large bullet on the reel-line, made fast
about a yard above your hook, that your
bait may lie ledger ; you must have a very
strong silk-worm gut next your hook, at the
bottom of your reel-line ; for the Barbie is
so very strong, and will make so many at-
tempts to run off, that a winch is as necessary
here as for a Trout.
THE BREAM,
Is a broad flat fish, with a small head and
a sharp snout ; they breed both in rivers and
80 THE DRIFFIELD ANGL£K.
lakes, but delight chiefly in the latter ; for
which reason they are never found in swift,
rapid streams, but only in such parts of
rivers as more resemble standing waters,
with muddy bottoms : they swim in herds
the same as Perch do.
The Bream seldom grows to the size of
more than five or six pounds ; but I have
heard of their being taken of ten pounds
weight. They spawn in May, and are in the
highest season in March and April ; they
naturally feed among slime, weeds^ and dir^
but will take any sort of paste, the brood of
bees or wasps, flies six inches under water,
and cod-baits^ but a short well scoured
marsh-worm, or a red worm, or two or three
well scoured brandlings will prove most
successful. They bite best when there is a
breeze of wind, and the water is rough ;
your bait must be placed within a foot or
fifteen inches of the bottom ; the likeliest
places to meet with them are the deepest and
broadest parts of a river,' early in a. morn-
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 81
ing, and from fcyur or five in the afternoon
till sun-set : when the weather is warm they
bite very slow, and the larger they are the
slower ; as soon as you have struck one, he
will, immediately make to the bottom and
stay there some time ; but if he stops too
long, give him a gentle touch and he will
immediately rise and give two or three strong
tugs, but w4ien you have once turned him he
will soon yield.
The best mode of ancrlins; for him is to
seek a shallow sandy bottom, that leads to
a deep hole; then throw into the shallow
part of the stream, three or four handfuls
of marsh or red worms cut in pieces, which
will soon drive into the hole : use a rod
about sixteen feet long, of good strength,
with a reel-line proportionable, a small hook,
No. 6 or 7, but no float; tiie hook must be
tied to fine, strong silk-worm gut; put a cut
shot about eight inches from the hook, and
over that a small bullet, in the same manner
as for Barbel ; the use of the shot is to keep
82 THE DRTFFIELD ANGLER^
the bullet from slipping lower ; this done,
bait your hook with a well scoured marsh-
worm, throw it into the shallow and the stream
will draw it into the hole ; by this method,
on a good day, you may take as many as
you please.
THE RUD, OR RED-EYE.
This fish is supposed by many to be a
spurious breed between the Roach and the
Bream, being found in the same ponds and
lakes ; and indeed his fin may well warrant
such a conjecture : the body is shaped very
much like a Bream, but thicker, the back is
very round and high like a hog ; the fins are
all red, and the whole body of a reddish
cast, especially the iris of the eye (from
whence he derives his name) which is redder
even than that of the Roach, and the scales
are larger : when it is scaled the skin looks
greenish ; the palate is like that of a Carp.
These fish usually measui^ from ten to twelve
inches ; tliey spawn m I\Iay, among the roots
1^'HE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 83
of trees, and are angled for in the same
manner as the Roach, or Dace, with worms
or gentles.
THE EEL,
Is a fish of passage, and to be found in
almost all waters that have any communica-
tion with the sea. There are several sorts
of them ; the silver Eel has a dark brown
back, and white belly, with a head small and
shai'p : the green Eel has a broad, flat head,
and is much flatter towards the tail than the
other, having the back of a dark green co-
lour, and the belly of a whitish green : the
black Eel has a larger head than the two
former, a black back, and yellow belly, and
the flesh is reckoned unwholesome, particu-
larly those taken out of mud in standing
waters; but indeed none of them bear an5r
comparison to the silver Eel first described,
which is very delicious food.
* Eels are supposed to be viviparous, bring*-
84 THE DRIFFIELB ANGLER*
ing forth their young alive : I have myself
opened numbers, and have found within
many of them a small, soft, whitish substance,
knotted together very curiously ; which, upon
examination, appeared when separated, to be
perfect small Eels, capable of moving, though
some of them were no thicker than a very
fine needle.
They may be caught by several sorts of
baits, but principally with powdered beef,
lob-worms, minnows, hen-guts, and gar-
bage of fish ; but some prefer a pride, or
lamprey, to every other kind of bait.
As Eels abscond in winter, taking up their
constant residence in mud, without stirring
out for four or five months, so in the sum-
mer they take delight to.be abroad in tlie
day, at which time they^will feed, if the
water be thick : but the most proper tioie to
take them is in the night, fastening your line
to the bank side, with your hooks laying in
tUe water ; or you may throw a strong line
*rriE DRIFFIELD ANGLERv 85
across the stream, with a number of hooks
tied on pack-thread, and properly baited,
hanging from it at convenient distances, and
a cork at top to discover where the line lies,
that in the morning you may take it up with
your drag-hook.
There is atiother method of taking Eels,
which is called sniggling, or broggling for
them: take a strong line, and hook baited
with a lob or garden worm, and marking
such holes and places where the fish us^ to
hide themselves in the day-time, near weirs^-
mills, or ffood-gates, gently, by the help of
a stick, put your bait into those holes where
you imagine Eels are ; and if there are arty
you will be sure of a bite ; but then take
care you pull not too hard, lest you spoil
all : here note, that the top of your stick
must be cleft, wherein you must put a strong
hook, this stick must guide the bait into the
hole where the Eel is, by which means you
«Qay, if your tackle holds, get as large ones
86 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
as are to be found in rivers, mill-darns,
ponds, or flood-gates.
Bobbing for Eels is done after another
manner, i. e. take very large lob or marsh-
v/orms well scoured, and with a needle run
some strong twisted silk, or worsted thread
through them from end to end ; take so many
that you may wrap them on a board a dozen
times at least ; then tie them fast with the
two ends of the silk, that they may hang in
so many hanks ; fasten all to a strong cord,
and, about seven inches from the worms, fix.
a plumb, from half a pound to three quarter^
of a pound weight, and tie the cord to a stiff
pole : having so done, fish in muddy water,
bearing the worms, as near as you can guess,,
just clear of the bottom ; and when you feel
the Eels tug lustily at them, gently draw up
your line till you have brought your Eels
to the top of the water, and then bring tliem
to shore as fast as you can ; but take care^
in striking not to do it with a jerk, by. which
means you might lose your sport ; aa the*
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.^ 87
iishj you will remember, are not caught fey
a hook, but only hanging to -the w'orms an4
silk : I have taken seven or eight large Eels
at a time this way.
Very large Eels are caught by baiting
night-hooks with small Roach or Minnows;
and let the hooks lie in the mouth of the
fish. Some persons near the Eel-haunts
sink a bottle of hay, loosely bound, and
stufied with fowls' guts, and liver cut in long
shreds, over night, and coming early next
morning, and drawing it up hastily, by the
rope fastened to the band, find large Eels
bedded in it for the sake of the prey : but
this may be better done with a bundle of
brushwood, out of v/hich, upon pulling them
up, they cannot so easily get.
I cannot dismiss this subject without tak-
ing notice, that on most rivers of any con-
sequence in England, there are weirs built
on the different royalties, wherein very large
baskets, usually called bucks, are laid close
I 2
8^ THE DRTFFIKLD ANGLEJt.
to each other quite across the stream, the
Eels are sure to be caught when they begin
to drop down towards the sea ; the best run is
reckoned to be during the first thick water after
heavy rains in the summer, and in the dark-
est nights; for it has been observed that
where there is any white object near, such ^
as a net, house, or fishing-house plaistered,
the fish will be sure to be caught on the
other side of the stream. The weirs are
very profitable to the owners, vast quantities
gf Eels being caught by their means, I have
^Iso seen them so constructed, that without
bucks, the fish were impelled either on one
side or the other, into traps and reservoirs
prepared for them, something like those
jnentioiied in the account of the Salmon.
This is an object of considerable import-
ance in dijfferent parts of the country, as an
article of food, which can be kept for many
months, with a little expense.
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLEK. 89
, THE GUDGEON,
Is generally five or six inches long, of a
smooth body, with very small scales, the
back of it is dark, but the belly pale : they
are to be met with in most rivers.
This fish spawns twice in a year, the latter
end of. April and in November; his flesh
is very well tasted, of easy digestion, and very
nourishing ; in so much, that some think it
no way inferior to a Smelt. He delights in
sandy, gravelly bottoms, gentle streams, and
small rivers ; in the summer time he resorts
to the shallows, . in the winter to the deeps :
he bites all day from iVprii to Michaelmas,
from about an hour after the sun rises to an
hour before he sets. The principal baits are
small red worms, gilt-tails, brandlings, and
meadow-worms; he will likewise take a
gentle, cod-bait, brood of wasps, or cow-
dung-lob, but the smaU i^d worm is what
pleases him best.
I 3
so .THE I>R1FFIELI> ANGLER-.
The best method of anghng for this fish ioi
large rivers,, is to fix a boat, or punt, across:
the stream, with a large pole at each end,
shod with iron, that they may the better
drive into the gravel ; in this way two or
three persons may sit in the boat and fish
at the same time, having first drawn the
Gudgeons together by disturbing the ground
with a long mke: your line should be small
at bottom, and your hook the same. No. 8 ;
put your float in as close to the boat as you
can, and let your bait swim down the streamj
as near as possible to the bottom, should it
even touch in some places it will be never
the worse : by these means vast quantities
of these pleasant little fish may be taken, as
they bite very greedily ; and when they be-
gin to give over feeding at one pitch, (which
will be the case) immediately remove you?
boat to another.
THE POPE, OR RUFF.
This fish, with a double name, is small;
THE 1>RTFFIELI> ANGLER. ^1
and seldom grows bigger than a Gudgeon ;
in shape it is not unlike a Perch, and would
be exceeding good food, was it not so very
full of bones.
The Ruff makes most excellent sport for
the unexperienced angler, for he is a very
greedy biter, and like to be in great shoals
together, where the water is deep, smooth^
and clear ; if you wish to catch a good quan-
tity, bait your ground with earth, and angle
for them with a small red worm.
THE MINNOW.
The Minnow is so inconsiderable in size,
that he would scarce be worthy of discourse,
were it not that he serves for excellent baits
to take larger and better fish ; and indeed, so
innumerable is their breed, in almost all
rivers, that it is supposed they tend, more
than any other part of their food, to assist
the growth of other fish ; large quantities of
Trout in particular are observed to attend
9^ THE drii?fiej:d angler;
on them, when they come about the montii
of May in vast shoals to spawn at their hillS,
or gathering places, generally on the bright-
est gravel, in some shallow part of a clear
stream, the Trout lying a little below them m
Somewhat deeper water, where you may fre-
quently see them dashing with great havocfc
among them. These fish have a bitter fla-
vour, but I have made a very good tansy of
them by cutting off their heads and tails,
and saucing them with butter, sugar, and*
verjuice. I should also suppose it would be
an excellent method to dress them in the
manner they do the white-bait in the neigh-
bourhood of London.
Having now done with such fish as are
equally inhabitants of rivers^ lakes, and
ponds, I shall finish with the description of
the Carp and Tench, which reside more
exclusively in the latter; and though they
are to be found in rivers, I am inclined to be
of opinion that they are carried thither by
floods, and overfipwings of other waters.
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. $3
CHAPTER VIL
THE CARP.
jlHE Carp is allowed by all to be the
queen of the lakes and fish-ponds ; its ex-
cellence on the table being universally ad-
mitted ; the female is somewhat better shaped
and larger than the male : they are a subtle
fish, and longer lived than any of the fresh
water breed, out of their proper element.
Carp are observed to breed several months
in the year, and for this reason you shall
hardly ever take either male or female with-
out milt or spawn. They breed always
better in ponds than in running water ; in
the latter very seldom, but where they do
breed, their produce is innumerable.
S4 THE PRIFFIELD ANGLER,
He that intends to angle for a Carp, must
arm himself with a deal of patience, by rea-
son of the extraordinary subtlety and policy
of that fish ; next you are to observe, that
be will scarce ever bite in cold weather, and
in warm weather you cannot be too early or
too late at your sport ; should he be in the
humour to feed, you need not fear his hold,
for he is one of those leather-mouthed fish
who have their teeth in their throat.
The Carp takes delight in worms, and
sweet pastes, of w hich there are great va-
riety : the best are made up of honey and
sugar, and ought to be thrown into the water
some hours before you intend to angle ; or
if you throw your paste, made into small
bullets, two or three days before, it will not
be the worse, especially if you throw in also,
chicken-guts, garbage, or blood, incorporat-
ed with bran, or cow-dung. You may
make your paste in this manner: take a
convenient quantity of bean flour, or any
other flourJ^ and mingle it with the flesh of
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 55
rabbits, or veal minced small ; make up the
composition with honey, and then beat the
whole together in a mortar, till it is so tough
as to hang upon a hook without washing
off; for the better effecting of which, mix it
with some fine whitish wool; and if you
would keep it all the year, add thereto
some virgin's wax and clarified honey : if
you fish with gentles, anoint them with
honey, and put them on your hook with
a piece of scarlet cloth dipped in the same.
This is the most approved method to de-
ceive and captivate the subtle Carp; and
remember to fish as far from you as your
rod will admit of; and should the water be
clear, keep as much out of sight as possible.
THE TENCH,
The Tench is a leather-mouthed fish, and
from each corner of the mouth hangs a little
barb ; his eyes are large, and of a gold co-
lour, having the iris red ; it kas small smooth
96 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
scales, very large fins, and its body is of
.a yellowish brown.
Their haunts are chiefly among weeds,
and in places that are well shaded with
bushes and rushes ; they delight and thrive
more in foul than clear water, and are much
more numerous in ponds, and pits, than in
rivers ; but those taken in the latter are far
preferable in their flavour ; it is a most de-
licious fish to the taste, and exceedingly
wholesome*
They are to be angled for much in the
same way as Carp ; your tackle must be
strong, with a proper float, the hook No. 3,
to 6 or 7, whipped to a strong silk-worm
gut, with two or three shot, No, 2 ; fish
where there are weeds about two feet deep,
or at mid-water, and sometimes lower, ac-
cording as they are in the humour to take;
but if there be not a great quantity of mud
in the water, use clay balls, as for Perch,
and now. and then tt^row^in a few gentles„
THE DltlFFIELD ANGLER. 97
whicli will keep them together ; fish half a
foot from the bottom, unless the mud be so
deep as to cover the balls when thrown in ; in
which case keep to the former way, and bait
the hole with bits of lob-worms and gentles.
When you have a bite, allow some time
before you strike : they will take several
baits, but the best of all is the small red
worm taken out of rotten tan, and used
without any scouring; though liiey will at
times take the gentle, wasp, maggot, and
green worm from the boughs of trees; they
generally come out to feed several times in
the day, but their best time of biting is late
and early ; and the best months for catching
them are August and September, if the
weatlier proves warm. When you take any
out of muddy places, keep them alive for
some time in a tub of water, where they
will cleanse themselves from that muddy
quality to which they are subject, and be
much better for the table.
K
98 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLEIt.
The Tench is esteemed the fish's physician,
on account of a natural balsam which he is
^aid to carry about him, that will cure both
himself and others ; so that if any other fish
receives a wound, he will seek out the
Tench, and rubbing the part affected against
him (which the Tench will suffer him to do)
receives a certain cure by virtue of this bal-
sam, or slime ; and it is affirmed that the
voracious Pike himself, is so sensible of this
virtue, that however greedy of prey, he will
never hurt his physician : whether true, or
not, this account passes current with other
legendary tales.
THE DRIFFIEL© ANGLER. 99
CHAPTER VIII.
IN MAKING FISH-PONDS,
i5L PRINCIPAL regard shoald be had to the
choice of a fit place, and a proper soil. It
is now generally agreed, that heathy land,
inclinable to be moorish, and full of springs,
is the best ; let the situation, if possible, be
at the bottom or side of a hill, that any
sudden shower or continued rain may wash
down worms, insects, and other things fit for
the nourishment of the fish; this likewise
will be the means of filling and refreshing
tl^e pond, if it has not the advantage of a
brook or rivulet ; moreover, it has been ob-^
served, that those ponds which have been
so situated as to receive the stale and dung
pf cattle, have bred the largest and fattest
K2
100 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER*
The head of the pond should be at the
lowest part of the ground, and the trench of
the flood-gate, or sluice, should have a pretty
swift fall, that the water may not be too long
in running out when it is to be emptied.
If more ponds than one are to be made
at a time, it will be most beautiful and ad-
vantageous to have them placed one above
another, in such a manner that the head of
one may be next to the point or tail of the
other. If the pond carries six feet of water
it is sufficient, but yet it should be eight feet
deep, that there may be room enough to
receive the rains and freshes that may fall
into it : in some places there should be
shoals for the fish to spawn upon, and sun
themselves in ; as likewise holes, hollow
banks, and roots of trees, to serve for re-
tiring places : some cast in bavins in the most
sandy places, not far from the side, which
serve not only for the fish to spawn upon,
but are defences for the young fry against
such vermin as would devour them. Trees
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 101
shoiild not be planted so near the pond as to
incommode it with the falling in of the dead
leaves, because they spoil the water, muddy
it, and render it disagreeable to the fish. In
stocking the pond, if the fish are only de-.
signed^ for stores, they should be all of a sex,
that is, either milters or spawners ; by these
means Carp will become large and exceed*
ing fat in a short time.
The most usual fish which ponds are stock-
ed with are Carp, Tench, Bream, and Pike :
of these, Carp and Tench agree well enough
together, but any other fish will devour their
spawn. The Pike admits of no companion
but the Perch, and he is not always safe, if
not very large ; however it is usual to put
Roach, Dace, Bream, Chub, Gudgeons, and
Minnows, into the same pond with him, that
be may have wherewithal to satisfy his vora-
cious nature, and grow fat the sooner : like-
wise care should be taken, that all the Pike
which are put into the same pond, should be
nearly of a size ; because a Pike of thirty
KS
102 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
inches will devour another of eighteen ; some
grow more in length, others in thickness,
which latter sort are the finest fish ; for a
lean slender Pike, though he seems to ad-
vance in length, is commonly in a decayed
condition, by reason of some outward wound
from the otter, or some stronger of his own
kind, or an inward prick by the hook, or
some other casualty ; yet even in this con-
dition he will be as hungry and as greedy as
ever. It is observed by some, that Tench
and Eels delight in those ponds chiefly,
whose bottoms arc full of mud ; whereas the
Carp likes a sound gravelly bottom, where
grass grows on the sides of the pond ; for in
the hot months, if the water happens to rise,
they will feed on it. Some make a square
hole in the middle of their pond, three feet
deep, and cover it with a sort of door, sup-
ported at the corners by four strong stakes
driven into the ground ; this provides the
fish both with a place of shelter and re-
treat, and likewise preserves the pond from
being robbed, as the door and stakes would
tear the nets all to pieces.
THE DRIFFIELD ANOLEK. 103
In the winter time, when there happens
to be a hard frost, it will be necessary from
time to time to break holes in the ice, in
order to give the fish air, otherwise they will
all die, for they cannot live long without
fresh air ; it must indeed be owned that this
is a rule generally known, and as generally
practised.
Care should likewise be taken to kill or
drive away the enemies of fish, and devour-
ers of their spawn ; such as herons, cormo-
rants, sea-gulls, king fishers, water-coots,
water-rats, bitterns, wild ducks, and otters,
if they frequent the ponds; likewise tame
ducks are great devourers of spawn, and
the young fry of fish, and should not there-
fore be permitted to do mischief.
It is surprising that considering the bene-
fit which may accrue from making of ponds
and keeping of fish, it is not more generally
put in practice; for besides furnishing the
table, and raising money, the land would be
104 THE PRIFFIEI,D ANGLEJU
vastly improved, and be worth more this
way than any other whatsoever : suppose a
meadow to be worth forty shiUings an acre ;
four acres converted into a fish-pond, will re-
turn every year a thousand fed Carp, from the
least size to fourteen or sixteen inches long,
besides Pike, Pearch, Tench, and others;
the Carp alone may be reckoned to bring
one with another, sixpence, ninepence, or
perhaps a shilling each ; amounting at the
lovv^est rate to twenty-five pounds, and at the
highest to fifty ; which would be a very con-
siderable as well as useful improvement.
FISH; HOW TO BRING THEM
TOGETHER.
Get the blood of an ox, a goat, and a
sheep, with dung of the same creatures
taken out of the small guts; with thyme,
origanum, penny-royal, savory, elder, gar-
lick, lees of white wine, of each alike ; the
fat, or marrow, of the same creatures a
sufficient quantity ; beat all these that they
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 105
may mix together ; make the whole into
lumps, and cast them into the fish-pond, or
where fish are, an hour before you propose
to catch them.
THE FOOD.
The best food to render Pike extremely
fat is Eels, and without them it is not to be
done in any reasonable time. The best feed-
ing place for all sorts of fish, is a shoal place
near the side, about two feet deep, and this
wall be the means to keep the deepest parts
sweet and clear ; besides whatever is thrown
into the water, will be more readily caught
up by the fish, and nothing will be lost. —
Any sort of grain boiled is proper food for
iish, especially peas and malt coarsely ground ;
also the grains after brewing, while fresh and
5weet, are very proper ; but one bushel of
malt will go as far as two of grains ; raspings
and chippings of bread, or almost any scraps
from the table, placed under a cask of strong
beer or ale, in such a manner that the drop-
}06 THE PRTFFIELD ANGLER.
pings of the liquor may fall among them, is
excellent food for Carp ; two quarts of this
is sufficient for thirty, and if they are fed
morning and evening it will be better than once
a day only. From October to March, thirty
or forty Carp in one stew-pond, may be
kept well enough without feeding ; but from
March to October they must be fed as con-
stantly as fowls in a coop, and tliey will turn
to as good an account : and it must be always
remembered, that constancy and regularity,
in the serving of fish, vriU conduce very
much to their feeding and thriving.
Besides the food already mentioned, there
is one sort which may be called accidental,
and that is, when pools or ponds happen to
receive the wash of large commons, where
flocks of sheep usually feed ; the w^ater being
enriched by the dung, will maintain a greater
number of Carp than otherwise it could do :
for the same reason it is an advantage for
cattle to stand in the w^ater in hot weather,
and dung in it, because it nourishes the fish
very much.
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 107
Some feed Carp and Tench with mowings
of grass, sheep and bullocks' blood, and
chicken-guts, which will help the growth
of the fish, and fatten them likewise ; but
then care should be taken to supply them
with no larger quantities than they can
dispense with, otherwise they will rot and
putrify, thereby making the water unwhole-
some.
I shall finish this account of rivers, lakes,
fish-ponds, and their inhabitants, with a
description of the fish's enemies, which are
very numerous ; besides the human foes,
who claim a prescriptive right for their
destruction*
A thousand foes the finny people chase,
Nor are they safe from their own kindred
race :
The Pike, fell tyrant of the liquid plain,
With rav'nous waste devours his fellow train ;
Yet howsoe'er with raging famine join'd,
The Tench he spares, a salutary kind ;
lOS THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
Hence too the Pearch, alike voracious brood,
Forbears to make this genVous race his food;
Tho' on the common drove no bound he
finds^
But spreads unmeasur'd waste o'er all the
kinds.
Nor less the greedy Trout, and glutless Eel,
Incessant woes and dire destruction deal :
The lurking water-rat in caverns preys,
And in the weeds the wily otter slays :
The ghastly newt in muddy streams annoys,
And in swift floods the scaly snake destroys :
Toads, for the swarming fry, forsake the
lawn.
And croaking frogs devour the tender spawn :
Neither the habitants of land nor air,
So sure their doom the fishy numbers spare :
The swan, fair regent of the silver tide,
Their ranks destroys and spreads their ruin
wide :
The duck her offspring to the river leads,
And on the destin'd fry insatiate feeds :
On fatal wings the pouncing bittern soars,
And wafts her prey from the defenceless
shores :
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 109
The watchful halcyons to the reeds repair,
And from their haunts the scaly captives
bear :
Sharp herns and cormorants their tribe
oppress :
A harassM race, peculiar in distress :
Nor can the muse enumerate their foes,
Such is their fate, so various are their woes.
<i>^
110 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLEE.
CHAPTER IX.
IZ^STMUCTIOMS
AND
OBSERVATIONS.
OF THE ROD.
i"&
JL HE double-handed rod, for Trout fish
should never be less than sixteen feet long,
and for Salmon at least eighteen feet, and
proportionably stronger ; it should be made
with three joints besides the top joint, of
which you should have several of different
strength for the fly, the minnow, and bottom-
fishing ; but these rods are so common, and
to be had at all the tackle-shops, that I shall
give no further description of them : there
IHE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. Ill
also you may be supplied with single-handed
rods for fly-fishing.
But in these latter days bag-rods have been
invented, which the angler may easily con-
ceal, and not proclaim to all the world where
be his going : those for float-fishing are now
become common^ but this invention has lately
been extended to rods for the fly, and ali
other kinds of angling. Screws to rods are
not only heavy and apt to be out of repair,
but are absolutely unnecessary ; and the
common way of inserting one joint into
another is sufficiently secure, if the work
be true.
Here follows the description of such a neat,
portable, and useful one, as no angler that
has once tried it will ever be without.
THE BAG-ROD.
Let the joints be four in number, exclusive
of the top, and made of the best yellow hie*
L 2
I
11^ THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER,
cary, or some such very tough wood, and two
feet four inches in length ; the largest joint
not exceeding half an inch in thickness, and
the rest in proportion; the tops must be
lance-wood, red-wood, or bamboo, shaved
and neatly dressed ; and for the stock let it
be of a young straight grown ash or willow, of
an equal length with ihe other joints, and
with a strong ferrule at the smaller end,
made to receive the large joint, which must
be well shouldered and fitted to it with the
utmost exactness ; this rod will go into a
bag, and be very convenient to take in a
carriage, or will lie very well concealed
in a pocket in the lining of your coat, on
the left side, made straight on purpose to
receive it.
OF THE STOCKS AND TOPS.
The best time of getting and seasoning
stocks is in the winter season, when the trees
have shed their leaves and the sap is in the
roots, for after January it ascends again
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. llS
into the trunk and branches, at which time it
is improper to gather stocks or tops. Let
your stocks be taper grown, and your tops
the best rush ground shoots you can get, not
knotty, but proportionable and slender,
otherwise they will neither cast nor strike
well.
Having gathered your stocks and tops all
in one season, as straight as you can, bathe
them over a gentle fire, and set them as
straight as possible ; then lay them aside for
three or four days, after which rub them
over with a piece of flannel dipped in linseed
oil, which will polish them and fetch off the
superfluous bark, if any ; tie them quite
straight and so keep them till the spring,
when they will be seasoned for use.
When your rod is completed, , varnish it
oyer neatly, making your varnish of a pint
of linseed oil and sixpennyworth of India-
rubber scraped fine, put them over a slow
fire and stir them well together till the rub-
L 3
il4 THE DRIFXaELD ANGLER.
ber is dissolved, then boil and skim it ; use
it warm, and lay the rod aside till quite dry ;
it will appear on the rod like a fine thin
bark, is very durable, and will preserve it
from other injuries. If the rod is a hollow
one, tie a rag to the end of a stick, dip it in
linseed oil, and rub the inside well about
three times a year.
OF THE LINE.
Your lines, whether for running or float-
fishing, are best made of horse hair, unless
you fish for Barbel, when they should be
niade of silk, or silk and hair mixed, and
must be proportioned to the general size of
the fish you expect; always remembering
that the single hair, or gut, is to be preferred
for small Trout, Salmon-smelts, Roacli, or
Dace fishing. The reel-line must be very
strong, and for the greater facility in throw-
ing, should be from sixteen to eighteen hairs
at the top, and diminished gradually ; there
are lines to be had at tlie tackle-shops that
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 115
have no joints, but are wove in one piece
from fifteen yards to twenty or thirty, and
from that to one hundred and fifty, which
length will be required for Sahnon-fishing in
very broad river: : but notwithstanding these
improvements, should you choose to make
your own lines in preference to those twisted
with the fingers, I would recommend the use
of an engine, which may be had at any of
the shops, consisting of a large horizontal
wheel, and three very small ones, inclosed in
a brass box about a quarter of an inch thick,
and two inches ui diameter ; the axis of each
of the small wheels is continued through the
under side of the box, and formed into a
hook ; by means of a strong screw it may be
fixed in any strong post, and is set in motion
by a small winch in the centre of the box. —
To twist links with the engine, take as many
hairs as you intend each shall consist o1^' and
dividing them into three parts, tie each par-
cel to a bit of fine twine about eight inches
long, doubled and put through the aforesaid
hook ; then take a piece of wood, or corkj of
116 THE DIUFFIELD ANGLER.
a conical figure, two inches high, and two irl
diameter at the base, with a hook at the
point ; tie your three parcels of hair into one
knot, and hang them on the weight : next
cut three groves at equal distances in the
sides of a common bottle cork, and placing
it so as to receive each division of hair, begin
to twist, which you will find to proceed with
great evenness at the lead ; as it grows tighter,
shift the cork a little upwards, and when the
whole is sufficiently twisted take out the cork,
and tie the link into a knot : proceed in this
manner till you have twisted links sufficient
for your line, observing to lessen the number
of hairs in each link, in such proportion that
the line may taper at the bottom of your reel-
line. When you fish with a fly, put about
three or four yards of good gut for the cast-
line, diminishing by degrees to the size of the
flylinL I have found, by long experience,
that a grey line like pepper and salt mixed,
will, by its colour, best suit any water.
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLES. 117
OF HOOKS.
Let your hooks be made of the best tern*
pered steel wire, rather long in the shank,
and strong and deepish in the bend, the
point fine and straight, and as true as can be
with the shank, wliich for fly-making should
be tapered at the end, that the fly may be
finished the neater ; be careful also that the
hook has a good barb. The best of this
kind that I have seen, were made at Limer-
ick in Ireland.
OF FLOATS, &<;.
' They are of many sorts, such as swan-
quills, goose-quills, Muscovy duck-quills,
and porcupine-quills ; the first of which is
the best when you use light baits in rivers or
deep water, and the others for slow water,
or ponds, where it is not very deep. For
heavy fishing with worm or minnoAv, either
in rivers or ponds, a cork-float is preferable,
and is made of sound cork, without holes or
Il§ THE DRIFI^IEL1> ANGLER,
flaws, bored through with a hot iron, and
a quill put into it of a fit proportion, open at
each end for the line to run through ; cut
the cork of a pyramidical form, and make it
smooth with a fine file. The quill-floats
must carry shot enough so as to sink them,
that you may the better perceive the slightest
nibble ; and as to the cork-floats, let there
be sufficient shot to make them stand upright
in the water, when the shot is at the bottom,
by which you may know when you fish there
or not ; for when the shot is on the ground^
the float will fall on one side, and not stand
up. When you go out a bottom-fishing, &c.
you should have with you different kinds of
lines, links, floats, and spare caps, split shot,
shoe-maker's wax in a piece of leather, silk,
a plummet to fix the depth of the water, red
paste, gentles in a box, worms of different
sorts, ground-baits, and a clearing-ring to
disengage the hook when entangled, by run-
ning it up the rod, and gently down the line,
by a strong twine long enough for any such
purpose^ to where the hook is fastened^ if a
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 1 1^
sti*mp or Other immoveable thing ; but if it
be weeds, let it go below the hook, then pull
at the twine, and the ring will break the
weeds and save your line and liook ; in thiQ
other case, if it does not bring away your
hook, it will break the line near to it, an<3i
prevent it from being strained in any other
place : a landing-net to land large fish with ;
some are made with joints to fold up for
convenience : a disgorge, to put down th^
throat of a fish when he has swallowed the
book, till you touch it, at the same time pull-
kig the line it will be free; and a fish-
basket to carry your fish in.
RULES FOR MAKING FLIES.
Jl O frame the little a^nimal, proyide
Ail the gay hues that wait on fengiale pride ;
120 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
Let nature guide thee, sometimes golden
wire,
The shining bellies of the fly require.
The peacock's plumes thy tackle must not
fail,
Nor the dear purchase of the sable's tail.
Each gaudy bird some slender tribute brings,
And lends the growing insect proper wings.
Silks of all colours must their aid impart.
And every fur promote the fisher's art.
So the gay lady with expensive care.
Borrows the pride of land, of sea, and air;
Furs, pearls, and plumes, the glittering thing
displays,
Dazzles our eyes, and easy hearts betrays.
GAY.
To make the useful artificial flies, furnish
yourself with a pocket-case, that has many
partitions in it, capable of holding the follow
ing materials ; bear's hair of divers colours,
such as grey, dun, light and dark coloured,
bright brown, and that whi ch shines ; also
camel's hair, dark, light, and of a colour be-
I
THE DEIFFIELD ANGLER. 121
tween both ; badgers hair from the ear, light
and dark brown, blackish, and black ; hog's
down, which may be had about Christmas of
butchers, or rather of those that make brawn ;
it should be plucked from under the throat,
and other soft places of the hog, and must
be of the following colours, that is to say,
black, red, whitish, and sandy, and for other
colours you may get them dyed ; seal's fur is
to be had at the trunk-makers ; get this also
dyed of the colour of cow and calf's hair
in all the different shades, from light to
the darkest brown ; never heed cow or
calf's hair, both ^hich are harsh, and will
never work kindly or lay handsomely ; get
also mohair, black, blue, purple, white, and
violet ; camlet, both hair and worsted, blue,
yellow, dun, • light and dark brown, red,
violet, purple, black, pink, and orange co-
lours : some recommend the hair of abortive
colts and calves, but seal's fur, dyed as
above, is much better ; and observe, that
hog's wool is best for large, and the seal's fur«
for small, flies.
M
132 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLEK.
A piece of an old Turkey carpet will fur-
nish excellent dubbing ; untwist the yarn and
pick out the wool, carefully separating the
different colours^ and lay it by.
Get also furs of the following animals, viz.
the squirrel, (particularly from his tail) fox-
cub, from the tail, where downy and of ash
cotour ; an old fox and an old otter; otter'S-
cub ; badger; pole-cat; the fur of a hare
from the neck, where it is of the colour of
Avithered fern ; and above all the yellow fur
of the martern, from off the gills or spots
under the jaws ; all these, and almost every
other kind of fur, are easily obtained at the
furriers.
Hackles are very important articles in fly-
making ; the chief ones are the long slender
feathers that hang from the head of a cock
down his neck ; there are also fine ones to
be got from near his tail, and be careful they
are not too rank, which they are when the
fibres are more than half an inch long, and
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER, 123
for some purposes these are much too large ;
be provided with these of the following co-
lours, viz. red, dun^ yellowish, white, orange,
and perfect black ; and whenever you meet
with a live or a dead cock of the game breeds
whose hackle is of a strong brown red, never
fail to buy him; but observe, the feathers of
a cock chicken, be they ever so fine for
shape and colour, are good for little, as they
are too downy and weak to stand erect after
they are once wet. Feathers absolutely ne-
cessary for the wings and other parts of flies,
are got from the back and other parts of the
wild mallard, or drake ; the feathers of a
partridge, especially those red ones that are
in the tails ; feathers from a cock pheasant's
breast, tail and wings ; the wings of a black-
bird, a brown hen, starling, jay, land-rail or
throstle, fieldfare, and water-^coot ; the fea-
thers from the crown of the pewet, plover^
or lapwing, green and copper-coloured pea-
cock and black ostrich's harl ; feathers from
9, heron's neck and wings; and remember
that in most instg,nces where the fjrake oy
M2
124 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
wild mallard's feather is hereafter directed^
that from a starling's wing will do much bet-
ter, as being of a finer grain and less spongy.
Be provided with marking silk of all colours,
fine and very strong ; flaw silk, gold and
silver flatted wire and twisted, a sharp knife,
hooks of all sizes, silk-worm gut, India-weed,
and the best white and grey horse hair
for links to your flies, shoe-maker's wax, a
large needle to raise your dubbing when flat-
ted with working, and a small sharp pair of
scissors ; and, lastly, if any materials requir-
ed in the subsequent list of flies, may have
been omitted in the foregoing catalogue, be
careful to add them to your former stock, so
often as you shall find any such omissions.
Remember with all your dubbing to mix
bear's hair and hog's wool, which are stiff,
and not apt to imbibe the water, as the fine
furs and most other kinds of dubbing do ;
also that the martern's fur should be the best
yellow : when the angler is furnished with
these materials, he may make any sort of
THE PIiIFFJ|:X.X) ANGLKR. Igi
artificial flies to represent thpse which he
shall perceive Trout, or ot^eriish^ to rise at :
observe, th^t usually the smallest flies are th^
best, also that the light fly generally makes
the most sport in a dark day, and the darkest
and least fly iu a bright day; but particularly
observe to make your flies lighter or saddef
according to the weather, or your fancy.
In making artificial dub-flies, imitate the
belly of the fly, for that the fish t^-ke most
notice of, as heiog more in their sight, and
liet the wings of the fly always |be of an equal
length, or it will not swim right and true.
When you try how to fit the colour of the fly^,
wet the dubbing, lest you be mistaken ; for
though when dry they exactly suit the colour
pf the fly, yet the water alters most colours.
Always make your dub-flies on a sun-shiny
day ; and to know the exact colour of youf
dubbing, hold it betwixt your eye and the
sun.
Let not the tail of your dub-fly descend to
M3
126 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
the bend of the hook, and never into the
bend itself, as some practise. When Trout
often shew themselves at your fly, and do
not take it, be assured that either the day or
water is improper for fly angling ; or which
is far more probable, that your fly is not of
the right colour and shape they then covet.
Flies made of the skins of bears, hogs,
squirrels, camels, seals dogs, foxes, badgers,
otters, ferrets, cows, calves, &c. are more
natural, lively, and keep their colour better
in the water than flies made of crewels, and
worsted stuffs^ unless you mingle hairs there-
with.
The feather got from the quill of a shep-
stare, or starling's wing, is. the best feather
generally to use for dub-flies' wings ; next are
the feathers got from the wings of throstles,
fieldfares, and blackbirds ; also those from
the back of the wild mallard, woodcock's
wings, and from the hen pheasant, the softest
part of the wing feather.
I
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 12/
THE BEST METHODS OF COLORING
GUT AND HAIR.
For a broxvn. — Take some alum pound-
ed, and boil it till dissolved, then add a
pound of walnut-tree bark from the branches
when the sap is up, or the buds, or green
nuts ; boil it an hour, and let it stand after
skimming about ten minutes ; then put in the
gut, or hair, for about a minute, stirring it
round, or till you like the colour: if you let
it continue there too long, it will become
dark and make the hair, or gut, rotten : I
think the lighter it is tinged with this colour
the better. You may also make it brown-
ish by steeping it in salt and ale.
For a pale watery green. — ^Take a pint
of strong ale, half a pound of soot, a small
quantity of the juice of walnut leaves, with
the like quantity of alum, put these into a
pipkin and boil them together about three
quarters of an hour ; having so done, take
128 THjE D]aiFFI>EXD AJJ^GLKU,
it off the fire, and when nearly cold put in
your gut or hdr. Or this. — Take two
quarts of alum water, somewhat more than
a handful of marigold flowers, boil them till
a yellow scum rises ; then take half a pound
of green copperas, with as much verdigrease,
and beat them together to a fine powder ;
put these, with the gut, or hair, into the alum
water, aiid let it lay three hours, or more,
then tafce it out and let it dry.
J^ar a bluish water co/our.-^Proceed as
m the iir^t re4:eipt, only add logwood instead
i)f the walnut, being caxeful not to colour it
iQp much.
Anothe7\ and the best. — Take about four
inches square of green baize cloth, a quarter
of a pound of alum, boil them in three pints
of soft water half an hour slowly, let it stand
till near cold; then put your gut, or hair, in for
an hour, and if it is too bright a green, take
some ink and give it what shade you please
between a green and bluish water colouf.
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 129
CHAPTER XL
OF SALMON FLIES.
it HESE, for the spring season, must be
made much larger, but not quite so gaudy
as those used in summer, viz. let the hook
be No. i, the shank three inches or more in
length, and small at the ^nd, in order that
the head of the fly may be made the neater :
the feather for the wings, the darkish brown
speckled, from the turkey's tail, and mixed
with about twelve harls from the peacock's
tail, dividing them that there may be six in
each wing; the next feathers for wings to
these large flies, are kite, buzzard, bittern,
and heron's wings. The body of the first
fly, called the tartan-fly, is of four, five or
more different colours, yellow, light blue,
green, dark red, orange, and purple, and as
ISO THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
many more colours as the fancy may lead the
angler to ; for the fork, or tails, use the dark
mottled feather from behind the wild mal-
lard's wings, and a black and red cock's
hackle over the body, for the legs and head.
Hozo to make the Tartan-fly, — Take three
lengths of strong silk-worm gut, properly
twisted together, and having your silk well
waxed (which must be of a light brown cop-
per colour) whip it round your gut six or
seven times, about an inch, or more, from
the end, which will prevent the shank of the
hook from galling it ; then take the hook,
and put the end of the shank nearly to the
top of the silk, that the gut may be on the
inside, and begin to whip the hook to it, bwt
desist when you have gone about half a
dozen rounds; then having a proper quantity
of feather ready for the wings, take it and
lay it on the back of the shank (keeping it
close together, and as even as you can)
with the right side next the hook, and the
biit-end downwarcj^, leaving the other end
"VllE DRIFFIELD ANGLEll. ISl
to be (when turned back again) full as long
as the hook ; then go on witli your silk, and
whip it round your feather, hook, and gut,
six or eight times, or sufficient to make it
fast, and with a pair of fine scissors cut away
what remains of the but-end of the feather,
taking care not to hurt the gut, which must
be opened and twisted round the shank of
the hook as you go on with the whipping,
which is to be continued till it nearly comes
opposite the point of the hook (but you
must cut off the ends of the gut before they
come quite so low down, if found too long) ;
next put on your strips of feather for the
forks at the tail, with the fine points down-
wards, leaving them both exactly the same
length, rather more than an inch long, and to
stand open and make two laps round with
the silk ; then take the hackle (which must
be ready prepared by stripping off the downy
part at top, and cutting the feather across on
each side near to the stem, about two or
three tenths of an inch from the point, or by
drawing the fibres back to prevent any of
132 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
them from being bound down by the silk)
and whip in the point of it two or three times
round, leaving the largest end and gold
hanging downwards, and the right uppermost,
making one lap round between it and the
fork, and one below all round the bare hook,
tight and close to the fork, and cut off the
superfluous ends of it, if any remain in sight ;
then wax your silk afresh, and having your
stuff for the body, all the different colours
separate, take first of the brightest yellow
hog's wool, and twist as much of i on the
silk as will make four or five laps round the
hook, then as much more of dark red, of
the same wool, twist on the silk and make
five or six laps at the end of the yellow ; then
take as much of green and do it as before
with five laps, and as much of light blue in
the same way ; as much dark orange done in
the same way, and as much black as will
bring j^ou up to the wings, then fasten ; take
your needle and prick the body all round,
'and make it even and straight; then take
your gold plaiting, or twist, that hangs at ihe
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 133
bend of the hook, and work it gradually up-
wards till you come close up to the feather
for the wings, and fasten ; then take your
hackle and work it up neatly between the
lappings of gold, till you come close to the
but of the wings, make all fast by two or
three laps, and if any of the fibres remain,
strip them off from the stem ; and untwist-
ing the silk to its proper place, make two or
three laps to fasten the hackle, and cut away
what remains of the stem ; then take the
feather for the wings, which has lain back
all this time, and turn it down towards the tail
of the fly, and holding it down tightish, with
the rest between your finger and thumb,
having all the part of the hackle out of the
way, whip it two or three times round with
the silk just over the feather very tight, and
then two or three laps close above it ; wax
the silk again a little, and take a bit of
copper-coloured mohair, and twist it thin on
your silk, and begin at the end of the hook
and lap it neatly four or five times up to the
back of the wings ; make two or three nooses
N
134 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
close to the wings, and finish the operation
with completing the head of the fly.
A SECOND FLY FOR SALMON.
Let the hook be the same size as the for-
mer, No. 1, only something shorter in the
fiJiank ; the wings, the mottled feather from
the turkey's tail, of a reddish cast ; the mix-
ture for the body, the light brown hair, or
fur of bear, mixed with dark brown hog's
wool, and gold coloured mohair, gold twist, a
large black cock's hackie, a red one a little
larger; and for the head, a bit of deep red
hog's wool, or mohair.
How to make it. — Proceed in the same
manner as before directed, until you come
opposite the point of the hook, then ]ay in
the ends of your hackles and twist them to-
gether, the red one undermost and the twist
at top, and after whipping them there, make
one lap below them ; wax your silk afrqsh^
twist on the dubbing for the body, and go
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 135
on as in the former case next the twist, and
rib it up to the wings, each lap about one
eighth of an inch from the other, sloping ;
then take the black hackle, and work that
upwards between the laps of the twist, rather
lower than the middle of each space, and
bring it twice round, close together at the top
of the body ; and bringing on the red hackle
in the same manner, w'ork it very neatly just
above each lap of the black one, and finish
it the same way, contriving to leave the twist
just to show itself between the hackles, and
then complete your fly as before directed.
A THIRD FLY, CALLED THE BLACK
DOG IN SCOTLAND.
The hook No. 1, and shank near three
inches long ; the wings, the bluish feather
from the heron's wing, intermixed with the
spotted reddish ones of a turkey's tail ; fea-
thers for the body, lead coloured hog's soft
wool from under the ear, small gold twist, a
N 2
136 TH£ DRIFFIELD aNGLEK.
large black cock's hackle ; the head, a little
dark green mohair, and dark green silk.
Hoxv to make it, — Proceed in the same
way as before, whipping the points of the
hackle and gold before you come opposite
the point of the hook ; wax your silk afresh,
twist on your dabbing for the body, and go
on a;s in the former case, twisting it neatly
round the silk ; lap it smooth and even alike
up to the wings; the body of this fly is all
of a thickness from head to tail ; take the
twist and lap it up neatly about two tenths
of an inch from each other, sloping up to the
wangs, make one noose ; then take the hackle
and work it upwards between each lap of
the gold twist, till you come to the but of the
wings ; make the stem fast by two laps and a
noose, cut away what remains of the stem ;
then take your needle and put your hackle
in order, bring the wings forward, divide
them with the gold twist that hangs at the
shoulders, bringing it three or four times
backwards and forwards between the wings,
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 13/
making it appear as much as possible about
the head ; wax your silk, and twist a little
cfrecn mohair on the silk, and finish the head
of your fly. Here you have the very best
fly from the middle of April till about the
last week in May, that can be fished with in
any river in the united kingdom.
I have killed, on the river Tay, in one
day, twelve Salmon, near Lord Bredalbane^S,
that weighed together eighteen stone, with
this fly only. I have had most excellent
sport on the Spay, Dee, and Don, and almost
every Salmon-river in the north; and par-
ticularly on the river Aw, which runs into
the Sound of Mull, in the west of Scotland,
jfend one of the best Salmon-fisheries in the
kingdom.
A FOURTH FLY.
For this fly, hook No. ^; the w^ing^ a
speckled feather from a kite or buzzard's
wing ; for the body, light blue hog's wool,
N 3
138 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
and a little lead-coloured mohair mixed,
small gold twist, a large white cock's hackle,
dyed a darkish blue, four strips of the cop-
per-coloured feather of the mallard for the
forks ; the head a little of the same as the
body, and your silk a dark bhie colour.
Ho7o to make it. — Proceed the same way
as before described, until you come opposite
the point of tlie hook, whipping in the point
of the hackle, and going a few laps, then
take the twist and the strips for the forks,
whip in the twist and forks ; wax your silk,
twist the dubbing even on the silk, leaving
it fine next the hook, but gradually thicken-
ing upwards; make one lap below the fork,
and one or two, as required, between that
and the hackle, and work it gradually up-
wards till you come close to the feather
for the wings; if any of the fur remains on
the silk after you have thus formed the body,
take it off, and wind your silk lightly a little
upwards to be out of the way; then take the
hackle by the end of the stem, and rib it
THE DRTFFIELB ANGLER. 13^
neatly, lapping it thicker as you go on, till
you bring it up to the wings ; fasten the stein
by two laps close to the wings, bring them
forward to the bend of the hook, divide them
and make two or three laps between tiie
wings, and two laps behind the wings, to
throw them forward, and to lay as flat as you
can on the back of the hook ; then take a
little of the dubbing, the same as the body,
twist it very thin on the silk, lap it three or
four times at the back of the wings, making
three nooses close to the wings, cut off the
silk, take your needle and put your fly to
rights, and your work is completed.
A FIFTH FLY.
Take for this fly, hook No. 2, the length
about two inches ; for the wings, the mottled
grey feather from the turkey's tail ; for the
body, two strands of the copper-coloured
feather from the peacock's tail, and two of
green plover's, or lapwing's, topping, narrow
silver plaiting, dark red silk^ two forks ap
140 TTIE DllIFFXELD ANGLER.
inch and a quarter long from the tail fea-
ther of a cock pheasant, and a dark tinged
cock's hackle.
Proceed in the same way as before, whip-
ping in the hackle a little before you come
opposite the point of the hook, give, two or
three laps, take the plaiting and the strips
for the forks, whip in the end of the feathers
and plaiting together, cut away the end of
the feather ; take the peacock harl and plov-
er's feather, twist them and the silk together,
then w^ork it up neatly, leaving it fine next
the hook, but gradually thickening upwards
to the wings ; having fastened as before, take
tlie plaiting, make tw^o laps with it close be-
low the forks, that they may stand up and
separate, and the points even, then give one
lap above it, rib the plaiting neatly up to the
wings, about the eighth of an mch between
each lap, sloping, fasten : the plaiting by a
lap and one ooose ; next work, up the hackle
-neatly between each lap of the plaiting, till
you qome to tbe, wings, then give the hackle
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 141
tvro turns, fasten the stem, and cut away
what remains of it; take a peacock's hackle
and finish the head of the fly, take your
needle and put all in order ; this is a very
killing fly, but best in bright weather.
A SIXTH, CALLED THE GOLDEN
FLY.
For this fly, a hook No. 3^ the shank near
two inches in length; the wings from the
golden pheasant, the common pheasant, the
parrot, the peacock's harl from the tail, the
turkey's mottled feather from the tail, and
two blue mottled feathers from the jay's^
wings, one placed on each side of the wings,,
with the mottled side downwards ; it must be
made very soft with your finger and thumb,
not breaking the crust of the stem that may
lay more flat down to the other part of th^
wings; it must be lapped on, before you finish
the head, by itself; all the other feathers
must be mixed equally alike, and a middling
l&rge wing, but not longer than to the end Qi
14% TftE I^RIFFIELD ANGLEKv
the hook ; finish the head with a very little
green mohair ; the body, broad gold plaiting,
with a strong, bold, red cock's hackle, ribbed
with a piece of dark green silk ; the body
must be all of one thickness, about the size
of a wheat straw, and made with any kind
of thick, or round, silk ; at the same time
lapping in the hackle, silk, and gold plaiting,
take the plaiting and make two laps on the
hook at the tail of the fly, then lap the plait-
ing side by side till you come to the but of
the wings, and fasten ; take the green silk
and lap it neatly up, about the eighth of am
inch slanting from each other, to the wings
as before, and fasten ; then take the hackle,
with both the sides on, and lap it neatly be-
tween every lap of the silk, and giving two
laps under the wings fasten your hackle;
then bring the wings forward, pressing them
down to the tail of the fly, divide the wings
into two equal parts ; take your silk, well
waxed, and, crossing it three or four timea
between them, make two or three laps behind
the wings, in order to throw them forward:^^
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 143
and lay rather flat on the back of the fly
than otherwise ; for the head take the ruddy
harl of a peacock's feather, and finish as
before.
A SEVENTH, CALLED THE SILVER
FLY.
Made as the golden Jlij. — For this fly,
hook No. 3 or 4, the shank nearly the same
length as the last, also the same wings ; the
body, silver plaiting, a bit of green silktorit^
^ with, and light blue cock's hackle; finish
the head with the ruddy of peacock, as
before-mentioned. They are both to be used
from the middle of June till the latter end of
August, when the waters are low and fine ;
after that time yon must return to your
spring flies : yet, if the weather and waters
continue fine, they will take the last four
flies till the middle of September.
The same sort of flies are used for Salmon-
trout, and other fish of the Salmon kind,
144 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
(at times) only smaller hooks. No. 4, 5, and
6; though they will often take very small
Trout-flies, with which I have killed dozens
of them in a day, on the Tweed and Whiteter,
five miles above Berwick, which is one of
the best small rivers in the North for this
sort of fishing, and affords most excellent
sport to the angler.
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 145
CHAPTER XIL
DESCRIPTION OF THE
AUTIFICIAIL FI.IES.
Proper to angle with' in the Dj^iffield rivers^
or in any Trout atream in the kingdom ;
For every month in the year, except January and
December ; when the fish are at spawn, and it is
highly unfair to take them ; nor indeed would the
true sportsman attempt to angle for more than six
months, viz. from Lady-day to Michaelmas.
FEBPJJAllY.
No. \, A H E palmer-fly y or plain-hackle,^
The body is made of black hog's wool, dark
red silk, dark red cock's hackle over all ;
hook No. 6, and made in this manner : In
O
M6 the DftlFFlKLD ANGLtK,
whipping on the hook, lap in the point of the
liackle ; when you have gone ahout halfway,
wax your silk, and likewise at the bottom
wax your silk, and twist on your dubbing
very thin towards the tail, and gradually
thicken it up to the body, within the tenth of
an inch of the end, and fasten ; put the body
in order with your needle, then begin to lap
the hackle, and as you -go up lap it thicker,
and take two turns close together, at the top
make a lap; and two or three nooses, and cut
the silk off; take your needle and put tfie
hackle in order, with your finger and thumb
of the right hand turn the hackle towards the
tail of the fly, pressing it close down to the
hook on all sides, which finishes the fly. It
is in season all the month, and until the
middle of March.
Ko* 2. 7Jie gold'hackle. — The body black
spaniers ear, dark yellow silk ribbed over
with gold twist, and dark, black, red, or
tinged cock's hackle over all ; it is made in
the same way as the palmer.
THK PllIFFlELD ANGLER. 147
No. 3. The black-wing-hackle. — The
wings, the light part of a feather from the
stare or starling's wings, stripped off from the
stem ; the body, black water-dog's fur, and
black hackle over it, and is made thus : tak^
a good even silk-worm gut, a hook No. 6 or
7, and proceed as with the Salmon-flies, al-
ways observing to keep the feather close to-
gether, even and level at the points, laying
it on (as before) with the wrong side upper-
most ; when you come to use the fur for the
body, lay it on very thin and neat, and work
the hackle, which must be suited in size, neat-
ly over it till it comes up to the wings, thea
bring it twice round, but if there be too
iftijijch strip it qff; whip the stem fast, a;nd
cutting 9.way the end that remains, take your
needle and divide the feather for the winss
into two parts, as equal as possible, and
bring that part nearest you by turning it
downwards, and holding it a little tight and
smooth, give it three or four laps just ov.^
tlie feather, as near the top of it as you can,
so that the silk may not s.l^p off, keeping ali
02
148 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
the points of the hackle downwards out of the
way ; then take the other part, bringing it
down in the same manner, and holding all
between your finger and thumb, taking care
that no part of the wings get down too low
on the sides ; whip them both over together
the same as at first, very tight, give two laps
above them, and fasten by noosing your silk
two or three times, which finishes the head
of the fly ; after this is done, take your needle
and put the hackle, &c. in order, with the
wings sloping towards the tail ; this way of
parting the wings makes them look very na-
tural : those that are made to stand upright,
or nearly so, affright instead of enticing the
fish, by the unnatural break in the water
when moved ; therefore the end fly ought to
be fished with two inches under the water.
No. 4. The dark brown fly. — With dub-
bing of the brown hair of the flank of a brind-
led calf, collected in the spring ; a small
tinged hackle, lapped two or three times under
the wings with dark red silk ; the wings froiti
THE PRIFflELD ANGLER. 14j9
the light part of a starling's wing. This is
an excellent fly for March, April; and part
of May, with hook No. 7.
MARCH.
In this inonth use all the same flies^ as iu
February, but made less.
No* L The whirling-dun^ — made ofthq
bottom fur of a squirrel's tail, and mixed
with a little light blue hog's wool, or mohair,
lapped on witli dusty yellow silk ; the wing?
of starling's feather.
^0. 2. The early bright &row/?,-3rmade
of the down of a dark red spaniel's ear, and
a 3ry small tinged hackle, lapped two or
thr^e times under the wings; you may fork
this .ly lapped on with copper-coloured silk ;
the wings, the light mottled feather of the
pheasant hen's wing, the hook No. 7 ; a
good fly all the mon h, and until the middle
of April.
O 3
150 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
No. 3. The little bright broxon^ — taken
from the middle of the month to the middle
of April ; made of a light brown dubbing
from the spaniel's ear, and mixed with yellow
mohair, lapped with yellow silk, and two
forks at his tail ; the wings from the light
feather of a jay's wing ; the hook No. 9-
No. 4. The whitest dun^ — made of the
roots of camel's hair, lapped with ash colour-
ed silk, and a light grey pheasant hen's fea-
ther ; the hook No. 9. In the forenoon it is
taken from ten till one o'clock.
No. 5. The latter bright brown, — taken
from thQ middle of March till the latter end
of April, and made with dubbing of bright
copper-coloured mohair, lapped with red
silk and a tinge hackle all over the body,
and a woodcock's wing feather, or brown
hen's wing ; the wings very little longer than
the body, and a hook No. 7. It is one of
the best flies we have.
i
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER, 151
APRIL.
The same hackles and flies that are used
in March, are taken in April also, with this
difference only, that all the browns be lapped
with copper-coloured silk, and the duns with
yellow silk. I shall add to these the flies
peculiar to this month.
No. 1. The small bright brown, — made
of a spaniel's fur, from the point of the ear,
which is much weather-beaten, with a yellow
cast, and copper-coloured silk, and a light
starling's wing ; to be used in clear water :
the hook No. 9.
No. 2. The great whirling dun, — taken
from about the tenth of this month to the
first week in May, from eleven until two
o'clock ; and, at times, from thence to th»
first of July, in most rivers; and is com-
monly made of the down of a fox's cub,
which is of an ash-colour at the roots, lap-
153 THE DJilFFIELD AXtJLER,
ped with yellow silk; the wing, of the pale
grey feather of a mallard, very little longer
than the body.
Jn entire new method of making it. —
Take a small even silk-worm gut, and half a
yard of fine yellow silk well waxed, with
hook No. 7 or 8, and proceed thus : take
the hook between the finger and thumb of
your left hand, take your silk and make two
laps round the hook, within the tenth of an
inch of the bend, wax the end of the gut
and lay it on the inside of the shank ; if you
mean to fork it, take two fibres of the cop-
per-coloured feather of the mallard, and lay
them on the back of the hook, leaving them
a proper length ; then begin to lap the gut to
ithe hook all the way up till you come within
Jhe tenth of an inch of the end of the shank;
iWax your silk, and having the feather for the
#v^ings ready, taking care the points are even,
lay them on the back of the hook, keeping
.them close together and even with the right
s^de next the hook, and the but-ends down-
THE DRIFFIELD AITGLER. 153
wards, leaving the others (when turned back
again) to come near the bend of the hook;
take your needle and divide the wings, and
with your silk, bringing it two or three times
backwards and forwards between them, make
one noose behind the wing ; w^ax your silk,
bring the wings forward and press them down
close to the back of the hook, with the finger
and thumb of the right hand, taking fast hold
of them with the left finger and thumb ; then
take the silk, and what remains of the shank,
which should be no more than about the
twelfth of an inch, make two or three laps,
till all the end be taken up ; turn the silk
back to the wings, and make two nooses
close to the back of them, which will throw
the wings quite forwards to the bend, and
make them stand in their proper places;
having the dubbing ready for the body, twirl
it thin and neatly on the silk, but remember
that it is to be thicker on the silk for the
first three or four turns under the wings, in
order to thicken the shoulder of the fly ; then
let the silkj &c. be thinly covered with the
154 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
dubl)ing, and lap it neatly down to the tail of
the %, side by side ; make a lap round the
tail, and strip off what remains on the silk of
the dubbing; wax your silk, and make two or
three neat nooses at the tail, and then cut off
the silk ; take your needle and pick out as
much of the dubbing as will cover the tail of
the fly ; with your needle put the body into
proper form all the way up to the wings,
leaving part of the dubbing for feet, but
those that do not stand in their place on the
body, or feet, take them ^way with the tweez-
er^. Here you will have finished one of the
neatest dubb-flies that can be made with
hands.
When I make winged-hackles, palmers^
and diubb-fl.ies, I begin in the same manue;?
as with this fly.
No. 3. The grouse'hackle.--r-This has nq
wings ; the mixture for the body is dark olive
mohair, and a fine gold coloured hog's wool,
K# ffiixecj^ and copper-colour^.d silk of finq^
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLE*. 155
mottled •gr(!yiis^ feather, of a reddish brow^i,
from the neck of the €oek; the hook No. 7.
How to iJtake this fly. — ^Take a small even
silk-worm gut, and half a yard of silt, well
waxed, with the hook between the finger and
thumb of the left hand ; take your silk and
make two laps round the hook, within the
tenth of an inch of the bend, wax the end of
the gut and lay it on the inside of the shank ;
ffien begin to lap the gut to the hook all the
way up till you connfe within the twelfth of an
inch of the enti of the shatlk, make one
noose ; then take the hackle and strip off the
downy part froi^ the stem, and lay (he
back of the stem on the back of the hook,
i^ake two or three laps round the hook, gut,
and feather, till you have nearly covered all
the shank, only leaving as mxrch as to make
two turns round the hook and gut, tiH the
hook is nearly covered with the lapping;
bring the silk back to the inside of the stem,
nrake one noose and cut away the end oi the
5tem ; take a little af the dubbing and twirl
156 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
it thin and even on the silk, and lap it neatly
side by side till you come near to the middle
of the fly; strip off the dubbing, and fasten
there with one noose ; wax the silk, and leave
it hanging till you bring down the point of
the hackle to that place ; now take the hackle
by the point, and bring both sides of the
feather to the back of the stem, taking them
several times through your lips, and making
them wet, then they will stand together at the
back, or side, of the stem next you ; then
take the point of the hackle between the
finger and thumb of the right hand, work the
hackle neatly down till you come to where
the silk is hangmg, then bring the hackle
round close over' the end of the dubbing,
keeping it very tight, with the silk make two
laps and a noose, then cut away what is left
of the point of the hackle ; wax the silk and
take a small quantity of the same dubbing
and twirl it round the silk, very thin toward^
the tail, make one lap at the end of the tail
and strip off what remains on the silk of the.|
dubbing ; wax your silk, make two nooses
THE DRIl^'FIELD ANGLER. ]^7
as neatly as you can at the tail of the fly ;
take your needle and pick out a little of the
dubbing, which will cover the finishing of the
fly ; now with the needle put the body and
hackle in order, and leaving the body towards
the tail of the fly, so that you see the rows,
or ribSj of silk through the dubbings bring
forward the hackle between the finger and
thumb of the right hand towards the tail of
the fly, pressing the hackle close down to the
hook on all sides ; here the hackle is finished.
If you wish to hackle all the length of the
body, and have it ribbed with gold or silver,
you must proceed as before-mentioned with
the grouse-hackle, only remember when you
fasten the stem of the hackle on the back of
the hook, fasten the gold or silver twist at
the same time ; in making the body, be sure
to make it rather thicker at the shoulder than
in any other part of it ; take the gold twist
and lap it sloping and neatly, four or five
times round the body till you come to the
end of the tail, and fasten with one noose ;
158 tHE DRIFFIELD AXGLEll.
then take the hackle by the point, with the
finger and thumb of the right hand, and make
two turns with the hackle at the very top of
the hook, close to each other ; then lap the
hackle neatly down, between every lap of the
gold, till you come to the tail of the fly,
where you will find the end of the silk, and
bring the point of the hackle tight round the
hook at the tail ; make a lap, and two or
three nooses, and with your finger and thumb
press down the hackle all round the hook,
and with your needle put the hackle to rights,
and the fly is finished.
When the fly-maker gets into this method,
it being the quickest, easiest, and neatest way
of making Trout-flies, he will never attempt
to make them by any other.
No. 4. The brown partridge. — ^The wings
are of a feather from a partridge's tail (not
the red) ; the body a sable fur, and gold-
coloured hog's wool, well mixed ; in making
it proceed in the same way as with the great
whirling dun ; the hook No. 7.
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 159
No. 5. The sooty dim hacklcy — has no
wings ; the body, a little lead-coloured mo-
hair, ash-coloured silk, with a sooty dun
cock's hackle, all the length of the body : ijt
is made by fastening the stem of the hackle
at top, and proceed as witli the gold hackle ;
make the body very thin all the way down
to the tail, and the hackle suited to the size
of your hook : what remains^ to be done has
been before explained ; the hook No. 7. It
is a good fly in the hot months, in large
rivers and rapid streams : this fly may be
fished with either 9<s the end-fly or dropper*
MAY.
In the month of May, all the same hackles
and flies may be used as in March and Aprils
the hackles lighter, and the flies rather
smaller. I shall add a few of the very best
flies for this month, especially the dun-cut,
green-drake, grey-drake, and stone-fly.
No. 1. The dun-cut. — ^The dubbing of
}60 THE DRIFFIELD i^NGLEK.
bear's hair, with a little blue and yellow mo-
hair intermixed, lapped on with yellow silk ;
a dun whig from the kite's wing feather, and
two horns, or forks, from a foulmart's tail, and
made the same way as the great whirling dun.
It is a very killing fly in every river, rapid
stream, and shallow water.
No. 2. The green-drake, — which comes
in about the twenty-tifth day of May, and is
taken till about the twenty-first of June, in
all rivers, and almost in every hour of the
day. The wings, the grey spotted feather of
a mallard, dyed yellow ; the body, a little fine
wool from the ram's testicles, which is of a
beautiful dusty yellow, and ribbed with cop-
per-coloured silk, with a dark bittern's hackle
for legs, and two hairs from the fitchat's tail
for the tail, or forks, and a bit of the brown
peacock's harl from the tail feather for the
head. This is a large fly, and should be
made on a hook No. 5, or large No. 6; there
requires no further instructions for making
it, than what has before been given.
I
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. IGl
No. 3. The grey-drake. — The wings, the
grey mottled part of a mallard, mixed with
that of a jay or widgeon; the body, light
camel's hair, a little light sky-blue hog's
wool, well mixed, ash-coloured &ilk, a small
bluish grizzled cock's hackle; the forks, three
fangs from the foulmart's tail. In making
this fly, let the three hairs for the forks be
an inch and a quarter long at the least, and
stand open, and a bit of peacock's feather at
the tail ; and is made in the manner as de-
scribed before.
No. 4. The yellow-hackle. — For the
hackle, the mottled feather from the mal-
lard's breast, dyed yellow ; the body tlie
same as the green-drake, and ribbed (the
same as that fly) witii copper-coloured silk,
and two forks of the fitchat s tail, about an.
inch long ; a bit of the peacock's harl at the
head. It is made in the same way as the
grouse-hackle, but you must not bring the
hackle quite so low down on the body. —
This is the very best fly all the drake-season.
P 3
1<)2 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
These three flies are end-flies, and fished
with singly ; the hook No. 6.
No. 5. The stone-^y. — Made of bear's
dun hair, with brown and yellow camlet, well
mixed, but so placed, that the fly may be
more brown towards the wings, and yellow
towards the tail ; you must place a black
cock's hackle on the top of the hook, in the
arming, or whipping, so as to be turned up
when you wrap on your dubbing, and to stand
almost upright ; it must be ribbed with cop-
per and yellow-coloured silk, twisted to-
gether, and lapped six times- round the body,
sloping . towards the tail ; the wings just as
long as the body, and made from a kite or
woodcock's wing, the mallard's feather being
too stiff, and not so near to the colour of tlifi
fly, nor lying so flat to its body. It is a
good killer, and made as before described.
lIookNcO. An end-fly.
No, 6. The black silver-hackle, — j\fade
of the whirl of aa ostrich's feather, and lap
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. \63
ped round five times, sloping, witli silver
twist, and a black cock's hackle over all. A
good fly the latter end of May, and all June ;
the hook No. 8. A dropper.
No. 7. Thewoodcock'fly. — Made of brown
spaniel's ear, and a little of the squirrel's fur,
well mixed, with two w^hisks af the mallard's
copper-coloured feather from behind the
wing for forks ; and a small tinged hackle,
with one side taken off, and lapped neatly
sloping to the tail, and fasten as observed
before ; and wdth your needle put the body
and hackle in order; the hook No. 8 or 9-
[Taken from the twentieth of this month, to
Uhe latter end of August, when there is any
wind stirrings and the best fly we have.
JUNE.
No, J. The grizzle hackle. — This fly fol-
lows the green and grey ones, and is a good
fly during its season ; it has no wings ; the
body, a feather from the pheasant's tail, of a
lG4i THE PRIFFIELD A^GLEn.
dark reddish brown, red or copper-coloured
silk, and a dark grizzled cock's hackle : it is
made ni ttie same way as tlie grouse-hackle ;.
the hook No. 8. A dropper.
No. 2. The golden sooty dun, — The
wings, starling's feather; the body, dark
brown wool of a black lamb weather-beaten,
resembling soot, and mixed with a little
bright yellow martern's fur, and ao hackle.
It is made the same way as the brown-par-
tridge : hook No. 9 ; and in season from the
beginning of June to the latter end of Sep-
tember.
No, 3. The light blue fox, — The wings
are the light feather from a starling's wiiig,;
the body, fox's blue fur, a little light camel's
hair, and light straw-coloured mohair, well
mixed ; the fork at the tail is two hairs that
grow on a monkey's skin, which is of a fine
ash-colour ; proceed as with tKe great whirl-
ing dun, and finish the same. In »ome rivers
it is in season the last w^eek in April, and. in
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER^ l65
Others in May; however it is a good fly,
and taken all the summer on every river, at
times.
No. 4. The purple-hackle. — Made with
spaniel's fur, and a little purple mohair, mix-
ed and twirled on dark red silk, with a blood
red cock's hackle over all ; the hook No. 8*
No. 5. The owl-fly. — Taken about the
middle of the month till the latter end of
July, late in the evening. TKo r^nhhing
must be made of a very light yellow, or al-
most white mohair, a very light yellow silk,
a small brown head of the peacock's harl,
and the wings of the white grey feather of the
mallard, and must be very little longer than
the body ; the hook No. 7. With this fly I
have had good sport, in all rivers that I have
fished, in an evening till about ten o'clock.
No. 6. The ant-fly. — The wings, a feather
of the starling's wing ; the body, mohair of
amber-colour, mixed with a little black.
166 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
spaniel's fur, and small brown silk, black red
tinged cock's hackle twice round the wings.
In making it, let the body be large at the tail
and small towards the wings, and endeavour
to form as natural a resemblance of the ant
as possible, and finish as in former cases ; the
hook No. 11.
No. 7. The green grasshopper, — The
body of green and yellow mohair, well mix-
ed, and the body ribbed over with fine green
silk. anH a green peacock's harl twisted to-
gether, and a light red cock's hackle over
all ; the hook No. 6.
No. 8. The dun-grasskoppcr. — The body
slenderly made, of a little dun bear's hair, and
a little dark dun mohair, and dun smoky
hackle over all. A good fly in a dai'k windy
day. The hook No. 5 or 6.
THE DRIFFIELD ANG'LEH. iGf
JULY.
The dub-flies for this month are,
No. 1. The badger-Jly. — The body of
badger's skin, from the skinners' pits, twisted
on some small red silk, with a dark red head,
and a sad grey wing, from the pheasant hen's
wing feather. This is a good fly, and used
in March, April, and May : the hook No.
9 or 10.
No. S. The orange-fiy. — The dubbing
of dark orange-coloured mohair, and small
gold twist, with a small orange-coloured
hackle twice under the wing, and a black
wdng from a crow's wing feather ; it may be
varied with a rail's feather. A good fly in
the afternoon.
No. 3. The wasp-fly. — Made of dark
brown dubbing from the bear, and a black
rabbit's fur, a little yellow mohair, well mix-
ed, and ribbed over with yellow silk ; the
168 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER*
wings of the mallard's grey feather ; the hook
No. 7 or 8.
No. 4. The shell-fly.— Vf'ith dubbing of
yellow fine hog's wool, or mohair, mixed
with the dark fur of a hare's ear ; lead-co-
loured silk, and starling's wing ; the hook
No. 9 or 10.
No. 5. The little dun. — The body made
of white mohair, twirled on ash-coloured
silk ; the wings of a jay's light blue wing fea-^
ther; the dubbing raised under the wings
with your needle; the hook No. 9 or 10.
A good fly in an evening before the moths
come.
Though I by no means approve of night-
fishing with the moths, yet, as many sports-
men are so passionately fond of angling as
to be induced to pursue their pastime at all
events, and are often more successful than in
the day-time, I will here give them a descrip-
tion of the best flies for the purpose.
THE DRIFFIELD A]\ ixx.xi.iv#. *^^
• No. 1. The mealy white moth^- — with
large broad wings, just the length of the;
body, made of the soft mealy feather of a
white owl ; the body, the soft white fur of a
hare, or a rabbit, with a soft white hackle v
the body as thick as a very large straw, till
you come near the wings, there lap two oit
three times, take the hackle by the point and
lap it two or three times pretty close under^
the wings ; afterwards thinly down to thet
tail, there make the point fast by noosing*
two or three times, as observed before lO;
other places ; the hook should be No. 4/
or 5 at the least.
No. 2. The mealy cream moth. — The:
wings are tlie feathers of a yellow owl, of a
deep cream colour ; the body made of the
fur of a white weasel's tail, lapped on with
straw-coloured silk, and a bit of brown pea*
cock's harlfor the head, and a yellow hac-
kle ; it is made on the same sized hook, and
finished, and fished with, the same way as
the former. You may vary the head with
170 THE ©RlFriElB ANCLEH.
silver or gold, which ever best suits your
purpose.
No. 3. The mealy hrown.^-^liht wings
are made of the mottled brown feather of
an owl ; the body, the fur of a weasel's tail,
a little yellow martern's fur, and very little
brown spaniels for from the ear, well mixed,
and a bittern's hackle lapped four or five
times under the wings, and with your scissors
cut the hackle so as to be left half an inch
Jong for the legs ; and a brown head, or silver
twist instead, as the last, and finished in the
same way. They are great killers in warm
gloomy nights, after hot days ; and when you
fish this way, you should fish with no more
than six or seven yards. You may hear the
fish rise as in the day time, and feel them
when they take.
AUGUST-
In addition to the fli6s that are used in
July, prepare as follows :
THK DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 171
No. 1. Tht fern-jly, — The dubbing of
the fur of a hare or rabbit's neck, that is
the colour of witiiered fern, with orange
silk ; a dark grey wing of a mallard's fea-
ther \ the hook No. 9.
No. 2. The harry long legs. — The body,
long and slender, made of bears dun, and blue
mohair, well mixed, with a smoky brown hackle
feather over all, and lapped with brown silk ;
the hook No. 5 or 6. N. B. Ail the same
browns and duns are taken this month that
were fished with the latter end of April and
May,
SEPTEMBER.
The same flies are taken this month that
were in April.
OCTOBER.
The same as were taken in March*
-./^ THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
NOVEMBER.
The same as were taken in February.
INSTRUCTIONS for FLY-FISHING.
Let your line be about half as long again
as the rod, and holding that in one hand and
the line, near the fly, in the other, give your
rod a motion from right to left; and as you
move the rod backwards to throw out the
line, let it go out of your left hand; at the
same time try several throws at this length,
and having v»'ell marked your object on the
opposite side oftlie water, and made several
throws, let out a yard or two more line, and
try that till you throw within four or five
inches every time, if the wind be any way
in your favour ; still using more and more
line, till you can manage any length required,
from ten to tvrelve yards^ which is quite
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 173
sufficient for the young angler to practise
with. And observe, that in raising your line
in order to throw it in again, you should
bring your rod round your head, and not di-
rectly backwards ; nor must you return the
line too soon, nor till it has gone its full
length behind you, or you will certainly whip
off your end-fly. There is great art in mak-
ing your line fall on the water, and showing
the fly well to the fish; which must be done
without any part of the line falling into the
water, except your flies and cast-line : to
prevent this great impediment, when you
make your throw, or cast, to bring your rod
round from right to left, and the line at
its full extent, bring the point, or top, of
your rod in a direct line with your eye to
the place you wish to throw it to, minding
when your rod comes between the place and
your eye, to stiffen the rest of your hand,
which will prevent the top coming too near
the water ; and the spring of tlie top back-
wards will raise the middle of your long line,
and throw your flies and cast-line within four
Q 3
174 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
or five inches to where you wish to have it
on the water, in a very natural way, and no
part of your wheel-line will touch the water :
when once an anrfer sets this method of
throwing, he will be able to throw with a six-
teen feet rod, from eighteen yards to two
or three and twenty neatly; and also will
be enabled to throw ten or twelve yards in
the wind's eye to the opposite bank, w^hich
will enable him to kill more Trout than any
other angler, except he manages his rod and
line in the same way; but this can only be
attained by practice : for this reason, when
he throws his flies to the opposite side, the
wind and stream will bring the flies more
naturally down and cross-ways on the stream,
than throwing downwards : and if the angler
will but observe when a Trout or Salmon is
hooked from the opposite bank, that he is
always well hooked and killed ; and most fish
that take the fly a litde across and against
the stream, are never well hooked, and sel-
dom killed ; although at times they will
give some play and get loose at the last,
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 175
except you have a landing-net with a long
handle, to reach a good way. Always ob-
serve when you hook a fish, if he goes to
the bottom and never shows himself at the
top till you have almost killed him, you may
be assured he is well hooked, and with care
he is your own; but if you hook a fish and
it springs out of the water often, he is but
slightly hooked, or the point of it is against
a bone, which will make him bounce out of
the water several times, and, by so doing,
will frequently disengage himself from the
hook,
1
CHAPTER XIIL
OF WORMS.
Jl HE ash'grub, — is a milk-white worm,
with a red head, and may be had at any time
from Michaelmas till June : it is to be found
under the bark of an oak, ash, alder, or
176 THE DRIFFIEjLD ANGLER,
birch, if they lay a year after they have been
cut down ; you may likewise find them in the
bodies of rotten alders if you break them
with an axe ; as also under the bark of a
decayed stump of a tree : it is a good bait
for a Grayling, Chub, Roach, and Dace.—
The brandling, gilt-tail, and red worm are all
to be found in old dunghills, or the rotten
earth near them ; but the best are found in
tanners' yards, under the heaps of bark
which they throw out after they have done
with it. The brandhng is most readily met
with in hogs' dung, horses' dung, and rotten
earth, and also in old thatch and dung. These
are good baits for Trout, Graylmg, Sal-
mon-smelts, Gudgeons, Pearch, Tench^ and
Bream, or any fish that takes a worm.
The clap-bait^ — is found under cows' dung,
and is like a gentle, but larger. You must
seek for it only on such land as is light and
sandy ; it is much of the same nature with
the earth-bob, and may be kept in wet moss
for two or three days. It is an excellent
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER, 177
fcait for a Trout, and every other fish will
take it.
Thecod'bait^ cadis-zcorm, Sind straw-zvorm,
' — are only different names for the same bait :
they are found in pits, ponds, brooks, and
ditches, and are covered with husks of sticks,
straws, or rushes ; they are very good baits
for Trout, Grayling, Carp, Tench, Bream,
Chub, Roach, Dace, Salmon-smelts, and
Bleak. The green sort are found in March,
the yellow in May, and a third sort in Au-
gust ; these covered with rushes are always
green, and those with stones usually yellow,
all the season.
The earth-bob^ or zvhite-grub^ — is a worm
with a red head, as large as two maggots, and
is soft, and full of whitish guts ; it is found
in a light sandy soil, and may be gathered
after the plough, when the land is first broke
up from grazing : you may know in what
ground to find them by the crows, as they
will follow the plough very close where those
178 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
animals are to be met with. This is chiefly
a winter-bait from the beginning of Novem-
ber till the middle of April, and is proper
for Chub, Roach, Dace, Bream, Tench,
Carp, Trout, and Salmon-smelts. They are
-to be kept in a vessel closely stopped, Avith
a sufficient quantity of the earth they were
bred in, and they will be ready for use all
the winter.
The flag'Worm^ or dock-worm, — is found
in the roots of flags that grow on the brink
of an old pond ; when you have pulled up
the roots, you will find among the fibres red-
dish, or yellow cases, these you must open
with a pin, and you will find a small worm,
longer and more slender than a gentle, with
a red head, palish body, and rows of feet all
down the belly. This is an exceeding good
bait for Grayling, Tench, Bream, Carp^
Roach, and Dace.
The lob-woririy dew-roorm^ garden-worm^
&c. — are found in gardens^ pasture-lands,
THE DRIFFIEID AN6LEK. \7§
Sec, late in a summer's evening, with a lantern
and candle : they are also to be dug up in
fields, and other places, by the sides of
ditches and drains ; the best sort are those
free from knots, a red head, a streak down
the back, and a broad tail. To scour and
preserve them for use, take some moss, the
best is tliat which grows on heaths, being
soft and white, and when gathered will be
clear and free from dirt at the roots ; dip it
into clean water, wring it nearly dry, and put
half of it into an earthen pot, the worms and
the other part of the moss at top, cover it close
that they may not get out, and keep it in a
cool place in summer, and in a warm one
in winter, so as to prevent the cold weather,
or frost from killing them ; the moss must
be changed every third day in summer, and
once in six days in winter; in a week's time
your worms will be fit for use ; and from
these supply your worm-bag when you re-
quire this kind of worm, and what you have
not used, upon your return home, put them
into the pot again*
180 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
The marsh-worm^ — is to be found m
marshy ground on the banks of rivers ; is
of a bluish colour, and a good bait for
Salmon-smelts, Gudgeons, Grayling, Trout,
and Pearch.
The tag'taily — is of a pale flesh colour,
with a yellow tag on his tail, almost half an
inch long, and found in marl-land, or mea-
dows, after a shower of rain ; and a good
bait for Trout, after the water is coloured
with rain.
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 181
CHAPTER XIV.
RULES FOR FISHING,
AND
OTHER OBSERVATIONS.
^T HEN the nights prove dark, cloudy, or
windy, and the moon shines little, or not al
all, the next day there will be but poor sport,
except with small fish ; as Trout, and great
fish, then range about in search of prey. In
small, clear, and shallow brooks, where the
mills stand and keep up the water, you will
seldom catch fish ; as they^ especially Trout^
dare not then come out of their holds, by
reason of the shallowness of the water, which
then brings no aliment with it. Observe
that when you angle in a clear water, either
for Trout, Grayling, or Salmon-smelt3; if you
R
182 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
have so much dexterity as to do it with ft
single liair for two links next your hook, you
will certainly catch three Trout for one
against any that angle with gut next the
hook ; and though you may now and then
lose a great fish by his breaking your line,
yet if you had not been so small tackled, ten
to one he had ever bit, and a number of
bites will compensate the loss ; you may fish
with less hazard at the bottom than at the
op with fine tackle, because a Trout shoots
at the fly with a rapid agility at your bait,
and from you when he hath taken it, with his
head generally downwards ; but at the ground,
or mid-water, he takes the bait gently, and
glides away more leisurely.
Fish take all sorts of baits more eagerly
and freely, and with the least suspicion, when
you present them in such order and manner
as nature affords, and they are used to take
them.
Some are peculiar to certain countries
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 183
apd rivers, of which every angler may, in
his owa place, make proper observations.
Several of the foregoino; baits will be taken
in some particular rivers and not in others ;
and the same baits are taken earlier in some
rivers, and sooner or later in some years than
others. Whenever you find large shoals of
fish, except about their spawning time, they
will bite if you use proper baits : fish with a
fine line in a strong current, and you will re-
quire a less quantity of lead. If you angle
for small fish at the ground, use a line of
the roundest and smallest silk-worm gut,
with a float made of a goose's quill ; while
you are angling, do not give them more
baiting than will keep them together; and if
you intend to angle in the morning, bait well
the evening before ; as also in the morning
if you intend to angle in the evening.
The best hours in general esteemed to
angle on a clear day, and in clear water,
from about the tenth of April until the end o
August, are from sun-rise till half past tea
R 2
184 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
o'clock, and from three until sun-set : but if
the day be dark, cloudy, gloomy, or lowering,
especially if at such a time also a gentle
breeze blows from any quarter, even from
the east, you will not fail of catching fish in
any hour of the day ; but in March, the be-
ginning of April, September, and all the
winter months, you may angle all the day,
from about an hour after sun-rise until about
sun-set, either in muddy or clear water; and
you may even angle all the day in muddy
water, from the middle of April until the end
of August, but early in the morning and late
in the evening are the best times.
^ When floods have carried away all the
^filth that the rain had washed from the higher
grounds into the river, so that the river keep-
eth its usual bounds, and of a chesnut brown
or ale colour, it is then good to angle at
ground, at the conflux of rivers ; and when
it ebbs and flows, fish sometimes bite very
well, but in the ebb most usually, and also
at pointing of a tide. Fish rise best at the
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 185
fly after a shower that has not mudded the
water, yet has beat in the gnats and flies into
the river ; you may, in such a shower, observe
them to rise much, if you can endure the
rain. Great fish. Trout in particular, feed
most in the night, especially if it be dark or
windy, and they bite not the next day, unless
it proves dark or windy, and then a little in
the afternoon only : all fish bite keener and
better (especially in the summer) in swift,
rapid, stony, and gravelly rivers, than those
that run gently in slime and mud.
In little brooks that fall into large rivers,
where the tide comes up only in fresh waters,
or w^aters a little brackish, if you begin at the
mouth of such brooks, just as the tide comes
in, and go up with the head of the tide, and
return with the ebb, you may take many good
Trout; and if the tide does not foul the
water they will rise at the fly ; or if you
come immediately after a shower, that ha^
raised the water, or just gfs any mill-water
begins to come down, and so proceed with
R s
185 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER-
the course of the current, Trout will bite
eagerly; because, expecting the water to
bring down food with it, they come forth
to seek it.
When rains cause the rivers to i^ise, and
keep them for feome time above their ordinary
height, Trout leave the largest rivers, and
retire into such small brooks as are almost
dry in hot summers, and m such brooks you
should then anglefor them : theygenerallyquit
the great rivers at Michaelmas, and go into,
small rivulets to spawn, and are frequently
there destroyed by idle and disorderly poach-
ers, with groping and tickling, or otherwise^
which does more injury to the breed of fish,
than all the summer's ano;lino:. In all sorts
of angling be sure to keep out of the fish's
sight, and as far off the river's bank as pos-
i^ible, unless you angle in a muddy water,
and then you may approajch nearer. Angle
always, if you can, on the lee-shore; and
observe, that fish lay or swim nearer the
bottOQ],. and in deeper water, in winter thau
TElE DRTFFIELD ANGLER. 18/
in summer ; they also get near the bottom ia
a cold day, and on the calm side of the
water ; and in the winter are caught best in
the mid-time of the day, and in sun-shiny
weather. When you angle for Pearch, Chub,
Tench, Carp, Dace, Bream, Gudgeon,, and
RufF,and have hooked one, and who afterwards
makes his escape, you will not often have
any great sport at that standing for one or
two hours after such misfortune, because the
fish is so frighted that he chases his corn-*
panions out of the place ; therefore, after
some trial, it is best to remove, and angle
at some other standing. In a clear water^
when you use worms, bait with one worm
only ; in a muddy or discoloured water, bait
with two at a time.
The colour of your line most be a dusky
fc white,, or grey colour, in water that is disco-
loured; your line, for two yards next the
hook, ought to be of a sorrel brown, or ches-
nut, and the upper part of it white. Let your
apparel not be of a light or shining colour^
which will reflQCt upon the water and fright
188 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
away the fish, but let it be of a dark brown,
or dark bottle-green colour, not with metal
buttons, and sit close to the body.
Fish are terrified with the least sight or
motion, therefore by all means keep out of
sight when you angle in a clear water, either
by sheltering behind some bush, or tree, or
by standing as far off the river's side as you
possibly can ; to effect this the better, a rod
of eighteen feet long, at ground, and a rod
of the same length and line at artificial fly,
are absolutely necessary : neither ought yoi>
to move much on the banks next the water
you angle in, especially for Trout, Chub, or
Carp. When you angle at ground, in a clear
water, or dibble with natural flies, angle up
the river ; but in muddy water, or dub-fly,
angle down the river, "When you have
hooked a large fish, let him play and tire
himself in the water ; and have a special
care to keep the rod bent, lest he run to the
end of the line and break either hook or
hold ; haul him not too near the top of the
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER^ 18^
water, for by flouncing he might break your
line.
Where any weeds, roots of trees, stones^
wood, or other rubbish are, it is often good,
but troublesome, anghng, for to such places
fish resort for warmth and security. The
same may be said of whirlpools, which are
like pits in rivers, and seldom unfurnished
with good fish; likewise in weirs, weir-pools,
mill-streams, piles, posts, and pillars of
bridges, flood-gates, cataracts and falls of
water, the conflux of rivers, the eddies be-
twixt two streams, the returns of a stream,
and the sides of a stream, are good places
generally to angle in. Keep the sun, or
moon if you angle at night, before you, pro-
vided your eyes can endure it ; at least be
sure to have those planets on your side, for
if they are on your back both yourself and
rod, will, by the shadow, give more offence
when looking towards the light than the con-
trary way. Let all baits and flies whatso-
' 'ever^ fall gently first into the water, before
190 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER,
any other part of the line, except the cast-
line, (and with as little of that as possible)
and without any disturbance, plunging, or
circling of the water, which very much scares
and frightens the fish.
RULES AND CAUTIONS.
. Never raise a large fish out of the water
by taking the hair to which your hook is
fastened, or indeed any part of the line, into
your hands, but either put a landing-net un-
der him, or for want of that, even your hat :
you may, in fly-fishing, lay hold of your line
to draw a fish to you, but this must be
done with caution. Your silk for whipping
hooks, and other fine work, must be very
small and strong, and waxed, and indeed any
other kind of binding, with shoemaker's wax,
which is the tou2;hest and holds the best : in-
close the knots and joints of your lines in a
small pill of wax, pressed very close, and the
superfluities pinched oft^; this will soon har-
den and prevent the knots from drawing ; it
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 1C)1
is better to whip your knots with fine silk. —
Whenever you begin fishing, wet the ends of
the joints of your rod, which, as it makes
them swell, will prevent their loosening ; and
if it should happen to rain, or otherwise to
wet your rod so that you cannot pull the
joints asunder, turn the ferrule a few times
round in the flame of a candle, and they will
easily separate. Before you fix the silk-
worm gut, or hair, to your hook in order to
make a fly, to prevent its drawing, be sure
to singe the ends of it in the flame of a can-
dle ; do the same with India-weed to wl^ich
at any time you whip a hook. Make flies in
warm weather only, as in cold your waxed
^ilk will not draw; moderate weather is
the best.
THE WAY TO ALLURE FISH TO
BITE WITH UNGUENTS, &c.
The best is gum-ivy, and put a good quan-
tity of it in a small box made of oak ; rub
the inside of the box with this gum^ and when
192 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
you angle put five or six worms therein, let-
ting them remain but a short time, for if
long it will kill them ; take them out and use
them, putting more in their stead out of the
worm-bag and moss, and continue so to do
all the day, and you will have excellent sport
Gum-ivy is a tear that drops from the body
of the larger ivy being wounded ; it is of a
yellowish colour, of a strong scent, and
sharp taste.
To get the best gum-ivy, is at Michaelmas
or spring, by driving several great nails into
ivy stalks, and having worked them about
till they become very loose let them remain,
and gum will issue out of the holes ; or you
may slit several great ivy stalks, and visit
them once a month, or oftener, to take what
gum flows from the wounded parts. This
gum is excellent for the angler's use, perhaps
nothing more so under the form of unguents.
Take the oil of ivy-berries, made by expres-
sion, and put some in a box, to scent a few
worms just before you use them.
THE DKirilELD AKGLEH* ipS
Put a little camphor in the moss wherein are
your worms the day you angle^ and you will ,
be sure of good diversion. There is one
more receipt which I shall mention, and with
which I have had great sport at all times :
take a handful of houseleek, andhalfahand^
ful of the inner green bark of the ivy, and
press out the juice, and w'et your moss there-
with : nothing is better if your worms are
well scoured, and kept for near three weeks.
These are most valuable secrets in worm-
fishing.
I could have added various ways of night*
angling, and of means and devices which
have been imparted to me of insnaring fish
in the day-time, but as I never made use of
any of them, and w illing to preserve the re-
putation of a fair sportsman, which I trust I
have hitherto inviolably maintained, I shall re-
frain from promulgating those arts, the prac-
tice of which ought to be discountenanced and
zealously suppressed by every liberal angler ;
&
194 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER,
I shall therefore wave the subject, and have
only to repeat an observation made in a-
nother part of this work, that no stream will
be hm^t by angling, provided fish are not
taken under a proper size, which, for Trout,
in the rivers about Driffield, should be a
poupd in weight : and shall here notice, that,
with the fly, it is by far the most ingenious and
delightful of all angling, and in every respect
superior to the rest ; the exercise it requires
is gentle and pleasing ; nor is the angler con-
fined to any one part of the river, but mov-
ing from stream to stream, in all places, is
very agreeably surprised at the manner in
which the fish are allured*
THE DKIFFIELD ANGLER. 195
CHAPTER XV.
Xi A W S
AS TO
ANGLING, SCc.
^NY person may make a fish-pond with-
out licence ; because it is a matter. of profit,
and for the increase of victuals, % Inst*
Respecting the right and property of fish^
it has been held, that where the lord of the
manor has the soil on both sides of the river,
it is good evidence that he has the right of
fishing ; but where the river ebbs and flows,
and is an arm of the sea, there it is common
S 2
156 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER*
to all ; and he who claims a privilege to hiiii-
self must prove it. In the Severn, the soil
belongs to the owners of the land on each
bide; and the soil of the river Thames is in
the king, &c. but the fishing is common to
alb iMod. 105. Burr- 21S4.
He who is owner of the soil of a private
rivei^ has ^^seperalis pisearia;" and he w^ho
has ^'libera piscaria" has a property in the
fitih, and may bring a possessory action for
tliem ; but *' communis piscaria" is like the
case of all other commons. S Salk. 637.
And by 3 Ed. L c. 20. If any trespass-
ers in ponds be thereof attauited at the
suit of the party, great and large amends shall
be awarded, according to the trespass ; and
they shall have three years imprisonment,
and shall after make fine at the kmg's plea-
sure (if they have w^hereof) and then shall
find good security that after they shall not
commit the like trespass : and if they have
not whereof to make f;ne, after three years
THE DaiFFJCELD ANGLKll. 197
imprisonment, they shall find like security ;
and if they cannot find like surety, they shall
abjure the realm. If none sue within the
year and a day, the king shall have suit.
Trespassers in ponds, are those who en-
deavour to take fish therein. 2 Inst. 200.
By 31 H. VIII. c. 2. s. 2. If any evil-dispos-
ed persons shall fish in the day-time, from six
o'clock in the morning, till six in the even-
ing, in any ponds, stews or moats, with nets,
hooks, or bait, against the will of the owners,
they shall, on conviction thereof, at the suit
of the king, or the party aggrieved, suffer
imprisonment for three months, aiid find se-
curity for their good abearing.
And by 5 Eliz. c, 21. Any person wlio shall
unlawfully break, cut, or destroy any head or
dam of a fish-pond, or wrongfully fish there-
in, with intent to take or kill fish, shall, on
conviction, at the suit of the king, or of the
party, at the assizes or sessions, be imprison-
S S
198 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
ed three months, and pay treble damages ;
and after the ex[uration of the three months
shall find sm^eties for his good abearing foi:
seven years, or remain, till he doth.
By 22 and 23 of C. II. c. 25. If any per-
son shall use any net, angle, hair, noose^
troll, or spear ; or shall lay any weirs, pots>
fish-hooks, or other engines ; or shall take
any fish by any means or device whatsoever,
or be aiding thereunto, in any river, stew,
pond, or moat, or other water, without th^
consent of the lord or owner of the wateii,
and be thereof convicted by confession, or
oath of one witness, before one- justice, in
one month after the offence; every such
offender, in killing or taking fish, shall give
to the party injured such recompence, and in
such, time, as the justice shall appoint, not
exceeding treble damages ; and shall also
pay to the overseers for the use of the poor,
such sum, hot exceeding ten shillings, as th.e
justice shall think meet, to be levied by dis-
tress j and for vyant of distress, to be com-
THE DKIFFIELD ANGLER, 199
mitted to the house of coFrectioii for any
time not exceedmg one month, unless he
enter into bond, with one surety, ta the party
injured, not exceeding ten pounds, never to
offend again in like manner. S. 7..
And by the same statute^ s. 8. the justice
may cut, take, and destroy all such angles,
spears, hairs, nooses, trolls, weirs, pots, fish-
hooks, nets, or other engines, wherewith
such offender shall be apprehended*
Any person who shall think himself ag^
grieved, may appeal to the next sessions,
whose determination shall be final, if no title
to any land, royalty, or fishery, be thereia
concerned, S. 9,
By 4 and 5 W. c. 23. No person shall have
or keep any net, angle, leap, piche, or other
engine for the taking of fish, other than the
makers and sellers thereof, and other than
the owner and occupier of a river or fishery;
and except fishermen and their apprentices
goo THE DRIFFIELD A5s[GLEn.
lawfully authorized in navigable rivers. And
the owner or occupier of the river or fishery,
and every other person by him appointed,
may s^ize, detain, and keep to his own use,
every net, angle, leap, piche, and other en-
gine, which he shall find used or laid, or in
the possession of any person fishing in any
river or fishery, without the consent of the
ow^ner or occupier thereof. And any per-
son, authorized by a justice's warrant, may
in the day-time, search the houses, out-houses,
and other places of any person hereby pro-
hibited to have or keep the same, who shall
be suspected to have in his custody, or
possession, any net, angle, leap, piche, or
other engine aforesaid, and seize and keep
the same to his own use^ or cut and de-
stroy the same, as things prohibited by this
act to be kept by persons of their degree*
S. 5 and 6.
By 5 G. III. c. 14. If any person shall
enter into any park, or paddock, fenced in,
and inclosed, or into any garden, orchard,
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 201
or yard, adjoining or belonging to any dwell-
ing-house, in or through which park, or pad-
dock, garden, orchard, or yard, any stream of
water shall run, or wherein shall be any river,
stream, pond, pool, moat, stew, or other
water, and by any means, or device whatso-
ever, shall steal, take, kill, or destroy, any
fish, bred or kept therein, without the con-
sent of the owner thereof, or shall be aiding
therein, or shall receive or buy any such
fish, knowing the same to be so stolen or
taken as aforesaid, and shall be convicted
thereof at the assizes, within six calendar
months after the offence shall be committed,
shall be transported for seven years. —
And any offender, surrendering himself to a
justice, or being apprehended, or in custody
for such an offence, or on any other account,
who shall make confession thereof, and a
true discovery, on oath, of his accomplice ov
accomplices, so as such accomplice may be
apprehended, and shall on trial give evidence
so as to convict such accomplice, shall be
discharged of the offence so by him conr
fessed, S 1. £•
SOS THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
By 9 G. III. s. 3, 4. If any person shall
take, kill, or destroy, or attempt to take,
kill, or destroy, any jfish in any river, or
stream, pond, pool, or other water, (not in
any park, or paddock, or in any garden,
orchard, or yard, adjoining or belonging to
any dwelling-house, but in any other inclosed
ground, being private property) he shall, on
conviction before one justice, on the oath of
one witness, forfeit five pounds to the owner
of the fishery of such river, pond, or other
water : and such justice, on complaint upon
oath, may issue his warrant to bring the per-
son complained before him; and if he shall
be convicted before such justice, or any other
iOf the county or place, he shall immediately
pay the said penalty of five pounds to such
justice, for the use of the person as the same
is hereby appointed to be paid unto ; and, in
default thereof, shall be committed by such
justice to the house of correction for any
time not exceeding six months, unless the
forfeiture shall be sooner paid : or such
owner of the fishery may^^ within six calen-
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER. 203
dar months after the offence, bring an action
for the penalty in any of the courts of record
at Westminster^
But nothing in this act shall extend to sub-
ject any person to the penalties thereof, who
shall take, kill, and carry awaj% any fish in
any river or other water wherein such person
shall have a right so to do. S. 5,
By 9 G. L c. 22. Generally distinguished
by the name of the Black Act, if any person
being armed and disguised, shall unlawfully
steal or take away fish out of any river or
pond, or (whether armed and disguised or
not) shall unlawfully and maliciously break
down the head or mound of any fish-pond,
whereby the fish shall be lost or destroyed,
or shall rescue any person in custody for such
offence, or procure any other to join with
him therein, he shall be guilty of felony
without benefit of clergy.
By 2 H. VI: c. 15. No person may fasten
204 THE DRIFFIELD ANGLER.
nets, &c. across rivers to destroy fish, and
disturb the passage of vessels, on pain of
five pounds.
By 33 G. II. No person shall take, or
knowingly have in his possession, either in the
water or on shore, or sell, or expose to sale,
any spawn, fry, or brood of fish, or any un-
sizeable fish, or fish out of season, or any
Smelt not five inches long, and any person
may seize any such, together with baskets
and package, and charge a constable or other
peace-officer with the offender and with the
goods, who shall carry them before a justice;
and on conviction before such justice, the
same shall be forfeited and delivered to the
prosecutor : and the offender shall also for-
feit twenty shillings, to be levied by distress, .
by w^arrant of such justice; half to the
prosecutor, and half to the poor where the
offence w^as committed (and every inhabitant
of such parish may, nevertheless, be a wit-
ness) : for want of sufficient distress, the
offender to be committed to the house of
THE DRIFFIELD ANGLEH.
205
carrection, there to be kept to hard labour
for any time not exceeding three months,
unless the forfeiture be sooner paid.
Provided that such justice may mitigate
the said penalty, so as not to remit above
one half. Persons aggrieved may appeal to
the next sessions.
MARRIOTT,
PART II.
OW SMOOTIMG,
COURSING, &c.
»>h<B>K4<-*
CHAPTEll I.
JL HE first thing to be thought of in thi^
manly exercise is the fowling-piece, the length
of the cylinder, and diameter of the caliber;
with the weight of the barrel, stock, and lock,
when complete.
OF THE BARREL.
In my opinion, the barrels best calculated
for general use, (such as I have employed
T 2
208 OF SHOOTING,
the last fifty years, and which I have found
to answer every purpose) are from thirty-
four to thirty-nine inches; whether I consult
the appearance of the piece, its lightness^ or
the ease with which it is managed, I believe
that a barrel not exceeding the one or less
than the other of these dimensions, is the
most eligible : the caliber of thirty-six should
be small five-eighths; the caliber of thirty- nine
should be full five-eighths ; the weight of the
barrel three pounds and a half, and when
full mounted, it should weigh six pounds
and a half, at the least
OF THE STOCK, LOCK, &c.
Upon the other parts of a fowling-piec^
there is little required to be said, as they are
varied according to the fancy of the work*
man, or the whim of the purchaser, without
any advantage or detriment to the piece.
The wood which is most commonly used for
the stock, and which appears best for the
purpose, is walnut ; and the only choice in
CaURSINO, ETC. g09
it is that the grain be even and close, and as
free as possible from knots and burrs, which,
tliough they may add to the beauty of the
stock, seldom fail to take away its strength,
unless they are confined entirely to the but
part ; as to the curvature, no particular de-
gree can be assigned as a standard ; different
persons requiring different degrees, according
to the length of their necks, and to the man-
ner in which they hold their heads whilst
taking aim; this therefore, as well as the
length of but, depends partly upon the cir-
cumstances just mentioned, but chiefly upoD
the length of the arm, which can be deter-
mined with great accuracy by the gun-smith,
from his observing the manner that the shoot-
er presents his piece and takes his aim*
With regard to the lock I have nothing
material to offer ; the genius and industry of
the English w^orkmen having already brought
them to such a degree of elegance and per-
fection, that I have nothing further to hope
i&T or require. The real improvements are
T 3
210 OF SHOOTING,
not confined to any particular maker, and
though the minutiae peculiar to each, may de-
termine tlie purchaser in his preference, no
person need fear much disappointment in the
essential qualities of a lock, provided he goes
to a good price : it is of more consequence
to the excellence of a lock, that the springs
be proportioned to each other, than that
they should be made very strong ; a moderate
degree of force is sufficient to produce the
.required effect, and whatever exceeds this,
proves detrimental, .by rendering the trigger
difficult to draw, or throws the piece from
the direction in which it was pointed. Some
gunsmiths contend, that a barrel, in order to
throw its shot close, ought to have its caliber
narrower in the middle than at either the
breech or muzzle ; whilst others insist that
the caliber ought to contract gradually from
the breech to the muzzle : with respect to
these circumstances I shall only observe, that
both are admirably calculated to make the
piece recoil much. Of all the contrivances
V^hich have been mentioned, not one appears
COURSING, ETC. 211
to answer the end intended; the greater
part of gunsmiths are sensible of this, and
therefore very seldom practise them, unless
to indulge the whim of their customers. As
far as reason and experience are sufficient
for enabling me to determine upon the matter,
I would reject all the expedients that have
hitherto been proposed, and give a decided
preference to the barrels as they are usually
made, namely, those whose caliber is very
smooth and perfectly cylindrical throughout :
barrels of this sort have long supported their
credit amongst the best sportsmen. Would
they only forbear to determine upon the
merits or defects of their pieces, until they
had given them a patient and impartial trial,
by varying the quantity of powder and shot
in different ways, I am inclined to think
there would be fewer complaints made of the
modern fowling-pieces. Within my know-
ledge several great sportsmen have hastily
parted with their pieces, and thrown a cen-
sure upon the maimer, which, after experi-
ence, proved to be undeserved. The chief
212 <5F SHOOTING,
source of this error appears to be overcharge
ing, and it is by correcting this tliat the bad
opinion so entertained of many pieces might
be removed : every barrel, according to its
caliber and weight, should have a suitable
quantity of powder and the like of shot,
which will be attended with greater certainty
and effect than any others, and these must
be determined by repeated trials. If the
sportsman increases the quantity of shot a-
bove this, he lessens the force of the discharge,
and at the same time increases the recoil ;
and if he increases the powder, that of the
shot remaining the same, he also increases
the recoil and disperses the shot much more
than before. In every kind of fire-arms,
large charges of powder are foiind to dis-
perse the shot very much, whilst with smaller
charges than are generally used it is thrown
more even and close; if the object, therefore,
the sportsman is about to shoot at is at too
great a distance for the shot to take effect,
and it may happen that he cannot approach
nearer to it, he ought not to increase the
I
COVUSiNG, ETC. 213'
^ quantity of powder with a view to the shot
being thereby thrown farther, as by so doing
the increase of the range will be very trifling,
whilst the dispersion of the shot will be
greatly increased ; the only expedient, in this
case, is to use shot of a larger size ; the quan-
tity of it and the powder being kept the same
as has been found best to suit the piece.
a:
I have at different times compared barrels
of all the intermediate lengths between thirty-
four and forty inches, of nearly the same
caliber, viz. from five-eighths to five -eighths
and a half, and these were fired from the
shoulder, and over a rest quite firm, at an
equal distance, and with equal weight of
powder and the same of shot ; to avoid
every error, the quire of paper at which I
fired was fixed against planks of wood; from
these trials, frequently repeated, I found the
shot pierced an equal number of sheets,
whether it was fired from a barrel thirty-four,
thirty-six, thirty-eight, or forty inches m
length;
214 OF SHOOTING,
I have compared two barrels of nearfy the
same cahber, one thirty-nine inches and a-
nother fifty-two inclies long, by repeatedly
firing tliem in the same manner as the
others, at different distances, from fifty, sixty,
seventy, and eighty paces, the result of which
was nearly the same : the barrel of thirty-
nine inches drove its shot through as many
sheets of paper as the barrel of fifty-two :
the conclusion of all this is, that the differ-
ence of eight inches in the length of the bar-
rel, which seems to me to be more than is
ever insisted upon among sportsmen, pro-
duces no sensible difference in the range of
the piece; and therefore every one may
please himself in the length of his barrel,
without either detriment or advantage to the
range. The circumstance of a duck-gun
killing at a greater distance than fowling-
pieces, is not owing to its length, but its
greater weight and thickness, allowing the
charge of pow^der to be doubled or trebled ;
which cannot be done in a fowling-piece
though strongly reinforced; for a barrel oC
COURSINO, ETC, 215
five feet and a half, such as that of a common
duck-gun, weighing six or seven pounds, the
whole piece fourteen or sixteen pounds^ may
be fired with a very large charge without
recoiling so much as to hurt the shooter, its
weight being sufficient to resist the violent
impulse occasioned by the increase of the
powder : but in a fowling-piece of three feet
three inches barrel, sufficiently strong to
withstand such a charge, and when its weight
does not exceed six pounds and a half, the
recoil would be insupportable ; besides they
not only double or treble the powder in a
duck-gun, but they put in a much greater
quantity of shot than is ever used in a fowl-
ing piece. All such guns as are employed
for wild-geese and wild-ducks, should be bent
a little upwards about four inches from the
muzzle, which makes them throw their shot
farther than if they were perfectly straight.
rT© obtain therefore from a piece of ordinary
length, the same effects as from a duck-gun,
nothing more is necessary than to have the
barrel sufficiently strong to admit of the
216 OF SHOOTING,
charge being doubled as required, and the
whole piece heavy enough to render the re-
coil supportable. I have already observed
that an increase of powder, above the charge
generally used, does not produce a propor-
tionable increase of range in the shot; thus
a double charge of powder will not throw the
ball, or shot, to twice the distance the single
charge does ; this may be ascertained on a
still sheet of water, three hundred yards long,
or upon snow*
INSTRUCTIONS for the CHOICE
OF GUNPOWDER, SHOT,
WADDING, &c.
By far the most certain method of deter-
mining the quality, is by drying some of it
very well, and then trying how many sheets
of paper it will drive the shot through^ at the
distance of fifteen or twenty yards. In the
trial, the shooter should be very careful to
use the same sized shot in each experiment,
the quantity of the shot and powder bemg re-
COURSING, ETC. 217
gulated by exact weight, otherwise he cannot,
even in this experiment, arrive at any cer-
tainty, in comparing the different strength of
powders, or of the same powder at different
times. Powder ought to be kept very dry,
as every degree of moisture injures it : good
gunpowder however does not readily imbibe
moisture ; and perhaps there is no greater
proof of the bad quality of powder, than its
growing damp quickly when exposed to tiie
air ; this readiness to become moist, depends
on the saltpetre used in the composition not
having been freed from the common salt it
contained in its crude state, and which in
consequence has a very strong attraction for
watery particles : powder may acquire a
small degree of dampness, and be freed from
it again by drying, without much injury to its
quality ; but if the moisture is considerable,
the saltpetre is dissolved, and the intimate
mixture of the ingredients thereby entirely de-
stroyed. Drying powder with too greut a
heat also injures it ; for there is a degree of
heat, which although not sufficient to fire the
U
218 OF SHOOTING,
powder, will yet dissipate the sulphur and
impair the composition by destroying the
texture of the grains ; the heat of the sun is
perhaps the greatest it can with safety be ex-
posed to, and if properly managed is suffici-
cient for the purpose ; when this cannot be
had, the heat of a fire regulated to the same
degree may be used ; for this end a heated
tin, or a pewter plate, is perhaps as good as
any thing, because they retain so moderate
a heat, that there can be little danger of spoil-
ing the powder by producing the consequen-
ces before-mentioned. The sportsman should
be very particular in the mode of keeping
his powder ; I would recommend him always
to air it and his flask before he takes the field,
and carry it in his breeches'- pocket, in order
to keep it from any kind of damp.
Flasks made of copper, or tin, are much
better for keeping powder in, than those
made of leather.
COURSING, ETC. 219
OF THE SHOT.
The choice of shot is highly worthy of the
sportsman's care ; it should be equally round
and void of cavities, the patent milled shot is
at this time preferred to all other sorts, and
is in general use. It is extremely important
for the success of the sportsman, that he
should proportion the size of his shot, as
well to the particular species of game he
means to pursue, as tp the season of killing
it. In the first month of moor-game shoot-
ing, shot No. 1 should be used, till about the
first of September, after that No, 2. No. 1
should also be used for partridge-shooting all
the month of September, after that, No. 2
for the whole of October ; after which time
the birds get full feathered and strong, also
hares get better covered with fur, therefore
it will be necessary to use No. 3 all the sea-
son (except for snipes) ; this size seems to be
the best of any, it preserves a proper medium
between shot too large, and that which is too
U 2
220 OF SHOOTINO,
small, and will kill a hare from the distance
of thirty-five to forty-five paces, and par-
tridges at nearly fifty, provided the powder
be good. But if the sportsman proposes to
shoot wild ducks, or hares, he had better use
No. 4 or 5 ; and in any case where large
shot is required, No. 5 will be found better
than any other, for its size is not so large as
to prevent it from sufficiently garnishing, or
being equally spread in the circle, and it will
at the same time perform in effect all that
larger sized shot can do, which garnishes
but very little, if at all.
THE PROPORTIONS OF POWDER
AND SHOT IN THE CHARGE.
To find the charge that gives the longest
range in fowling-pieces of different dimensi-
ons, must be allowed to be a discovery of infi-
nite importance to every sportsman. Every
barrel has a particular load, not a measure
estimated by any rules, to be drawn from a
comparison made between the proportions
COURSING, ETC. 221
of the caliber, and the length of the barrel,
with which it will shoot much more at a cer-
tainty, and with more effect. It cannot be
doubted but the sportsman will make some
experiments with his own barrels in order to
attain this end : it is certain, that by using
small charges at the first, and increasing the
quantity of powder by degrees, the range will
increase to a certain point ; after which, if
the charge be augmented, it will progressively
diminish, as in consequence of overloading
with shot, the powder has not sufficient
strength to throw it to its proper distance ;
for if the object fired at be distant, one half
of the pellets composing the charge, by their
too great quantity and weight, will strike
against each other, and be flattened and fall
by the way ; and those that reach the mark
will have [small force, and produce but little
or no effect ; therefore to overload is but
the strange fancy of some sportsmen, who
imagine they cannot kill unless they put an
ounce and a half, or more, of large shot into
the piece; it is true that they destroy a
U 3
Q22 OF SHOOTING,
quantity of game, but in some measure they
are punished by the severe strokes they re-
ceive on the cheek, in consequence of the
excessive recoil.
OF THE WADDING.
Most sportsmen pique themselves with the
idea that card-paper and hat wadding is much
the best of any, and pretend it to be a great
secret among them ; however I can only say
that having made use of card and hat wad-
ding near fifty years ago, I differ from their
opinion, as 1 have used all kinds of wadding.
I never found any yet equal to fine tow,
chopped short to about half an inch, and
rolled into round balls to fit the caliber,
giving it four or five presses with the ram-rod
lightly, which will mould the wadding of tow
close to the barrel ; and over the shot, soft
brown paper, such as the battle powder is
lapt in, and rubbed very soft with your hand,
is the best wadding ; it combines suppleness
with consistence; and moulds itself to the
COURSING, ETC. 223
barrel : it must also be observed, that such
wadding never falls to the ground in less
than ten or twelve yards from the muzzle of
the piece, if properly placed on the powder
and shot, and makes the piece shoot closer
and much stronger than any other kind of
wadding, except that made of the best velvet
cork. A cork wadding I have found by re-
peated trials to be the best of any for in-
creasing the range and closeness of shot.
I have made several experiments in regard
to a cork wadding, which, if adapted to the
caliber of the piece, produces greater effect
than either hat or card-paper, in these re-
spects, that by stopping the barrel more her-
metically, it prevents the elastic fluid, pro-
duced by the explosion of the powder, from
escaping between the partition of wadding
and the charge, and preserves all its force
to the mouth of the piece, thereby rendering
the effect of the powder greater.
224 OF SHOOTING,
METHOD OF LOADING A
FOWLING-PIECE.
Some attention is requisite thereto ; the
powder should only be slightly rammed
down, for which purpose it is sufficient to
press the ram-rod four or five times on tlie
w^adding, in order to mould it to the barrel.
The usual practice is to ram down the wad-
ding by main force, which is wrong, for by
compressing the powder in this violent man-
ner, some of the grains will be so bruised
that the explosion will not be quick, and the
shot wdll be spread wide : in pouring the
charge of pow^der into the barrel, care should
be taken to hold the measure as much as
possible in a perpendicular line, that the
pow der may more readily fall to the bottom ;
it is even of service to strike the but-end of
the gun gently on the ground, in order to de-
tach those grains of powder which in falling
down adhere to the sides of the barrel. The
shot should never be rammed down so tight
COURSING, ETC. 225
as the powder ; after having given a stroke
on the ground with the but-end of the gun in
order to settle it the same as for the powder,
the wadding should then be gently pu t do vvn, but
not so close as that over the powder, because
when the shot is wadded too tight it spreads
wide, and the piece will recoil. In this,
therefore, as well as in every other mode of
loading, the sportsman should never carry
his gun under his arm with the muzzle inclin-
ed to the ground, as that practice at all times
loosens the wadding and charge too much,
and sometimes occasions the loss of the shot.
When the piece is fired, it should be reload-
ed immediately while the barrel is warm,
lest, by delaying it, a certain moisture should
be formed in the barrel, which would retain
a part of the powder when pouring in the
charge, and hinder it from falling to the bot-
tom. Powder, as already mentioned, will
imbibe moisture from the air, and therefore
it is of additional advantage to reload the
piece whilst the barrel is warm, because some
part of the moisture will be thereby evaporat-
226 OF SHOOTING,
ed. For the same reason, the sportsman
should fire off a little powder before he loads
the first time, as it has been found, even in
the driest seasons, that the coldness of the
barrel, and perhaps some little moisture con-
densed in its cavity, has sensibly diminished
the force of the powder in the first discharge.
Some sportsmen prime before they load ;
this may be proper when the touch-hole is
enlarged, because in that case if the piece is
not first primed it will, in loading, prime it-
self, which diminishes the charge ; but when
the touch-hole is of its proper size, the piece
C^^ould never be primed until after it is load-
ed, for then it will be known from tlie few
grains of powder which- usually make their
way into the pan, that the touch-hole is clear
and unobstructed ; and on the contrary if no
grains come through, that it will be proper
to strike the but-end of the gun smartly with
your hand, and to prick the touch-hole till
they appear. But whether the practice is to
prime before or after loading the piece, it is
highly proper after every discharge to prick
COURSING, ETC, 22f
the touch-hole ; and what is still better, to
guard against all remains of fuze, by inserting
into the touch-hole the feather of a par-
tridge's wing, which not only will clear all
those dangerous remains, but if the piece is
delayed to be recharged will take away all
humidity that may be contracted.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SHOOTING
WELL.
Every sportsman has his own manner of
bringing up his gun to his shoulder and tak-
ing aim, and each follows his own fancy with
respect to the stock of his fowling piece, and
its shape ; some like it short, others long, one
prefers it straight, another bent; and al-
though there are some who shoot equally well
with pieces stocked in diiferent ways and
shapes, yet certain principles may be laid
down, as well upon the proper length as
upon the proper degree of bend that the
stock of a gun should have ; but, in the ap-
plication, those principles are frequently and
228 OF SHOOTING,
more commonly counteracted by the idea of
the particular convenience of the shooter ;
however it is certain, that for a tall long-
armed man, the stock of a gun should be
longer than for one of a less stature and
shorter arm ; that a straight stock is proper
for him who has high shoulders and a short
neck, for if it bent much it would be very
difficult for him, especially in the quick mo-
tion required in shooting at a flying or run-
ning object, to place the but-end of the gun-
stock firmly to the shoulder, the upper part
alone w ould in general be fixed, which would
not only raise the muzzle and consequently
shoot high, but make the recoil be much
more sensibly felt than if the whole end of
the stock was firmly placed on the shoulder :
besides, supposing the shooter to bring the
but home to his shoulder, he w^ould scarcely
be able to level his piece at the object ; on
the contrary, a man with low shoulders and
a long neck, requires a stock more bent, for
if it is straight he will, in the act of lower-
ing his head to that place of the stock at
COURSING, ETC. 229
which his cheek should rest ia taking aim,
feel a constrauit that he never would experi-
ence ; when by the effect of the proper degree
of bend, the stock affords him some assist-
ance, and as it were meets his aim half way.
However I would advise the sportsman in
the choice of a fowling-piece, to have a long
stock in preference to a short one, and at
the same time to have it more bent than
usual ; for a long stock sits more firm to the
-shoulder than a short one, and particularly
so, when the shooter is accustomed to place
his left hand, which principally supports the
piece, above half way to the entrance of the
ramrod into the stock ; the practice of placing
that hand near the bridge of the guard is un-
doubtedly a bad one, the aim is never so
sure, nor has the shooter such a ready com-
mand over his piece, as when he places his
hand above half way to the entrance of the
ramrod, and at the same time grasps the
barrel instead of resting it between his fore-
finger and thumb, as is the general custom ;
it may therefore be depended upon, that a
X
230 6v sHOotlNCf,
stock bent a little more than oixlinary is bet-
ter for shooting true thail one too straight ;
because, the latter in coming up to the aim
is subject to the inconvenience of causing
the sportsman to shoot too high. I also
would advise him to have his fovvling-pie(:;e
a little elevated at the tnnzzle, and the sight
fethail and flat ; for the experienced well
know that it is more usual to shoot low than
high ; it is therefore of service that a piece
should shoot a little high, and then the more
flat the sight the better the line of aim will
Coincide with that of the fire, and in conse-
quence the gun will be less liable to shoot
low. The method to avoid missing a cross-
^hot, whether it be flying or running, is not
only to take aim before the object, but like-
wise not involuntarily to stop the motion of
the arms at the moment of pulling tiie trig-
ger, for the instant the hand stops in ordet
to fire, although the space of time is almost
imperceptible, the object of a bird gets be-
yond the line of aim, and the shot will fly
behind it : if a hare is shot at in this man-
COURSING, ETC. 231
Tier whilst running, and especially if at a
distance, the animal will only be slightly
struck in the buttocks, and go away with
the shot : when a bird however is flying ia
a straight line from the shooter, this fault
can do no harm, the object can scarcely
escape if the piece be but tolerably well di-
rected ; unless indeed it is fired at the mo-
misnt the game springs, and before the bird
has taken an horizontal flight ; in that case^
if t}^ h^pd should stop ever so little at the
instant of firing, the sportsman will shoot
low and miss the bird. It becomes there-
fore extremely essential to accustom the hand
in taking aim to follow the object without sus-
pending the motion in the least degree,
which is a capital point towards acquiring
the art of shooting well ; but the contrary
habit, which is difficult to correct when once
contracted, prevents that person from attain-
ing perfection in the art, who in other respects
nmy eminently possess quickness of sight and
steadiness of aim. Nor is it less essential ia
a cross shot, to aim before the object, in
X 2
232 OF SHOOTING,
proportion to its distance at the time of fir-
ing. Tlie same rule will nearly hold in the
case of shooting hares, partridges, pheasants,
quails, woodcocks, snipes, or even wild-
ducks : v/hen a hare runs in a straight line
from the shooter, he should take his aim
along the back to her ears, otherwise he will
run the hazard either of missing, or at least
of not kilHns her. Practice soon teaches
the sportsman tiie proper distance at which
he should shoot, and w^ould infallibly kill any
kind of game, with patent shot No. 3 ; pro-
vided the aim be w^ell taken from twenty-
five to thirty-five paces for the footed, and
from thirty-five to forty-five and fifty paces
for the winged game ; beyond this distance,
even to fifty-five paces, partridges, pheasants,
and hares, are sometimes killed, but in ge-
neral the hares are slightly wounded and
carry away the shot ; and partridges, at that
distance, present so small a surface that they
frequently escape untouched between the
vacant spaces of the circle ; yet it does not
follow that partridges may not be killed witli
^..
^33
No. 3 patent shot at sixty paces distant; but
sucli sliots are very rare ; I have indeed
heard some persons say that they have killed
partridges and pheasants with the same bar-
rel and shot as mentioned, at from sixty to
one hundred and twenty paces ; this I leave
to the judgment of the experienced sports-
man.
As the means of attaining the art of shoot-
ing flying, many young beginners shoot at
sw^allows ; but I think it a bad method, and
that no mode is so advantageous as the actual
practice of shooting at the game, wdiereby
that trepidation and alarm w^hich most men
feel upon the rising the covey, will sooner
be conquered, for while these are possessed,
even in the most trifling degree, no one will
attain to be a steady and good shot. A fowl-
ing-piece should not be fired more than
eighteen or twenty times without being wash-
ed ; as a barrel, when foul, neither shoots so
ready nor carries the shot so far as when
clean. The flint, pan, and hammer, should
234 OF SHOOTING,
be well wiped after each shot ; this contri-
butes greatly to make the piece go oif quick-
er : the flint should be frequently changed,
without waiting till it misses fire. A gun
should never be fired with the prime of the
preceding day ; it may happen that an old
priming will sometimes go off well, but it
will more frequently contract moisture and
fuzz in the firing, in which case the object
will most probably be missed, and that be-
cause the piece was not fresh primed.
A FEW GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO THE
YOUNG SPORTSMAN, FOR HIS CON-
DUCT IN THE PURSUIT OF
GAME.
In the first place, he should pay attention
to the difference of seasons, and the weather,
to the temperature of the air, and even to
those hours of the day which are more or less
favourable for shooting. In warm weather
he should hunt for game in plains and open
grounds, at the same time bearing in mind,
that during the heat of the day the birds
COURSING, ETC. 235
frequent moist places and marshes, where
there is Httle water and high grass, the sides
of brooks, ponds, and hills exposed to the
north ; but in cold weather they will be com-
monly found on little hills exposed to the
south, along hedge-rows among the heath, in
stubbles, and in pastures where there is much
furze and fern ; in hard frosts they get into
thickets, low places, and marshes, where
they seek to shelter themselves from the cold,
as they do from the heat, in different sea-
sons. The greater part how^ever of these
rules, will only apply when the weather is
extremely hot and severely cold; at both
which times the hares, partridges, and phea-
sants, almost totally desert the plains and
open grounds ; the game is more easily ap-
proached, and lies better, in covert than in
open places ; a double advantage is therefore
obtained by hunting for them in the former.
The sportsman should at all times of the
shooting season go out in the morning before
the dew is off*; at that time the shepherds
and their flocks have not entirely spread
236
over the fields, and have 9.s yet sprung but
a small quantity of game ; the scents of the
preceding night will also be more warm, and
the dogs will hit them off the better ; besides
if he is not eai^y, he loses such opportuni-
ties of shooting as he will not meet with
again during the remainder of the day.—
The colour of his dress, all the season
throughout, should be a mixture of green
and grey .; as by constant wearing it the green
:H^iIl change to a fallow colour, or that re-
sembling the dead leaf. It is best to hunt
as much as possible with the wind, not only
to prevent the game from perceiving the ap-
proach of the sportsman and his dog, but
also to enable the latter to scent the game at
a greater distance. The shooter cannot a;l-
ways keep the advantage of the wind, when
therefore it is proposed to hunt any particu-
lar tract of country, in which game is ex-
pected to be found, it is highly necessary
to take the wind ; and it behoves the shooter
to range and quarter Ins ground in such
manner and direction, as to preserve it in
COURSING, ETC. - 237
his favour. The shooter should never be
discouraged from hunting and ranging the
same ground over and over again, especially
in places covered with heath, brambles, high
grass, or young coppice-wood ; a hare, par-
tridge, or pheasant, wall frequently suffer him
to pass several times w ithin a few yards with-
out getting up ; he should be still more pa-
tient wh^n he has marked partridges into
such places, for it often happens, that after
the birds have been sprung many times, they
lay so dead that they suffer him almost to
tread upon them before they will rise. He
should always keep a sharp eye, and care-
fully look about him, never passing a bush
or tuft of grass without examination; it is
also proper to stop now and then ; this fre-
quently determines the game to spring, w^hich
would otherwise have suffered him to pass.
So soon as he has fired he should call in his
dog, and make him lie down until he has re-
loaded his piece ; for without this precaution,
he will frequently have the mortification to
see the game rise when he cannot shoot.
2,28 OF SHOOTING,
INSTRUCTIONS FOR TRAINING
POINTERS.
Three species of clogs are capable of re-
ceiving proper instruction^ and of bei|f]g trailer
ad to the game : tliese are, the smooth point-
er, the spaniel, and the rough pointer ; the
last is a dog with long curled hair, and seems
to be Q, mixed breed of the water-dog ^pd
epanieL The smooth pointer is active ape}
iively enough in his range, but in general is
proper only for an open country ; the great-^
est part of these dogs are afraid of water^
brambles, and thickets, but the spanieji apd
the rough pointer are easily taught to take
ike water, evep in the coldest weathej', ^ncj
to range the w'oods and rough places as wiell
as the plains ; greater dependence may tiiercr
fore be had on the two last species of dogs,
than on the smooth pointer. Before yoij
begin to break in a dog, it will be proper
when he his only si:^ of seven months old, to
teach him to fetcfa m^i c%rry, yvhick jmay ea~
cotjftSiNd, Etc. 359
feily be done without going out of the house,
by means familiar to every one, with pati-
ence and gentle treatment. If the dog is of
a good breed and disposition, he will acquire
the habit easily; but much gentle usage is
necessary at this time, and if the dog Should
be obstinate in learning his lessons, severity
and correction should be carried only to a
certain point ; therefore as you perceive him
to be disheartened let him rest, bestow ca-
resses on him, and return to the task ano-
ther time.
If however this task <rannot be accom-
plished by mild treatment, you must wait
until the dbg is of a proper age to be regu-
larly trained: for then, in case of great
obstinacy, he will be able to bear the strong
collar, and those other modes of discipline
which will be hereafter described. It will,
at the same time that you teach the dog td
fetch and carry, also be proper to give him
the first principles of obedience, which may
be accomplished by \Valking with him a little
240 . OP SHOOTING,
distance from the house, and there learning
him to come in when he runs too far off,
and to go behind when he returns, using in
the first case the words here, come in, and in
the latter back or behind. It is also neces-
sary to accustom the dog, at this period, to
be tied up in a kennel, or stable, where you
should be careful to renew his straw fre-
quently ; but in these first essays he should
not be kept tied up too long, in considera-
tion of his tender age, which seems to re-
quire some indulgence ; he should therefore
be let loose in the morning and fastened up
again in the evening : it is also of importance
that the person who intends to train him
should alone speak to and command him,
and that none other should interfere with his
education, or give him his food.
When the dog has attained the age of ten
or twelve months, it will be high time to take
him into the field for the purpose of regular
training. At the first you may let him do as
he likes, without requiring any thing of him,
COURSING, ETC* 241
the first step being only to make him know
his game ; he will at this time run after every
thing that he sees, crows, pidgeons, thrushes,
small birds, partridges, hares, &c. tliis eager-
ness being somewhat abated, he will end by
only pursuing the partridges and hares, to
the former of which his natural instinct will
particularly attach him, and being soon tired
with following those in vain, he will be con-
tent, after having flushed the birds, to follow
them with his eyes; he will not however do
the same with the hares, for seeing that they
have but legs like himself, and do not leave
the ground as partridges, he perceives that
there is more equality with himself, and will
not relinquish the hope of overtaking them ;
for this reason he will continue the practice
of running after hares, until corrected by
education ; and even then it is very difficult
to prevent the most crafty and best trained
dog from pursuing tliem.
All young dogs are subject to rake, that is
to hunt with their noses close to the ground.
242 OF SHOOTING,
a habit which you should not suffer them to
contract, and of which you should effectually
break them betimes, if it is possible to be
done, for a dog that raises with his nose and
follows the game by the track, will never
make a good pointer, nor find half so much
game as one that hunts with his nose high ;
whenever, therefore, you perceive that your
young dog is following the track of partridges
down wind, call to him with an angry tone
hold up^ he will then grow uneasy and agitat-
ed, going first on one side and then on the
other until the wind brings him the scent of
the birds. He will only have to find the
birds seven or eight times this way, when he
will take the wind of himself, and hunt with
his nose high. Yet there are dogs which it
is impossible almost to break of this fault,
and such are worth training. The best me-
thod to be used with a dog of that description
is, to put the puzzle-peg upon him, that is
an instrument of a very simple construction,
being no other than a piece of lance wood,
or red deal inch board, one foot in lengtl>
COURSIN'G, ETC. 243
-and an inch and a half in breadth, tapering
a little to one end; at the broader end are
two holes running longitudinally, through
which the collar of the dog is put, and the
whole is buckled round his neck ; the piece
of wood being projected beyond his nose,
is then fastened with a piece of leather
thong to his under jaw ; by this means, the
peg advancing seven or eight inches beyond
his snout, the dog is prevented from putting
his nose to the ground and raking. This
instrument is also proper for any dogs that
tear their game; and sometimes has been
found to make a dog that is too eager, and
possessing the bad habit of running up to the
foremost dog in the point, stand better in
company.
Partridges lay much better to dogs that
wind them, than those that follow by the
track. The dog that winds the scent ap-
proaches the birds by degrees, and that more
or less as he finds them either shy or lay
well, which he is enabled to know by the
Y 2
544 OF SHOOTING^
scent they emit when uneasy ; and notwith-
standing they see him hunt round about
them, they wdll not be alarmed, because they
do not perceive that he is footing them.
Nothing^ disturbs the birds more than see-
ing a dog tracing their footsteps, and keeping
the same course that they are taking to steal
off ; and when a dog follows them in this
manner down wind, it most commonly hap-
pens that he flushes them ; or if by accident
he makes a point, it will probably be much
too near the birds ; for in going down wind
he cannot take the scent until he is almost
upon them, and then they will not lay. As
soon as the young dog knows his game, you
must bring him under complete subjection
and command ; if he is naturally tractable,
and has profited from the instructions you
have given him before he has been taken into
the field, it w ill be easy to accomplish it ;
but if he is stubborn and unruly, it will be
necessary to make use of the trash cord. —
This is done by only fastening to the collar
COURSING, ETC. 245
of the dog a rope, or cord, of about fifteen
or twenty fathom in length, and then lettincp
him range about with this dragging on the
ground ; by the help of this cord you will be
able to keep him in whenever you call to him,
which you should never do but when you are
within reach of it ; and then, if he should
continue to run forward, you must check him
smartly with the cord, which will often bring
him upon his haunches, and sometimes on
his back ; when you have repeated this a few
times, he will not fail to come in immediate-
ly upon being called ; you should then caress
him, and give him a bit of bread, and continue
to do so whenever he comes in on beins^
called to. After this, in order to accustom
him to cross and range before you, turn
your back to him and walk on the opposite
side ; when he loses sight of you, he will
come to find you, and be agitated and afraid
of losing you; and will, in ranging, turn his
head from time to time to observe where-
about yon are: ten or twelve days practice
of this manoeuvre will make him ranii;c on
Y 3
M6 of shooting,
whatever side you please, by only giving iiim
a sign with the hand. When the dog is ar-
rived at this point of instruction be careful
to keep him constantly tied up, never unchain
hiin but when you give him his food, and not
always then, but at tliose times only when he
has done something to deserve it. The next
^tep will be to throv/ down a piece of bread
on the ground, at the same moment taking
Tiold of the dog by the collar, calling out to
kim take heed, softly ; after having held him
in this manner for some space of time, say
to him seize, lay hold, if he is impatient to
lay hold of the piece of bread before the sig-
nal is given, correct him gently with a small
whip ; repeat this lesson until he takes heed
well, and no longer requires to be held fast
to prevent him from laying hold of the bread.
When he is well accustomed to this manage,
turn the bread with a stick, holding it in the
manner you do a fowling-piece, and having
done so, cry seize. Never suffer the dog
to eat either in the house or field, without
having first bid him take heed in this manner.
COURSING, ETC. 247
Then in order to apply this lesson to the
game, fry small pieces of bread in hog's lard,
with the dung of grouse, partridge, or phea-
sant, take these in a linen bag into the fields,
stubbles, ploughed ground, and pastures, and
there put the pieces in several different
places, marking the spots with little cleft
pickets of wood, which will be rendered
more distinguishable by putting pieces of pa-
per, or card, in the niches ; this being done,
cast off your dog and conduct him to these
places, always hunting in the wind ; after he
has caught tlie scent of the bread, if he ap-
proaches too near and seems eager to fall
upon it, cry to him in a menacing tone take
heedj and if he does not stop immediately,
correct him with the whip ; he will soon com-
prehend what is required of him, and stand.
At the next lesson, take your gun, charged
only with powder, walk gently round the
piece of bread once or twice, and fire instead
of crying seize. The next time of practising
this lesson, walk round the piece of bread
248 OF SHOOTING,
four or five times, but in a greater circle
than before, and continue to do this until the
dog is conquered of his impatience, and will
stand without moving until the signal is giv-
en him. When he keeps his point well, and
stands steady in this lesson, you may carry him
to the birds ; if he runs in upon them, or barks
when they spring up, you must correct him ;
and if he continues to do so, you must re-
turn to the fried bread ; but this is seldom
necessary if the dog be of a good temper.
There are many dogs that will point the
first day they are taken out; and there are
others that will both point and back the first
time by natural instinct; but to make the
dog staunch, you should endeavour to kill a
few birds on the ground before him, and
should not shoot flying until he is well train-
ed and steady: this however can only be
done when the dog is broke in during the
shooting season. The spring is the best
time for training dogs, because the birds
COURSIXG, ETC. 249
being then paired, lay better; and being
sprung more seldom, and in fewer numbers,
the dog is not so subject to be eager, and is
kept under command with greater ease ; but
as this season scarcely allows time to make
the dog perfect and staunch, you must re-
sume his lessons in the month of August,
and kill five or six old grouse, or moor-game
cocks, on the ground before him, which will
soon complete him against the first of Sep-
tember for partridge shooting.
To make a dog back and stand in com-
pany, you should hunt him with an old
staunch dog, and then, with a small applica-
tion of the principles of training, you will
easily effect this necessary qualification. —
Young dogs, for the most part, love to run
after poultry, and some after sheep ; those
are faults which it is absolutely necessary to
correct betimes : as to poultry, if you can-
not make your dog leave oft^ the custom of
chasing them, by virtue of the whip, the fol-
lowing method will do it : take a small sticky
250 OF SPIGOTING,
cleft at one end sufficiently wide to admit of
the tail of the dog, which being introduced,
tie the cleft end with a piece of twine tight
enough to make him feel pain ; at the other
end of the stick tie a fowl by the wing, then
after a little time let the dog loose, at the
instant giving him a few heavy strokes with a
whip, the dog will then run as fast as he can,
by reason of the pain in his tail, w^hich he
imagines is caused by the fowl ; by dint of
dragging the fowl he will kill it, and spent
with running he will stop, and afterwards
hide himself in some hole ; then take off the
stick, and beat him about tlie mouth and
head with the dead fowl.
If the dog runs after sheep, and you can-
not break him of the custom, couple him
with a ram, and in letting them loose, whip
the dog as long as you can follow him ; his
cries will at first alarm the ram who will
run with all his speed, and drag the dog
along with him ; but he will soon take cou-
jrage, and end w^ith butting the dog most
COURSING, ETC. 251
severely. When you think the dog has re-
ceived sufficient correction, uncouple him,
and I conceive he will never run after sheep
agani.
OF (G-AME,
THE HARE.
According to naturalists, the hare lives
seven or eight years, and attains its full
growth in one ; from the first year it engen-
ders almost at all seasons, and has no par-
ticular time for coupling with the female;
yet it is observable, that from the month of
December to the month of March the buck
seeks the doe more frequently, and about
that time the greatest number of leverets are
found : the doe goes with young thirty-one
days, and brings forth one, two, three, and
j sometimes four^ young ones, which she kin-
252 .
dies in a tuft of grass, or heath, or in a little
bush, without any preparation whatever. — •
When there are several leverets at a birtli,
they are invariably marked with a star on
the forehead, and when there is but one it
never has this mark. The sportsman, to
distinguish the male from the female, will
observe, that the head of tlie male is more
short and round, the wdiiskers longer, the
shoulders more ruddy, and the ears shorter
and broader than those of the female, the
head of which is long and narrow, the ears
long, and sharp at the tip, the fur of the
back of a grey colour inclining to black, and
in point of size is longer than the male. — •
The male hare, or buck, when he is hunted
with hounds, after making one or two rings
generally runs straight forwards ; he goes a
great way and makes a long chase : the doe
runs less, she dodges about the place she in-
habits, and doubles more frequently. When
a hare is espied on the form, if the manner
in which the ears lie is observed, it may be
known whether it is a buck or a doe ; if a
I
COURSING, ETCt £53
buck, the ears will be drawn close upon the
shoulders one against the other, but if a doc
the ears will be open and distant on each
side of the neck and shoulders.
Two species of hares may be distinguish
ed ; those of the wood, and tliose of the
plain. The hares of the wood are in- general
much larger than those of the open ground ;
they are not of so dark a colour, and better
covered with fur ; they are also swifter in the
chase, and their flesh is of a better flavour.
Among the hares of the plains, those may be
distinguished which inhabit* the marshes:
they are not so swift of foot, are less cover-
ed with fur, and their flesh is not so fine and
delicate,
A young hare, that has attained its full
growth, is known from an old one by feeling
the knee joints of the fore legs with the
thumb-nail : when the heads of the two
bones which form the joint are contiguous,
and little or no space to be perceived be-
Z
254 OF SHOOTING,
tween them, the hare is old; if, on the con-
trary, th€re is a perceptible separation be-
tween the two bones, the hare is young ; and
is more or less so, as the two bones are more
or less separated. But as shooting, or other-
wise destroying hares, although an amuse-
ment much admired by the sportsmen of
other countries, yet in this is practised only
fey poachers, and is even doubted by some
to be permitted by the existing game-laws,
I shall purposely omit all description on that
head, and be content with giving one hint on
4he subject : if the sportsman wants to come
near a hare when es^pied upon the form, he
must not go forwards in a straight line, but
approach circularly, otherwise she will start
up.
THE PARTRIDGE.
These birds pair in the spring, but at an
earlier or later period, in proportion as the
season is more or less mild ; should the days
prove warm and exhaling, even in the month
COURSING, ETC. 255
of January, they are found in pairs, but then
if the cold weather returns they again form
in covics. The hen partridge lays her eggs
during the whole month of May and the be-
ginning of June ; her nest is made upon the
ground, and consists only of a few blades of
grass constructed without art, either at the
edge of a corn-field, in a meadow, heath,
&c. She lays from fourteen to twenty-two
eggs, the earliest birds begin to fly towards
the latter end of June. From this state of
growth their plumage undergoes a variety of
changes, until the period arrives when the
red and blackish feathers begin to form the
horse-shoe upon the breast, which is very
conspicuous on the male, but less distin-
guishable on females. This mark takes
place about the beginning or the middle of
October, and it is not until that is perfect
that they can be properly called partridges.
In the next place it will be proper to con-
sider their haunts, which are not certain
like the pheasant's, but various : any covert
Z 2
i5€ OF "SHOOTING,
»viil serve their turn, and sometimes none at
all. The places they most delight in are
cora-f3clds, especially whilst the corn grows,
for under that covert they shelter, engender,
and breed ; neither are these places un-
frequented by them when the corn is cut
down, by reason of the grain they find there-
m, especially wheat-stubble, and they delight
in the height thereof, it being to them a co-
vert or shelter. Now when the wheat-stub-
ble is much trodden by men or beasts, then
they take themselves to the barley-stubble,
provided it be fresh and untrodden ; and
they will in the furrows amongst the clods,
brambles, and long grass, hide both them-
selves and covies w'hich are sometimes twen-
ty in nuniber. After the winter season is
come, and the stubble-fields plowed up, or
over soiled with cattle, then do the par-
tridges resort to the upland meadows, and
lodge in the dead grass or fog under the
tiedges, amongst mole-hills, or under the
roots of trees ; sometimes they repair to
copses and under-woods, especially if anj
COURSING, etc: 257
corn-fields are adjacent, or where grows
broom, brakes, fern, or any covert what-
soever. In the harvest time, when every
field is full of men and cattle, then you may
find them in the day-time on the fallows next
adjoining to the corn-fields, where they lie
lurking till the evening, when they feed
amongst the shocks or sheaves of corn ; and
so they do likewise early in the morning.
When you know their haunts according
to the situation of the country and season of
the year, your next care must be to find
them out in those haunts, which is managed
several ways : some do it by the eye only,
and this art can never be taught, but must
be learnt by frequent practice ; distinguish-
ing thereby the colour of the partridge from
that of the earth, and perceiving how and
in what manner they lodge and couch to-
gether ; for which purpose you may come
near enough to them, as they are a very
lazy bird, and so unwilling to take the wing,
that you may even set your foot upon them
Z 3
258 OF SHOOTING,
before they will stir, provided you do not
stand and gaze on them, but be in continual
motion, otherwise they will spring up and
begone. There is another way to discover
them, and that is by going to their haunts
early in the morning, or the close of the
evening, which is called the juking time, and
there listen for the call of the cock partridge,
which will be very loud and earnest, and after
some calls the hen will answer, and by this
means they meet together, which you will
know by their rejoicing and chattering one
■with another ; then take your range about
them, drawins; nearer and nearer to the
place where you heard them juke in, casting
your eye towards the furrows of the lands,
and so take them as your fancy shall lead
you.
The best, safest, and easiest way of find-
ing partridges, is by the call ; having first
learned the true and natural notes of the
partridge, knowing bow to tune every note
in its proper key, and applying them to their
COURSING, ETC. 259
due times and seasons. Being perfect there-
in, either mornings or evenings, (all other
times being improper) go to their haunts,
and having conveyed yourself into some
secret place, where you may see and not be
seen, listen awhile if you can hear the par-
tridges call ; if you do, answer them again
in the same note, and as they change or
double their notes, so must you in like man-
ner, thus continue doing till they draw nearer
and nearer to you. Having them in view,
lay yourself on your back, and lie as if you
were without motion, by w^hich you may
count their numbers: in this method the
sportsman will always find most game, and
save himself and dogs much trouble in the
search of it.
SETTING.
Hoxv to take partridges, pheasants^ moor"
game, quails, S^x. with a setting--
dog and net.
There is no art of taking partridges, &c.
so excellent and pleasant as by the help of a
260 OF SHOOTING,
setting-dog ; therefore, before we proceed
to the sport, we shall give you an account
what the setting-dog is. You are to under-
stand, that a setting-dog is a certain lusty
land spaniel, taught by nature to hunt the
partridge niore than any chase whatever,
running the fields over with such alacrity and
nimbleness, as if there was no linnit to his
fury and desire, yet by art under such ex-
cellent command, that in the height of his
career, by a hem or sound of his master's
voice, he shall stand, gaze about him, look
his master in the face, and observe his direc-
tions, whether to proceed, stand still, or
retire ; nay, when he is even just upon his
prey, that he may take it up in his mouth :
yet his obedience is so framed by art, that
presently he shall either stand still or fall
down flat on his belly, without daring to
make any noise or motion till his master
comes to him, and then he will proceed in
all things to follow his directions.
Having a dog thus quahfied by art and
COURSING, ETC. 26l
nature, take him with you where partridges
haunt ; there cast off your dog, and by some
word of encouragement which he is acquaint-
ed with, engage him to range, but never too
far from you ; and see that he beats his
ground justly and even, without casting
about, or flying now here, now there, which
the mettle of some will do if not corrected
and reproved : and therefore when you per-
ceive this fault you must call him in with a
hem, and so check him that he dare not do
the like again for that day, and will range
afterwards with more temperance, ever and
anon looking in his master's face, as if he
would gather from thence whether he did
well or ill.
If in your dog's ranging you perceive him
to stop on a sudden or stand still, you must
then make up to him, for without doubt he
hath set the partridges, and as soon as you
come to him, command him to go nearer,
but if he goes not, lies still, or stands shak^
inghis tail, and now and then looks baqk^
262 OF SHOOTING,
then cease from urging him farther, and taki.
your circumference walking fast, with a care-
less eye looking straiglit before the dog, and
thereby see how the covey lies, whether
close or straggling. Then commanding the
dog to lie still, draw forth your net and prick
one end to the ground, and spread your net
all open, and so cover as many of the par-
tridges as you can, which done, make in
with a noise and spring up the partridges,
and they will no sooner rise than be en-
tangled in the net. If you. let go the old
cock and hen, it will not only be the act of a
fair sportsman, but also a. means to increase
your own pastime by preserving the breed,
THE PHEASANT,
Is of the size of a common dunghill- cock,
and a superb bird in his plumage, with a
proud and noble gait. This of course is on-
ly to be understood as relating to the male,
for the plumage of the female has litde splen-
dor, and resembles the quail,, which makes
COURSIXG, ETC, gjSS
them easy to be distinguished in shooting,
and prevents the killing adien. instead of a
cock. These birds generally lay their eggs
in the woods, the number of which is com-
monly ten or twelve ; the season of the young
pheasants nearly corresponds with that of the
partridges.
The pheasant in the first year is marked
in the wing like a partridge. The young
cock^ whose plumage is completed the first
year, is in like manner known by his spurs,
which are round and blunt, Jbut long and
sharp in the old ones ; the hen has also a
small spur on the hinder part of the leg,
which is very small in those that are young,
and more larg€ and prominent in a greater
or less degree, in proportion to tiie age of
the bird; besides, in young ones, the spurs
are each surrounded with a small black cir-
cle, which does not disappear till the second
-hatching. The legs of those that are very
.old, that is to say, such as have attained five
or six years, are more wrinkled and of a
264 OF SHOOTING,
darker colour than those of the young ones
in the first year : the crystal of the eye in the
former is also more yellow, whilst that of the
young ones of the first and second year is
white. But all these marks and signs are
not without many exceptions.
To find the pheasants you must first un-
derstand their haunts, which are never in
open fields, but in thick young copses well
grown, and not in old high woods. Having
thus found out their coverts, which must be
solitary and untraced by men or cattle, the
next thing will be to find out the eye or
brood of pheasants.
The first way is by going into those young
copses, and carefully viewing them, search-
ing every where, and by that means finding
%vhere they run together, as chickens after a
hen : or, secondly, you must rise early in
the morning, or come late in the evening,
and observe how and when the old cock and
hen call their young ones to them, and how
COURSING, ETC. 26*5
the young ones answer back unto them again,
and so from that sound direct your path as
near as you can to the place where they are,
lying down so close that you may not be dis-
cerned, by which means you will know
where they meet.
But the most certain means of findinij
them out, is to have a natural pheasant's
call, which you must learn how to use, un-
derstanding all their notes, and how to apply
them ; for they have several notes, and all
dijfferent : one to cluck them together, ano-
ther to chide them when they straggle too
far, a third to call them to meat when she
hath found it, a fourth to make them look
out for food themselves, and a fifth to call
them about her to sport withal. You use
your call in the morning early, at which
time they straggle abroad to find provender ;
or in the evening just about the sun-setting,
which is their time likewise for feeding.
Now although these are the best times to
Aa
266 6F SHOOTING,
use your call, yet you may call them toge-
ther at any other time of the day, only al-
tering your note ; just at or before sun-rising
ypur note must be to call them to feed, and
so at sun-set; but in the fore and afternoon
your note must be to cluck them together, or
brood, or to chide them for straggling, or to
give them notige of some approaching dan-
ger. Knowing your notes, and how to ap-
ply them where the pheasants haunt, ^ which
you will know by the strength of the under-
growth, obscureness, darkness, and solitari-
ness of the place ; you must then lodge your-
self as close as possible, and call at first
very softly, Icbt the pheasants being lodged
very near should be affrighted at a loud
note; but if nothing replies, rise your note
higher and higher, till you extend it to the
uttermost compass, and any pheasant with-
in hearing will answer it in a note as loud as
your own, provided it be not untuneable,
forthat will spoil all. As soon as you hear
this answer, if it be from afar and from one
single bird, creep nearer and nearer unto it,
COURSING, ETC. 26/
Still calling, but not so loud , and as you
approach nearer to it, so will the pheasant
to you ; and as you alter your note, so will
the pheasant, which in all points you must
endeavour to imitate. In the end you will
'get sight, either on the ground or percli,
'Where you rnay have a good shot, or taEe it
as fai^cy leads you . At sun-set the greatest
*^part of them fly up into the long branches of
|6Uk trees, in order to' roost air night, and' at
the time they do this they invariably make a
noise, which is called cocketiingj and that
in a greater degree durihg the winter seasoh,
'so that poachers w^ho lie in wait for them in
* the evening, are warned by the noise of the
^place' where they are perched, and when the
night is advanced repair under those trees
which the birds have chosen, and shoot them
with the greatest ease, for at this time the
^ph6asant will -permit them to cOme as near
as they please.
A a 2
2()8 OF SHOOTING,
rilE GROUSE, MOOR-GAME, OR
MUIR-GAME,
Are found in some parts of the northern
counties of England, and in some parts of
Wales, but in neither of the countries are
they at this day very numerous. In Scot-
land, however, and particularly in the vici-
nity of the Grampian mountains, they abound
in such sort, that I have seen from thirty to
forty brace a day killed for the first fortnight
of the season, provided the weather was
favourable. An excursion therefore into
that country in the grouse season, for three
weeks or a month, will afford the sportsman
a noble entertainment.
This species of sport is so perfectly similar
in all its operations to that of partridge
shooting, that it will be unnecessary to say
more on the subject, than to subjoin a short
description of the bird, and some of its ha-
bits. The grouse is larger than the partridge,
COUWlNG, Etfc. qBQ
aMWeigTis from eighteen to twenty ounces^
tlie pluma^ge is a mixture of red, black, and
wMtfe'; and the tail is nearly similar to that
6f a partridge, but a little larger. The legs
are clothed with feathers to the very toes,
and the outermost and inner toes are connect-
ed to the first joint of the middle toe by a
small membrane. The bill is short, arched,
and of a blackish colour ; and the eyes are
encircled with two large red eye-brows,
which are composed of a fleshy membrane,
round and pinked on the upper part, and
extending beyohd the crown of the head.
The plumage of the hen has less of the red
and more of the white than the cock. The
tiiembrane of the eye-brow is less projected,
less pinked, and of a less lively red. She
makes her nest on the ground, and lays from
seven to ten eggs.
The principal food of grouse in the sum-
mer season, is the black wortle-berry and the
red wortle-berry, also the common heath-
Aa 3
J270 OF SHOOTING
berries; but their food is nothing more than
the seeds that grow on the tops of the young
heath or heather, and small pebbles all the
winter and till the next berry season. By
opening the part that contains the food, the
sportsman will find it is so, and the fragrance
very fine. The young birds for the first
year are called poults.
The grouse inhabit those mountains and
moors which are covered with heath or
heather, and seldom or ever descend into
the lower grounds. They fly in packs con-
sisting in general of four or five brace ; and-
they love to frequent mossy places, particu-
larly in the middle of the day, and w^hen the
weather is warm. The old cock is known by
the cocking noise he makes, and when the
dogs point at a brood, he is commonly the
first bird that goes off.
In pursuing this game, if, when the dogs
are set, the shooter perceives the birds to
erect their heads and run, he may be pretty
COURSING, ETC. 271
certain they will not lie very well during the
the course of that day ; and the only mode
by which he will be able to get at them, is to
make a circle of about sixty or seventy yards
round them, with a careless eye, and the dogs
standing staunch all the time, till you get a
head of the birds ; when they perceive you
before them and the dogs behind them, they
will squat to the ground, and lie close ; when
you observe this, step gently towards the
dogs and the birds in a straight line ; between
you and the dogs they will lie till you get
within twenty- five or thirty yards of them,
by which means you are certain of a shot ;
when by following them up with the dogs
and running, not once in ten times you get
within shot, and at the same tune make the
birds much wilder the remainder of the day.
As the season for shooting this game com-
mences in hot weather, and the birds when
shot are subject to become putrid in a short
space of time, it is highly proper, especially
if they are wanted to be sent a distance, that
$172 OlP SHOOTINC?,
tlfey should be drawn caiiefally, aftd extreiiiS^
ly clean, the very instant they are shot, ahxl
immediately afterwards stuffed with dry
heather ; and if the plumage happtens to bfe
whetted by the fall to the ground when the
bird is shot, it hiust at tlite same time b6
wiped as dry a$ possible, before it is put into
the game-bag» Before the birds are packed
tip to be sieht off, it is dlso proper to lay them
m the isun half ah hbtiir, in ordeir to rfender
them more dry.
HEATH FOWL.
Therti ate also ihhurherable quantities of
ihe black cocky or coriiihonl^ cklled hedth-
fowl, and a grieat hurriber of thfe tariiiigah,
found in the vicinity of the Gratnpian moan-
tains, at the dukes of Athol, Gordon, Ar-
gyll, diiA the fearl 6f Bredalbaine's, which af-
ford excellent diversidn tcl th^ sportsman,
file same as that of the grouse, and their
shooting season the same. The heath-fowl
lays from eight to ten eggs, she makes her
COURSING, ETC. £7S^
nest on the ground like the grouse; they
generally breed in the heath or heather, and
near the edge of woods ; when her young is
hatched about three or four days, the hen
leads them into the woods in order to find
out provender for her young, such as ants,
their eggs, &c. here they will remain three
weeks ; afterwards they will straggle up into
the moors, two miles or more, in order to
get food. They at this time feed on the
black wortle-berry, also' the red wortle-ber-
ry, and all the other common heath-berries ;
their food is the same as that of the grouse all
the year : there you will find them in broods,
when ranging for moor-game, and they af-
ford equal sport with the grouse.
The black cock is much more esteemed
for its flavour than the moor-game, and is
as black as a raven, and after the second
year there appears a white feather in each
winii. The legs are clothed with feathers to
the very toes, the same as the grouse ; the
bill short, arched, and of a black colour ;
.1274 ^€F SHOOTING,
and the eyes encircled with two large red
eye-brows, like the grouse, but twice as
large. The plumage of the hen is much the
same as that of the hen grouse, but some-
thing more white. The black cock weighs
from thirty to near forty ounces.
<rHE PTARMIGAN, OR TARMIGAN,
*I^in shape and form a species of grouse,
and only differs a little in its size and colour*
The colour is mottled black and white,
something like the grey feather in the mal-
lard; the eyes are encircled with redeye-
brows, but not so large nor so pinked as
that of the grouse; the legs clothed with
feathers to the very toes ; and the bill short,
arched, and of a dark greyish colblir. ^She
makes her nest on the top of the highest and
barest part of the mountains, among the
small loose stones, which she fills up with
moss, and lays teven or eight eggs. The
time of shooting them the sahie as grouse and
black-game. They fly in^p&clcs like grouse,
COpllSING, Exe.r 2^5
but are rather a foolish bh'd, as they will
run before you on the bare ground like j
chickens, so that the shooter may kill one>
half of the pack on the ground at one shot.
The tarmigan weighs from fifteen tQ. seveU'^
teen ounces. .
THE WOODCOCK,
Is a bird of passage, and commonly ar-
rives in this country about the latter end of
October, The passage in different seasons^
is more or less advanced or retarded, ac*
cording as the wind and weather happens to
be at the beginning of the autumn : the east
and north-east winds, and especially when
they are accompanied with fogs, bring them
over in the greatest numbers. At their ar-
rival on the first flight they drop any where^,.
as well under high trees as in copses, in ;-
hedge-rows, or among heath and brambles;
afterwards they take up their abode in copses
of nine or ten years' growth, and some tirnqs^j;
in tliose little rows, which having been cut,
27^ OF SHOOTING,
are left to grow for timber ; for it is but sel-
dom that a woodcock is found in a young
copse of more than three or four years'
growth. When it is said they take up their
abode, it must not be understood to mean
that they remain in the same wood during the
whole of the winter, for it is observed that
they do not stay more than sixteen or
eighteen days in one place.
This bird rises heavily from the ground,
and makes a considerable noise when he
wings. When he is found in an open field,
in a hedge-row, or in the pass of a wood, he
frequently only skims the ground, and then
his flight not being rapid, he is easily shot.
But when he is sprung io a tall wood, where
he is obliged to clear the tops of the trees be-
fore he can take an horizontal flight, he
sometimes rises very high, and with great
rapidity ; in this case it is difficult to seize
the moment of shooting, by reason of the
turnings and twistings which he is obliged to
make in order to pass through the trees.
COURSING, ETC. 277
The woodcock walks clumsily, as all birds
are observed to do which have great wings
and short legs. His sight is also very bad,
and particularly in the day-time, it is said
hovvever that he sees better in the dusk.
Shooting woodcocks is very pleasant
amusement in woods which are not too
thick, and if they are cut through in several ■
places it renders it more easy to shoot them
in their passage, when they spring in the
wood, and also to mark them with greater
certainty. There is a species of spaniels ^
which give tongue when the cock springs, or
when they get upon his haunt ; these dogs
are extremely useful, as they warn the sports-
man to be upon his guard. In this sport it
is very material to have two or three good
markers ; with this assistance, if the wood
is not too large, it will be difficult for a cock
to escape from a good shot. I have seen it
frequently happen that he will suffer himself
to be sprung and shot at two or three times,
before he will leave the wood to go to a
Bb ;.
278 OF SHOOTING^
hedge-row. During the day time the wootl-
cock remains in those parts of the woodsi
where there are void places or glades, pick-
ing up earth-worms and grubs from among
the fallen leaves ; when night coaies on he
goes to drink, and if it is frost and snow
will feed there all night, and at the break of
day return to the wood : the sportsman may
therefore advantageously watchat some open-
ing, or cut, which runs through the wood, and
shoot him in his passage to and from^ it in the
morning or evening. It is in these openings*
that nets are spread, to take the woodcocks
in their morning and evening flights. They
may also be watched with advantage in the
morning and evening flights, at those nar-
row passes and valleys, on the edges of the
woods, which lead to springs or heads of
waters.
Those who know the custom that the
woodcock has of going in the evening to the
springs that adjoin the woods, practice ano*
ther method of killing them; which, is by.
COURSING, ETC. 279
ivatching near those springs in the dusk of
the evening, in order to shoot them as they
alight.
Woodcocks remain in this country until
the middle of March, and may be found all
the winter season, if the weather is not too
severe ; but if frosts happen which last for
some time, they will almost totally disap-
pear at that interval, and a few will only be
found by hazard in certain places where ther^
are springs which do not freeze.
A month, or thereabouts, before their
departure, it is common to see them in pairs
at the morning and evening flights ; and to
hear them when flying make a piping noise,
although at other times they are quite mute.
As they are found in greater numbers in
the month of March, than in the middle of
winter, it is certain that they assemble at
that time in order to go abroad. Wood-
cocks are fattest from the middle of Novem-
Bb 2
CSO . OF SHOOTING,
ber, till about the first of February : when
they begin to pair, to the time of their de-
parture, they are much leaner. It is said
the female may be distinguished from the
male, by a narrow stripe of white along the.
lower part of the exterior web of the outer-
most feather of tiie wing: the same part in
the outermost feather of the male, is elegantly
and regularly spotted with black and reddish
white; in the bastard wing of each sex is a
small pointed narrow feather, very elastic,
and much sought after by painters as a
pencil.
SNIPES,
Make their appearance here in autumn,
and remain until the spring. It is generally
supposed that they return into Germany and
Switzerland to breed ; nevertheless a great
number remain with us during the summer,
and breed in marshes, where they lay their
eggs, in the month of June, to the number
of four or five. Snipes are scarcely worth
COURSIN'G, ETC. 281
shooting until the middle of October, or
when the first frost sets in : in November
they grow very fat. These birds when they
abound afford very excellent sport. It is
remarked that snipes always fly against the
wind, which is also the case with woodcocks ;
for this reason it is best to hunt for them as
much as possible with the wind to the back,
because they then fly towards the sportsman
and present a fairer mark.
The snipe is generally esteemed difficult
to shoot, by reason of the many turnings and
twistings which it makes on being sprung :
but this difficulty exists only in the minds of
inexperienced sportsmen, as there are many
birds more difficult to shoot flying. When
once the shooter can accustom himself to let
the snipe fly away, without his being in haste
or alarmed, he will find that the flight is not
much more difficult to follow than that of the
quail ; and it is better to let him fly some
distance, because the smallest grain of shot
will kill him, and he will fall to the ground if
Bb 3
282 OF SHOOTING,
struck ever so slightly. Among the common
snipes some are larger than others ; these are
thought to be the males : snipes however are
sometimes found, which, from their extraor-
dinary size, must necessarily be of a different
species, but those are so rare, that they do
not here require a particular description,
WILD DUCKS.
This race of birds which have the shape
ax\d form of the tame duck, are extremely
numerous, and tliere is no other bird which
affords so many different species as this ; but
of these only the common wild ducks are
found in considerable numbers in Great-
Britain. I shall therefore confine the des-
cription to them alone.
Wild ducks are also birds of passage, and
arrive here in great flights from the northern
countries, in the winter; still, however, a
great many remain in our marshes, fens,
lakes, &c, and there breed. They pair in
COURSING, ETC. 283
spring, and lay from twelve to sixteen eggs.
The duck commonly constructs her nest at
the edge of the water, upon some tuft of
rushes, amongst grass or furze, or large
swamps and lakes on the moors, and begins to
lay about the middle of March ; her incuba-
tion is about thirty days, and young ones are
most commonly hatched ia May The
growth of their wings is very slow, and they
attain more than half of their size before
they are able to fly, which happens about the
beginning of August, near three months after
the time of being hatched.
The wild duck differs little in plumage
from the tame duck, but it is easily distin-
guished by its size, which is less ; the neck
being more slender, as also the foot smaller ;
the nails are more black, and above all, the
web of the foot, which is finer and softer to
touch.
In the summer season, w^hen it is known
that a team of young ducks are in a particu-
284 OF SHOOTING,
lar piece of water, and just beginning to fly,
the sportsman is sure to find them early in
the morning, dabbling at the edge of the
pool, and amongst the long grass, and then
he may get very near to shoot them.
By the means of a little boat they may be
shot at any time of the day ; and this method
succeeds admirably well on small pieces of
water, as by the help of it they may all be
killed. It will be still more easy to effect
tiriis, if the sportsman can contrive to kill the
old duck ; in that case he may tie a tame
duck by the leg, with a piece of pack-thread,
to a pin of wood drove into the ground, at
the edge of the water : this may be done in
a manner that the duck may be able to swim
a little way into the water. He must then
conceal himself within gun-shot ; she will
soon begin to quack, and so soon as the
young ones hear her, they will come out to
her thinking it to be their mother. By these
means the sportsman may kill half of the
team at one shot ; but if he wishes to take
COURSING, ETC. 285
them alive, he has only to throw into the
water, near to the duek, a few fish-hooks
tied upon pieces of- twine, and baited with
pieces of the lights of a calf. The lines must
be fastened to pickets placed at the edge of
the water, and if there be a dozen young
ducks he will get them all, if he has hooks
enough.
In shooting wild ducks, &c. observe al-
ways to shoot with the wind, if possible ; and
rather sideways or behind the fowl than full
in their face.
Next observe to choose the most conveni-
ent shelter you can find, either hedge, bank,
tree, or any thing else which may hide you
from the view of the fowls. And be sure to
have your dog at your heels, under good
command, not daring to stir till you bid him,
having first discharged your piece ; as some
dogs ill-taught will, upon the snap of the
cock, presently rush out and spoil all the
sport.
Q86 OF SHOOTING,
If you have not shelter enough, by reason
of the nakedness of the banks and want of
trees, you must creep upon your hands and
Jknees under the banks, and lying flat upon
your belly, put the nose of your piece over
the bank and take your level : for a fowl is
so fearful of man, that though an hawk
were soaring over her head, yet at the sight
of him she would take the wing and run the
risk of that danger. But sometimes it so
happens, that the fowls are so shy, there is
no getting a shot at them without a stalking-
horse, which must be some old jade trained
up for the purpose, who will gently, and as
you please, walk up and down in the water,
flodding and eating the grass that grows
therein. You must shelter yourself and gun
behind his fore shoulders, bending your body
down low by his sides, and keeping his body
still full between you and the fowls ; being
w^ithin shot, take your level from before the
fore part of the horse, shooting as it were be-
tween the horse's neck and the w^ater, which
is much better than shooting under his belly^
CdURSlS^ ETC. 2^7
being more secure amd less perceivable. To
supply the v^ant of a stalking hoise, which
will take up a great deal of tiaie to instruct
arid maJlce fit for this exercise, you may make
one of any piece of old canvass, and shape it
into the form of a horse, with the head
bending downwards as if he grazed, and stuff
it with any light matters ; but do not forget
to paint it the colour of a horse, of which
brown is the best ; and let a staff be fixed
in the midst, with a sharp iron at the end,
to stick into the ground as you may see oc-
casion, standing fast till you take your level.
It must be made so portable that you may
bear it with ease in one hand, moving it so
that it may seem to graze as you go. Let
the stature of your artificial stalk-horse be
neither too low nor too high, for the one will
not hide your body, and the other will be apt
to frighten the fowls. Instead of this stalk-
ing-horse, you may fashion out of canvass
painted, an ox or a cow ; and this change is
necessary, when you have so beaten the fowl
with your stalking-horse that they begin to
288 OF SHOOTING,
find your deceit, and will no longer endure it,
as it frequently falls out, then you may stalk
with an ox or cow till the stalking-horse be
forgotten, and by this means make your sport
continual.
There are other dead engines to stalk
withal ; as an artificial tree, shrub, or bush,
which may be made of small wands, and with
painted canvass, into the shape of a willow,
poplar, or such trees as grow by river or
watersides, for these are best. If you stalk
with a shrub or bush, let them not be so tall
as your tree, but much thicker ; w^hich you
may make either of one entire bush, or of
divers bushes interwoven one with another,
either with small withy-wands, cord or pack-
thread, that may not be discerned ; and let
not your bush exceed the height of a man,
but thicker than three or four men, with a
spike at the bottom to stick into the ground
whilst you take your level.
Another good way to shoot ducks in win-
COURSING, ETC. 289
ter, and especially in frost at their evening
flight, at which time they fly about and are
more in motion than at any other time, is to
watch for them in the dusk of the evening at
the margins of little pools and springs where
they come to feed ; then they may either be
shot whilst on the wing, or at the moment in
which they alight on the water : when tlie
frost is very severe, and the pools and rivers
are frozen up, they must be watched for in
places where there are warm springs and wa-
ters which do not freeze. The sport is much
more certain, because the ducks are confined
to those places in order to procure herbs^
which are almost the only food that remains
for them at this period.
HOW TO TRAIN A WATER-DOG,
AND THE USE THEREOF.
I shall begin with his colour, and although
some attribute much to that, yet experience
lets us know they are uncertain observations.
Your dog may be any colour and yet ^xceU
Cc
890 OF SHOOTING,
lent, but choose him of hair long and curled,
not loose and shaggy ; his head round and
curled ; his ears broad and hanging ; eyes
full, lively, and quick ; his nose very short,
and lip like a hound; the chaps with a full
set of strong teeth, and neck thick and short;
his breast sharp, and shoulders broad ; his
fore legs straight, chine square, and but-
tocks round ; his belly gaunt, and thighs
brawny, &c.
For the training of this dog you cannot
begin too soon, and therefore as soon as he
can lap you must teach him to couch and lie
down, not daring to stir from that posture
without leave. In his first teaching let him
eat nothing till he deserves it, and have no
more teachers, feeders, or correctors but
one, and do npt alter that word you first use
in his information, as the dog will take notice
of the sound, not the language.
When you have made him acquainted with
the word suitable to his lesson, you must
then teach him to know the word of repre-
COURSING, ETC. 2^1
hension, which at first should be used with-
out a jerk, and also use words of cherishing
to give hiin encouragement w^hen he does
well ; and in all these words you must be
constant, and let them be attended with spit-
ting in his mouth, or cherishing with the
hand. There is also a word of advice, in*
structing him when he does amiss.
Having made him understand these several
words, then teach him to lead in a string or
collar orderly, not running too forward nor
hanging backward ; after this teach him to
come close at your heels, without leading, as
he must not range by any means, unless it be
to beat the fowl from their coverts, or to fetch
the wounded.
In the next place teach him to fetch and
carry any thing you throw out of your hands,
and first try him with a glove, shaking it
over his head and making him snap at it ;
sometimes letting him hold it in his mouth,
and strive to pull it from him ; at last throw
Cc 2
292 OF SHOOTING,
it a little way and let him worry it on the
ground, and so by degrees make him bring
it to you wherever you throw it ; from the
glove you may teach him to fetch cudgels,
bags, nets, &c. If you use the dog to carry
dead fowl it will not be amiss, for by that
means he will not tear or bruise what fowl
you shoot. Having perfected this lesson,
drop something behind you which the dog
does not see, and being gone a little way
trom it send him back to seek it, by saying
back^ I have lost ; if he seems amazed, point
with your finger urging him to seek out,
and leave him not till he has done it ; then
drop something at a greater distance and
make him find that too, till you have brought
him to go back a mile : you may now train
up for your gun, making the dog stalk after
you step by step, or else couch and lie close
till you have shot.
The last use of the water-dog is in moult-
ing time, when wild fowl cast their feathers
and arc unable to flv, which is between sum-
COURSING, ETC. 293
nier and autumn; at this time bring your
dog to their coverts and hunt them out into
the stream, and there, with your gun and nets,
surprise them, driving them into them, for
at this time sheep will not drive more easy.
Though some may object that this sickly time
is unseasonable, yet if they consider what
excellent food these fowls will prove, the tak-
ing of them may be excusable. I have eat
of them after they have been fed awhile with
livers of beasts, barley paste, scalded bran,
and such like food, they have proved exceed-
ing fat, and have tasted not so fishy as they
do by their natural feeding, but exceeding
sweet, and deserve preference to any fowl
whatever.
As the language of sportsmen possesses a
great number of specific names peculiar to
themselves, when speaking of the various ob-
jects of their pursuit, it may not be improper
to notice them in this place, and give such
terms as are proper.
Cc 3
294 OF SHOOTING, &C.
Covey of partridges.
Nide of pheasants, commonly called
a Ni.
Pack of grouse, or brood.
Pack of tarmigan.
Brood of black game, or heath fowl
Wisp, or vvhisp, of snipes.
Wing of plover.
Flock of geese.
Bevy of quails.
Flight of woodcocks^
Trip of dotterel.
Team of ducks.
Flock of bustards.
OF THE
FOMEST OF BJLAIR.
JLhE Forest of Blair, in Perthshire, be-
longing to his grace the Duke of Athol, is one
of the largest and finest in Great-Britain ;
intersected with beautiful rivers, and abound-
ing with red and roe-deer, but of rein-deer
there are very few or none remaining. It
stretches for near thirty miles by the side of'
the Grampian mountains ; adjoining it are
two other very large forests, the property of
the Duke of Gordon, and the Earl of Fife,
and throughout them all there is venison in
the greatest plenty.
During the months of July and August,
296 FOREST O^ BLAIR.
the aged harts feed and lie on the tops and
sides of high Iiills, in order to have the ad-
vantage of tlie wind, being very fearful of
men and dogs ; the hinds are mostly in the
valleys with their calves, and a few straggling
harts among them,
I had the honour to attend the Duke of
Athol on an excursion into his extensive forest
in August, 1 805, and shall here attempt to
describe the manner of his grace's sport:
when he first alights from his horse the ser-
vants present him with telescopes, by the
use of which, looking on the mountains'
sides, or in the valleys, it is easy to distin-
guish every hart, hind or calf; and I may
venture to say that in eight hours not fewer
have been perceived than from three to four
thousand head, young and old, in a corner
of the forest ; and were it possible to go over
it in one day, I am confident a man might
see, at least, ten thousand deer.
When his grace espies the harts lying
FOREST OF BLAIR. 297
down, or grazing, he uses all methods to
gain the wind of them, approaching with the
utmost caution till within a hundred or six
score yards, he fires from a rifle gun, and
being a capital marksman seldom misses his
aim ; as the herd passes by his servants sup-
ply him with a second and third piece, and
he frequently kills a hart at each shot.—
When they are not to be come at in the wide
and open valleys, his men are sent round in
all directions where the deer can catch the
wind of them, and on sight, or winding of
them, the deer return down wind, where his
grace, taking advantage of the track with the
wind in his favour in the time they drive by
him, can fire the three rifle guns in one
minute, and will hit them on full speed from
one hundred to one hundred and fifty yards
distance. When the deer is wounded, in a
general w^ay, he leaves the herd, or rather the
other harts force him out as soon as he begins
to bleed freely. The man who leads the grey-
hounds, by a signal from his grace's hand, un-
couples one or both of them, when they come
298 FOHEST OF BLAIR.
to his grace, or the forester, the dog or dogs
are laid to the slot, or track ; if the deer has
not broke from the herd, the greyhounds
will single him out from the others if there
be a thousand of them together, and will not
look at any other but that deer which is
wounded : sometimes he will run a mile or
two before the dogs bring him to bay, there
they will keep him till the forester comes up
and cuts the deer's throat, and the dogs' re-
ward is the hot blood, which makes them
eager and keen.
The deer thus killed is paunched and laid
across a horse and tied on ; his grace has
always two or three of those horses and men
following at a distance in order to carry home
the slain of the day. Some days he kills
from four to six harts, weighing from twenty to
twenty-five stone English weight, viz. fourteen
pounds to the stone ; and I have seen seve-
ral brought home to Blair-castle that cut on
the haunches three inches and more of solid
fat.
FOREST OF BLAIR. 2^9
For grouse, black game, and tarmigan,
this place, in my opinion, has not its equal.
The mountain hare is also peculiar to the
forests of this country, and considerably lar-
ger than the wold hares, and weighs from
eleven to fourteen pounds ; in the beginning
of October they cast their summer's coat of
the common colour, and become perfectly
white by Christmas, except the black mark
at the back of the scut. They are generally
shot, or killed with greyhounds, but by the
last method chiefly, when the snow is deep,
as there are many holes and crevices among
the rocks and mountains where they rua in
and out like rabbits.
All round Blair-castle, and his grace^s seat
at Dunkeld on the Tay, there is excellent sal-
mon and trout fishing, and in as deliglitful
a country as any part of tlie kingdom. A
most elegant bridge is now erecting by his
grace across the river Tay, in the centre of
the town of Dunkeld, on the high road frora
Edinburgh to Towerness* At the inns arc
300 OF DEER.
good accommodations for gentlemen and
travellers, who wish to take a tour through
the country, and the roads are all exceed-
ingly good.
OF THE DEER.
Though this volume does not profess to
treat of hunting, it will be necessary for me
to give a short account of the nature of deer,
and the method of slotting and harbouring
them, as pursued by forest sportsmen, which
introduces itself properly in tliis place be-
tween the chapters of shooting and coursing,
as guns and greyhounds are both used for
killing of venison.
The hart is called the first year a hind, or
calf, the second a brocket, the third a spayd,
or spayade, the fourth a staggard, the fifth a
stag, and the sixth a hart ; and when he is
past his sixth year he is called a hart of ten,
and afterwards, according to the increase of
his head, is named chroched, palmed, or
OF DEER* 3<M.
crowned. A hind has these three degrees ;
the first year she is called a calf, the secoiid
a brocket's sister, and the third year a hind.
The buck is called the first year -a fawn,
the second a pricket, the third a sorel, the
fourth a sore, the fifth a buck of the first
head, and the sixth year a great buck. The
doe the first year is called a fawn, the second
a pricket's sister, and the third year a doe.
The roe is called the first year a kid, the
second a gurle, the third a henusev the fourth
a roe-buck of the first vhead, and ttie fifth
year a fair roe-buck. The next thing to ue
considered is the proper appellatiQU >qf the?
excrement of the several &orts of deer, called
the fewmishings, which, is very necessary^
since their dung is the principle guide where-
by good foresters and woodmen know and
observe the place of their haunt and chiefest
resort.
The footing of a hart is called slot, of a
buck, and all fallow deer, a vew ; that of a
Dd
deer is called foiling, if on the grass, where
tiie impression of the foot is hardly visible.
The tail of a hart hath no other appella-
tion ; but that of a buck, roe, or any other
deer, is called the single. The fat of all
Sorts of deer is called suet, but the fat of a
roe and hart is called bevy-grease. The
foresters expressions are, to harbour and
nnharbour a hart, or he lieth in his hair ; to
lodge and touse, or dislodge a buck ; to seek
and find the roe, and he beddeth : the open*
ing is called to break a deer. Terms to be
used in generation are these : a hart, or buck,
goeth to rut, the roe goes to tourn. Terms
for the voice and sound of deer : the hart
belloweth, the buck groaneth, the roe belleth.
Where there are more deer than one, the
ilikilful forester terms them thus : a herd of
harts, hinds, bucks, and does ; a bevy of roes.
And note, that twenty is the least number
which maketh a herd of any deer^ except the
ioe, which is sit.
OF DEER. 303
The deer make their abode all day in the
valleys, and on high mountains and hills,
^vhere they may see round about them afar
off for prevention of danger, being very ti-
morous ; and at night-time, when all things are
quiet and still, they resort to the corn-fields
fqr food and relief.
Lastly, Let vae speak somewhat of the at-
tire of deer, red or fallow : the round roll
next the head is called the burr ; the main
horn, the beam ; the lowest antler, the brow
antler ; next above thereunto, bizantlers ; next
above that, the royal ; and the upper part of
all, the surroyal top : in the buck it is thus,
the burr, beam, braunch, advancers, palm,
and spellers. If the croches on the top grow
in the form of a rnan's hand, it h thm called
a palmed he^d ; bead^ bearing not abovo
three or four, the croches being placed aloft
all of one height, are called heads of so many
croches ; heads having doubling croches are
called forked heads, because the croches are
planted on the beam like forks.
Dd 2
304 OF DK£R.
A hart can naturally swim a great way, in-
somuch that I have heard of some so sore
hunted in forests next the sea, that they have
planjred into it,- and have been killed by fish-
ermen six miles from land. It is reported of
them when they go to rut, and must for that
purpose cross some great river, or arm of the
sea, they assemble in large herds, the strongest
goes in first, and the next in strength follows
him, and so one after the other, relieving
themselves by staying their heads on the but-
tocks of each other. When they mew, or
cast their heads, it is said they hide them in
the earth so cunningly that no one w^as ever
yet heard of that had been found.
The hart goes to feed in a copse, and al-
ways takes the wind, endeavouring thereby
to scent out some person he fears may an-
noy him.
The hhid commonly carries her calf about
nine months, which usually falls in May, al-
though sometimes later ; some of them have
OF DEER- 305
two at once : they always eat up the skia
which the calf laid in. As the calf grows up
she teaches it to run, leap, and the way it
must keep to defend itself from the hounds,
&c. Harts and hinds are very long lived,
commonly a hundred years and upwards.
The time of rutting is about the middle of
September, and continues tw^o months ; the
older they are the hotter, and the better be-
loved by the hinds, and therefore they go to
rut before the young ones ; and being very
fiery will not suffer any of tliem to come
near the hinds till they have satisfied their
venery. But the young ones are even witii
the old, for when they perceive the old ones
are grown -w^eak by excess of rutting, tlie
young will frequently attack them and make
them quit the place, that they may be masters
of the sport.
They are easily killed in rutting time, as
they follow the scent of the hind with such
greediness, laying tlieir noses to the ground,
tliat tbey mind notliing else; they are. such
Dd 3
306 OF BEER.
lovers of the spoit that it is very dangerous for
any man to come near them at this season,
-for then they will make at any living creature
of a different kind.
The time of harts mewing, or casting the
]]cad : the old hart casteth her head sooner
than the young ; and the time is from about
die middle of February and all March. If
you geid a hart before he hath a head he will
never bear any ; and if you geld him when he
has a velvet head he will never mew, or cast
iti without fraying or> burnishing. Having
cast their heads they instantly withdraw into
the thickets, hiding themselves in such con-
venient places where they may have good
water and strong feeding, near some ground
where wheat or peas, &c. are sown ; but
young harts never betake themselves to the
thickets till they have borne their head, which
is in the fourth year. After they have mew-
ed, they will begin to button in March and
April, and as the sun grows strong, and the
season of the year puts forward the crop of
OF DEER. 307
the earth, so will their heads increase in all
respects ; therefore, in the middle of June,
their heads will be summed as much as they
will bear all the year,
OF THE COAT AND COLOUR OF
HARTS.
The coats of harts are of three sorts,
brown, red, and fallow. Of brown harts
there are some great, long, and hairy, bearing
a high head, red of colour, and well beamed,
who will stand before hounds very long, being
longer of breath and swifter of foot than
those of a shorter stature. There are ano-
ther sort of brown harts which are little, short,
and well set, bearing commonly a black
mane, and are fatter and better venison than
the former, by reason of their better feeding
in young copses.
They are very crafty, especially when in
grease, and will be hardly found, because
they know they are most inquired after ; be-
308 OF DEEK.
sides they are very sensible they cannot stand
long before the hounds.
The fallow harts bear their heads high,
and a whitish colour, their beams small^ their
antlers long, slender, and ill grown ; having
neither heart, courage, nor force : but those
of a lively red fallow, having a black or
brown list down the ridge of the back, are
strong, bearing fair and high heads well fur-
nished and beamed.
How to know an old hart by the $lot^ entries^
abatures andjoils^ fewniets, gait,
walkSy and fraying'Stocks.
I shall proceed in order, and first of the
slot. You must carefully look on the tread-
ings of the hart's foot ; if you find the tread-
ings of two, the one long and the other round,
and both of one bigness, yet shall the long
slot declare the hart to be much larger than
the round ; moreover the old harts hind foot
doth never over-reach the fore foot, the
OF DEER. 309
young ones do ; but above all take this ob-
servation, when you are in the wood, and
have found the slot of a hart, mark what
manner of footing it is, whether worn or
sharp ; and accordingly observe the country,
and thereby judge how either may be occa-
sioned ; as harts bred in mountainous and
stony countries have their toes and sides of
their feet w^orn, by reason of their continual
climbing and resting themselves thereon,
and not on the heel ; whereas in the other
places they stay themselves more on the
heel than toes; for in soft, or sandy ground,
they slip upon the heel by reason of the
weight, and by frequent staying themselves
thereon it makes the heel grow broader
and greater ; and thus you may know the
age of a hart by his slot, or treading. The
next thing to be considered is the fewmishing,
and this is to be judged of in April or ]\lay.
If the fewmets be great, large, and thick,
they signify the hart to be ten ; in the mid^
die of June and July they make their few-
mets, or fewmishing, in great crotusses, very
giO OF DEEK^
soft, and from that time to the end of August
they make tliem large, long, and knotty,
anomted and gilded, tallmg them but lew
and scattered. In September and October
there is no longer judging by reason of the
rut.
Thirdly^ If you would know the height and
thickness of the hart, observe his entries into
the thickets, and M^hat boughs he hath over*
stridden, and mark from thence the height
of his belly from the ground ; his greatness
is known by the sides of the brakes or twigs
where his body has passed, and there, by
some broken stick, take his dimensions.
Fourthly, Take notice of his gait, by which
you may know whether the hart be great,
and stand long before the liounds, or not ;
for all harts which have a long step, will
stand up very long, being swift, light, and
well breathed ; but if he leave a great slot
ha will never stand long when he is chased*
OP DEEft. 311
Lastly, The older the hart is, the sooner he
goeth to fray, and the greater the tree is he
seeketh to fray upon, and such as he cannot
bend with his head, and mark the height
where the end of his crotches, or palm, hath
reached, and thereby know the height of the
hart's head ; and if you perceive at the high-
est of his fraying tiiere are left four marks
altogether, of one height, you may tlien con-
clude him to be a hart which beareth a
crowned top, croched at the least. In like
mantier, if you see tliree antlers which touch-
ed three branches of equal height, and two
others that have left their marks somewhat
lower, you may then judge he beareth a
palmed head.
Him to^seek n hart in Ms haunts, or feeding
places, according to the season of the year.
All harts change their manner of feeding
^very month,* and therefore I shall treat or-
derly of every one through the year, beginning
with the month wi^h is the conclusion of
ri
S12- OP DEER.
their rutting time, viz. November ; in that
month tiiey feed on heaths and broomy
places.
In December they herd together, and
withdraw themselves into the strength of the
forests to shelter from the cold winds, snows,
and frosts ; and feed on elm-trees, elder- trees,
brambles, and whatsoever green thing they
can find ; and if it snows they will skin the
trees like goats.
In January they leave herding, but will
keep five or six in company, and in the cor-
ners and hollow places of the forest will
feed on the winter pasture, sometimes mak*
ing their incursions into neighbouring corn-
fields, if they can perceive the blades of wheat,
rye, or such like, appear above ground.
In February and March they frequent
corn-fields and meadows, and in these months
mew and cast their heads, looking out, after
that, for places more obscure, where they
OF DEEU, 3l3
may abscond, being ashamed and afraid to
be seen, having lost both their beauty and
defence.
In April and May they rest in their thick-
ets and most retired parts of the forest, or
amongst other bushy and shady places during
that season, and stir very little till ruttlng-
time, unless they are disturbed. Some harts
are so cunning that they will have two lairs
to harbour in, a good distance apart, and
will frequently change (their greatest securi-
ty) from the one to the other, taking still
the benefit of the wind. In these months
they go not to the soil by reason of the
moisture of the spring, and the dew^ that
continually overspreadeth th^ grass.
In June, July, and August, they are in
their pride of grease, and then resort to
ispring copses and corn fields, but seldom go
where barley grows.
In September and October ttiey leave
Ee
314- OF DEER.
their thickets and go to rut, during which
season they have no certain place either for
food or harbour.
In what manner the huntsman should draw
the springs to find the hart.
Let him not come too early into the
springs, or haunts, where he thinks the hart
feeds, and is at his relief, as they usually go
to their lairs in the spring3, and if they ar6
old crafty deer they will return to the bor*
der of the copse, and there listen whether
they can hear any approaching danger ; and
if they chance to scent the huntsmen, or tha
hounds, they will instantly dislodge.
Then is the huntsman's proper time to
beat the outsides of the springs, or thickets ;
if he finds the track of a hart, or deer,' let
him observe whether it is new, which ho may
know thus : the dew will be beaten pfl^ the
foil fresh, or the ground broken, or printed
ivith other tokens, so he may judge his g^me
lately went that way.
OF DEER. 315
Having found the slot, or treading, and
the hound sticking well upon it, let him hold
him short, as he will better draw being so
held than if he were let the length of the
lino, and thus let him draw till he is come
to the covert, if possible, taking notice by
the way of the slot, foik, entries, and the
Hke, till he hath harboured him : that done,
kt him plash, or stick down small twigs, some
above and some below, as he shall think fit ;
and then, whilst the hound is hot, let him
beat the outsides and make his ring-walks
twice or thrice about the wood ; one while
by the great and open ways, that he may
help himself by the eye ; another whik
through the thick and covert, lest his hound
should over shoot it, having still better scent
in tlie covert thq^n highways. If he doubts
whether the hart is gone out of the ring-
walks, or fears he hath drawn amiss, then let
him go to the marks which he plashed, and
draw counter till he may take up the feW'-
met. Let him mark the place where he has
fed, and the subtleties and crafts he has
Ee 2
^16* OF DEER,
made.; as thereby he shall know what the
hart will do before the hounds ; for if in the
morning he hath made any doubling towards
the water, or else in his way, then when he
begins to be spent, all the faults, doublings,
and subtleties that he will use, shall be in the
same place, and in the same manner, as
made in the morning ; which observation is
of great advantage to the huntsmen, and in
this manner should they harbour their deer.
OF THE BUCK.
The buck is fawned about the latter end
of May, and his nature and properties differ
little from the harts, only the hart goes sooner
to rut, and is sooner in grease. There is
not so much art and skill required in lodging
a buck as in harbouring a hart ; neither is
tliere so much drawing after him necessary,
you are only to judge by the view, and mark
what grove or covert he enters, for he will
not rove and wander up and down so often
as a hart, nor so frequently change his lair«
OF DEER. 817
He maketh his fewmishings in different man-^
ners and forms, as the bart does, according to
tlie diversity of his food, but ar^ mpst con>
monly round.
The hart and buck differ in their methods
in endeavouring to elude the pursuit of the
hunters ; for when the buck is hunted, he
betakes himself to such strong holds and
coverts as he is most acquainted with, not
flying far before the hounds, nor crossing,
doubling, or using such subtleties as the
hart is accustomed to do. The buck will
be at a brook, or river, like the hart, but they
must not be so deep ; nor can stay so long
at soil as the hart will ; he leaps lighter at
rut than the hart, and groans as a hart bel-
lows, but with a low voice rattling in the
throat ; and here it is to be noted that they
love not one another, nor will they come
near each; others' lair.
He is of a sweeter scent to the^ hounds
•than the hart; but according to the judgment
E e 3
318 OF DEER.
of most, the roe is the sweetest chase of all.
The buck's veaison is incomparable food,
and is dressed like hart venison, only the
last may be preserved longer than the former :
he herds more than the hart, and lies in the
driest places ; but if he be at large, and un-
confined within the limitary precincts of a
park, he will herd but little from May to
August, because the flies trouble him. He
takes great delight in hilly places, but the
dales please him most to feed in.
OF THE ROE.
It is very easy to shoot or hunt, and goes
to rut, or tower, most generally in October,
the extent of which consists of fifteen days,
and he never parts with the doe till fawning-
time. The doe finding herself near her
time secretly departs from the buck, and
fawns as far from him. as she can, for could
he find the fawn he would kill it ; but when
the fawn grows big, can run and feed, she
then lovingly again returns to the buck. So
OF DEEK. 319
soon as the roe-buck* comes from rut he
casts his horns ; and there are few after two
years old which do not mew at Ail-hallows'
tide, but their heads grow quickly again.
The venison of a roe is never out of season
or very fat, and therefore they may be hunt-
ed or shot at any time ; yet surely some
favour ought to be shown the doe whilst she
is big with fawn, and afterwards till her fawn
is able to shift for itself. They make an
admirable chase, stand long., and fly far end-
ways ; they see not very welh
When they are hunted they turn much, and
often, and come back upon tlie dogs directly ;
when they can no longer hold out they then
take soil as the hart does, and will hang by
a bough in such a manner that nothing will
appear of them above water but their snout,
and thus will suffer the dogs to come nearly
upon them before they will stir. The male
is not called, by the skilful in the art of
hunting, a great roe-buck, but a fair roe-buck :
320 COURSING,: ETC.
the herd k called bevy ; and if there be not
bevy-grease on his tail when he is broken up,
he is not fit for eating.
The hound should be rewarded widi the
bowels, the blood, and feet slit asunder,
and boiled altogether.
OF COURSING WITH GREYHOUNDS.
I need not declare the excellencies which
are contained in this noble exercise, since it
is so well known to all gendemen who take
delight in that pleasant and healthy pastime ;
I shall therefore only treat upon the breed
of greyhounds, their shape, diet, and the
laws belonging to coursing the same, accord-
ing aS they were commanded, allowed, and
subscribed by the Duke of Norfolk, in the
reign of Queen Elizabeth.
First, you must have respect to the country,
which should be champaign, plain, or high
•downs. The best valleys ar€ those oi Bel-
COltRSING, ETC. 321
voir, White-horse, Evesham, or any other
where there are no coverts, so that a hare
may stand forth and endure a course of two
or three miles. High downs, or heaths, are
met with about Marlborough, Salisbury, Ci-
rencester, Lincoln, and Great Driffield in
Yorkshire; though these places are very
commodious for the breeding and training
up of greyiiounds, yet, in my opinion, the
middle, or most part arable grounds, are the
best; and still those gentlemen who dwell on
downs or plain grounds, to keep up the repu-
tation of their own dogs, affirm that they are
more nimble and cunning in turning than the
vale dogs are.
It is a received opinion that the greyhound
bitch will beat the dog, by reason she excels
him in nimbleness ; but if you consider that
the dog is longer and stronger, you must look
upon such opinion as no more than a vulgar
error. As to the breeding of your greyhound,
the best dog upon an indifterent bitch will
not produce so good a whelp as an indiffe-
322 COURSING, ETC.
rent dog upon the best bitch ; observe this
rule in general as to breeding, let your dogs
and bitches, as near as you can, be of an equal
age, not exceeding four years old ; however
to breed with a young dog and an old bitch
may be the means of producing excellent
whelps, the goodness whereof you will know
by their shape, in this manner ; to be raw*
boned, lean, loose made, sickled or crook
hocked, and generally connected in every
member, are the proper marks of excellent
shape and goodness ; but if after three or four
months they appear round and close thrust,
felt, straight, and not full summed, and kmK
in every member, they never prove good,
swift, or comely. A well shaped greyhound,
after a year and a half old, will have his head
lean and long, with a sharp nose, rush grown
from the eye downwards ; a full clear eye,
with long eyelids ; a sharp ear, short and
close falling ; a long neck a little bending,
with a loose hanging weasand, abroad breast,
straight fore legs, hollow side, straight ribs^
a square flat back, short and strong fillets, ^
COURSIN'G, ETC. 923
broad space between the hips, a strong stern,
or tail, a round foot, and good large clefts/
The dieting of greyhounds consists in four
things, food, exercise, airing, and kennelling.
Food of a greyhound is two-fold; general,
that is, the maintaining of a dog in good
bodily condition, and particularly when diet-
ed for a wager, or it may for some dis-
temper he is afflicted with*
A greyhound's general food ought to be
chippings, crusts of bread, soft bones and
gristle; your cMppings ought to be scalded
in beef, mutton^ veal^ or venison, broth, and
xvhen it is indifferently cool then make your
bre^d floiat with good milk, and give it youjr
greyhounds morning and evening, and tl^jB
\vill keep ^hein in^ a good state of body; [
' But if your dog be poor, sickly, and weak^
then take sheep's heads, wool and all, clean
washecl^> afiwJ having broken them to pieces
put them into a^pot^ and when it boilB skin)
324 COURSING, ETC,
the pot, and put therein a good store of oat-
meal, and such herbs as pottage is usually
made of, boil these till the flesh is very ten-
der ; then with the meal and broth feed your
dogs morning and evening, and it will recover
them. If you design your greyhound for a
wager, give him this^diet bread : take half a
peck of the finest and driest oatmeal, and a
peck of good wheat, having them ground
together, bolt the meal, and scattering an in-
different quantity of liquorice and anniseeds
well beaten together ; knead it up with the
whites of eggs, new ale, and barm, mixed
together, and bake it in small loaves, indiffe-
rently hard ; then soak it in beef, or any of
the aforesaid broths, and half an hour after
sunrising, and half an hour before its setting,
having first walked and aired your greyr
hound, give it him to eat. This will not
only increase his strength, but enlarge his
wind.
Having thus spoken of a greyhound's feed-
ing, either for keeping him^ in healthy or re-
COURSING, ETC, 525
storing it when lost. I shall, in the next
place, proceed to his exercise.
You should take two or i three brace of
greyhounds, or as many as you mean to train,
and lead them in slips into the field where
you exercise your horses and dogs, and in
such plnces as are clear from flinta and
stones, that they may not cut their feet ; also
be well mounted on a horse that has good
speed, having a piece of turf that is about
two miles straic^ht forwards : let the do^
leader hold the dogs in the slips, then set off
in a canter for a quarter of a mile and begin
to halloo, halloo, halloo, at that instant the dog
leader must slip all the dogs at once, and you
hallooing, the dogs will conie alter you with
all their might, thinking there is a hare be-
fore you ; then go off at full speed, in a
straight line, for two miles, and on the dogs
coming up to you make a circle round, hal-
looing ; come the same way back as you
went, till you come to the dog leader agam.
When the dogs tumble and roll tiiemseives
Ff
326 couRsiNd, trt.
on the ground, take each dog and slip hi*
tail two or three times through your hand,
then walk them about for a quarter of an
hour, and when you get them home, wash
their feet with butter and beer, then kennel
fhem ; half an hour after feed them. With
this exercise, and coursing them twice or
thrice a week with hares, they will be as fit,
with respect to feeding and training, as any
dogs in the kingdonj.
As to the first, he ought to be coursed two
or three times a week, in such manner that
you usually reward him with blood, which
will animate and encourage him to prosecute
his game ; but be not unmindful to give the
hare all just and lawful advantage, so that
she may stand long before the greyhound,
whereby he may shew his strength and skill
before he reaps the benefit of his labour. If
he kills, suffer him not to break the hare,
but take her from him, and having cleansed
his chaps from the wool of the hare, then:
give him the liver, lights, and heart, and so
COURSING, ETC. 327
take him up in your leash, lead him home
and wash his feet with some butter and beer
as beforementioned, and then put him into
the kennel, and feed hnii half an hour after-
wards. Upon your greyhound's coursing
days, give him in the morning before you air
him, a toast and butter, or oil, and nothing
else, then kennel him till he goes to his
course. The reason for kennelling your
greyhounds is, that it breeds in the dogs lust,
spirit, and nimbleness, besides it prevents
several dangerous casualties and keeps the
pores from spending till time of necessity ;
and therefore do not permit your dog to stir
out of the kennel but in the hours of feed-
ing, walking, coursing, or other necessary
business.
THE LAWS OF THE LEASH, OR
COURSING.
Though the laws of coursing may alter ac-
cording to some men's fancies, yet those sub-
scribed by the chief of the gentry were ever
Ff 2
3^8 COURSIKG, ETC.
held authentic : take them thus in order,
according to my collection, out of Mr. Mark-
hani; the first greyhound courser in England.
1. It was ordered that he who was chosen
fewterer, or letter-loose of the greyhounds,
should receive those matched to run together
into his leash as soon as he comes into the
field, and follow the next -to the hare-finder
till he comes unto the form ; and no horse-
man, or footman, on pain of disgrace, to go
before them, or on any side, but directly
behind, -the space of forty yards, or therea-
bouts. ^
2. Tliat not above one brace of grey-
hounds do course a hare at one instant.
3. That tlie hare-finder should give the
hare three soho's before he puts her from her
lair, to make the greyhounds gaze and at-
tend her rising.
-4. That the fewterer shall give twelve
COURSING, ETC. 329
score yards law ere he loose the greyhounds,
except it be in danger of losing sight
5. That dog which giveth the first turn,
if after the turn be given there be neither
coat, slip, nor wrench, extraordinary, I say,
he which gives the first turn shall be .held to
win the wager.
€. If one dog gives the turn, and the
other bears the haje, that which bore the
hare shall win.
7. If one gives both the first and last turn,
and no other advantage be between theni,
^he odd turn shall win the wager.
•"♦
8. That a coat shall be more than two
turns, and a go-by, or the bearing of the hare,
equal with two turns.
9. If neither dog turn the hare, then he
which leadeth last at the cover, shall be held
to win the wager.
Ff 3
330 COURSING, ETC.
10. If one dog turn the hare, serve him-
self, and turn her again, these two turns
shall be as much as a coat.
11. If all the course be equal, then he
which bears the hare shall win only; and if
she be not borne, the course must be ad-
judged dead.
12. If he which comes in first to the
death of the hare, takes her up and saves her
from breaking, cherisheth the dogs, and
cleanseth their, mouths from the wool, or
other filth of the hare, for such courtesy
done he shall in right challenge the hare;
but not doing it, he shall have no right,
privilege, or title, therein.
13. If any dog shall take a fall in the
course, and yet perform his part, he chal-
lenge the advantage of a turn more than h^
giveth.
14. If one dog turn the hare, serve him*
COURSING, ETC, 331
self, and give divers coats, yet in the end
stand still in the field, the other dog without
turn giving, running home to the covert,
that dog which stood still in the field shall be
adjudged to lose the wager.
15. If any man shall ride over a dog, and
overthrow him in liis course, though the dog
were the worst dog in opinion, yet the party,
for the offence, shall either- receive the dis-
grace of the field, or pay the wager; for be-
tween parties it shall be adjudged no course.
16. Lastly, Those who are chosen judges
of the leash, shall give their judgment pre-
sently, before they depart from the field, or
else he, in whose default it lieth, shall pay
the wager by a general voice and sentence*
Note, That it lieth in the power of him
that hath the office of the leash conferred on
him, to make laws according to the custom
of countries, and the rule of reason.
Remedied^ and their hurts healed, according
to the best prescriptions of ancient
and modern sportsmen^ and
gamekeepers.
OF MADNESS IN DOGS,
The symptoms of the maladies, and their cure.
There are properly seven sorts of mad-
ness which afflict a dog, whereof two of them
are incurable, and therefore I shall say but
little thereon, only so much as may give you
warning to shift them from your other dogs,
because their disease is infectious, and that
you may be aware of them yourself, lest they
injure you, as their biting is dangerous.
The first, incurable, is called the hot burn-
ing madness* and is known by these symp-
dogs' diseases, etc. 333
toms : first when they run they raise their tails
upright, and run upon any thing that stands
before them, having no respect where, nor
which way, tliey run ; also their mouths will
be very black, without any foam in or about
them. They will not continae this above
three or four days, after w^hich time they die,
their pain being so intolerable ; and all the
dogs they have bit, and drawn blood from,
will be mad in like manner.
The second is called the running madness,
and is less dangerous, however incurable.
The dogs that are troubled with this mad-
ness run not at men, but dogs, and no other
beasts. The symptoms are, they will smell
on other dogs, and having smelt them will
shake and bite them, yet shaking their tails
and seeming to offer no harm.
The other five being rather sickness, w^hich
are curable, are these.
First, The dumb madness, is known by
334 dogs' diseases, etc.
the dog not feeding, but holds his mouth
%vide open continually, putting his feet to his
mouth frequently, as if he bad a bone in hi§
throat.
The cure is this : take four ounces of the
juice of spathala putridse, and put it into a
pot; then take the like quantity of the juic^
of black hellibore, and as much of the juice
of rue ; having strained them all through a
fine cloth, put them into a glass ; then take
two drams of scammony, unprepared, and
having mingled it with the former juices, put
it into a horn, or funnel, and convey it do\v;ii
his throat, keeping his head up straight lest
he cast it up again ; then bleed hirn in the
mouth, cutting three or four veins in his
gums, that he may bleed the better, and in
a short time you will find amendment : or
you may only take eight drams of the juice
of an herb called hartshorn, and dog's tooth;
and you will find it a most excellent receipt
against any kind of madness whatsoever.
dogs' diseases, etc. 335
Of the falling madness.
The second is so called, and lieth in their
heads, which makes them reel as they go,
and then fall. For the cure, take four
ounces of the juice of piony, with the like
quantity of the juice of briony, the like of
the juice of cruciata, and four drams of
stavesacre pulverized ; mingle these together
and give your dog as aforesaid ; then let hina
blood in the ears, or the two veins which
come down the shoulders, and if he is not
cured at first, give it him a second or third
time.
Of the lank madness »
So is the third kind of madness called, by
reason of the leanness of their bodies, occa-
sioned by scummering. The cure is, first to
purge your dog with this potion ; take an
Oiince of cassia fistularis, well cleansed, two
drams and a half of stavesacre pulverized.
336 dogs' diseases, etc.
and the like quantity of scammony, prepared
in white wine vinegar, and four ounces of
olive-oil, temper these, and warm them over
the fire, and give it your dog in the morning.
Put him into the following bath, fasting;
put into six pails full of water, ten handfuls
of mugwort, of rosemary, of red sage, of
the roots, or leaves, of marshmallows, of
the roots, or leaves, of wallwort, of the
roots, or stalks, of fennel, of the leaves, or
Stalks, of elecampane, balm, rue, sorrel^
bugloss, and melilot, let these boil together
in two thirds of water and the other wine,
until one third be consumed ; the bath being
no hotter than your dog can endure it, bathe
him therein for an hour, then take him out
and put him in some warm place for fear of
catching cold ; do this four or five times in
the same bath, and it will cure him.
Of the sleeping madness.
The fourth is called the sleeping madness,
and is caused by some little worms breeding
docks' diseases, etc: ' J^
in the mouth of the stomach from corrupt^
humours, the vapours and fumes wliereof
ascending into the head, makes the dog sleep-
continually, and frequently he dies sleeping.
For the cure you must take five ounces of
the juice of wormwood, with two ounces of
the powder of hartshorn burned, and two
drams of agarick, mingled together, and if
they be too thick, thin them with white wine,
and give it your dog to drink.
Of rheumatic 7nadness.
This madness is so called, because when a
dog hath got it, his head swells, his eyes are
as yellow as saffron, and he commonly sla-
vereth at the mouth. For the cure, take six
ounces of the juice of fennel roots, and the
like quantity of the juice of ivy, four ounces
of the powder of the roots of polypody, boil
them in white wine and give it your dog to
drink, as hot as he can bear it.
When a dog hath any of these kinds of
S99 dogs' diseases, etc.
madness, he will have no desire to eat, fre-
quently fasting eight or nine days, and so
starve to death ; indeed if they are troubled
with any distemper^ they will refuse their
meat, even the daintiest bit you can give
them, until they have eaten grass and cleared
their stomachs of what offended it, and they
then will eat.
^ remedy against the mange.
This distemper befals a dog frequently for
want of fresh water to drink when he requires
it; and sometimes by foul kenneling; and
sometimes by foundering and melting his
grease. To cure it, take two handfuls of
wild cresses, the like oT elecampane, and as
much of the roots and leaves of rheubarb
and sorrel, and two pounds of the roots of
frodels, make them all boil well in lie and
vinegar ; having strained the decoction, put
therein two pounds of grey soap, and when
it is melted therein, then rub your dogs with
it four oi- five days together, and it will cure
thern^
dogs' diseases, etc. 339
A most excellent receipt to killjieas^ lice,
ticks, or any other ^vermin in dogs ;
also hozo to keep them clean.
Take two handfuls of the leaves of white
cresses, as much of wild sorrel, and as much
of mint, with two ounces of stavesacre, and
boil them in a lie made of vine leaves ; when
it is boiled well, strain it, and in the decoc-
tion put two ounces of soap, and one ounce
of saffron, with a handful of salt; stir these
together and wash your dogs therewith.
For a bruise in a dog.
Make a plaister of the roots of comfrey,
pitch, tar, and oil of turpentine, in equal
quantities, and mingle them together ; then
spread it on a cloth as large as the bruised
places, and lay it thereon as hot as the dog
can endure it, and this will cure him,
G g 2
v340 dogs' diseases, etc.
A plaister to heal a foundered dog.
Take twelve yolks of eggs, and beat them
with four ounces of the juice of mousear, or
with vinegar only; being well beaten, put
therein soot pulverized; mingle all these
together and anoint the soles of your dog's
feet therewith, and bind a linen cloth about
them ; after this let him rest forty-eight hours
in his kennel.
How to keep a hitch from growing proud.
Before a bitch hath had whelps, give her
every morning, nine days together, nine
grains of pepper wrapt up in her meat, whe-
ther it be in cheese, bread, &c.
A receipt for a dog that ca?i7iot "coid his.
urine.
Take a handful of marshmallows, the like
quantity of archangel, the roots of fennel,
DOGS DISEASES, ETC. 341
the roots of brambles, each a like quantity,
and let them boil together in white wine
till a third part be consumed, and convey it
down your dog's throat ; but if this will not
do, take a piece of candle three or four
inches long, and thrust it into his sheath as
far as you can, and it will make him skummer.
A cure for tetters^ cankers, and ring-
worms, in dogs.
Take a dram of the powder of mercury
sublimate, and beat it well in a stone mor-
tar, with the juice and inward substance of
cittron, without the bark, and put it into a
little water and vinegar ; then take an ounce
of alum, and as much soap, incorporate
these together and let them boil till the third
part be consumed, and lay this decoction on
the part affected.
For any zvoiind in a dog.
If your dog be wounded, which frequently
Gg 3
342 ELECTION OF DOGS, ETC.
happens when some beasts of venery do
bay, take the juice of red coleworts, and
nothing else, and pour it into the wounds,
and it will effect the cure.
OF THE ELECTION OF DOGS AND
BITCHES FOR GOOD WHELPS.
Your bitch must be of a good kind, strong,
and well proportioned in all parts, having
her ribs and flanks great and large ; let the
dog that lines her be of a good fair breed,
and young, if you intend to have light and
hot dogs ; for if the dog be old, the whelps
will participate of his dull and heavy nature.
If your bitch grows not naturally proud so
.^oon as you would wish, you may make her
so by taking two heads of garlic, half a cas-
tor's stone, the juice of cresses, and about
twelve Spanish flies, or cantharides, boil them
together in a pipkin which holds a pint, with
some mutton, and make broth thereof, and
give it to the bitch twice or thrice. The
same being given to the dog, will make him
ELECTION OF DOGS, ETG. 343
desirous of copulation. Wlien your bitch
is lined, and with puppies, you must not let
her hunt, as it may make her cast the whelps ;
but let her be unconfined and at large ; she
will then be impatient for food ; you should
give her some warm broth once a day.
If you would spay your bitch, it must be
done before she has had a litter of w^helps ;
and in spaying her, take not away all the
roots, or strings, of the veins ; if you do, you
will much prejudice her reins and hinder her
swiftness ever after ; but by leaving some
behind it will make her much the stronger,
and more hardy. Whatever you do, spay
her not when she is proud, as that will en-
danger her life ; you may do it fifteen days
after ; but the best time is, when the whelps
are shaped within her.
/
S44 HOW TO TAKE BADGERS^
HOW TO TAKE BADGERS, FOXES,
AND OTHER FOUR-FOOTED
VERMIN, BY TRAIN-
The best train for the badger, is hog's
flesh ; as by taking a bit of pork and train
over a badger's burrow, if he be within you
will soon see him appear without, and having
a spring-snare placed at the burrow's mouth,
the moment the badger gets his leg, or legs,
in the snare, he will spring up three or four
feet from the ground, and be suspended ; you
may then bag him as you please. When the
badger forsakes his hole, the fox frequently
takes possession of it, wherein he will de-
fend himself stoutly against a terrier, but not
so vigorously as a badger, neither is the biting
so dangerous. If it is a bitch fox, and should
be taken in clicketting time, cut out the gut
that holds her sperm together with her stones,
or those kidneys which gelders take from
FOXES, ETC. 345
bitciies they have spayed ; cut those into
pieces, and mingle a little of her grease, and
as much as you can save of the urine, with
a little gummastic, naturally hot, and put the
mixture in a glazed earthen bottle, put it in
the sun, or near a slow fire, till it is dissolved,
then stop it up close and put it a foot or
more under ground till you want to use it :
by keeping it this way, it will serve for years,
and the least matter of it will do.
The train must be ordered thus ; take the
skin of bacon and lay it on a gridiron ; when
it is hot, and thoroughly broiled, anoint it
with the aforesaid ingredients contained in
your bottle ; by this means, if there be a fox
near, or within a mile or so, where this train
was drawn, and the wind fair, the fox will
follow it; but he that draweth the train,,
must rub the soles of his shoes with new
cow-dung, and must have the feet of two
stockings half full of the same dung to slip on
his shoes, lest tlie fox scent his feeting ; and
thus you may train a fox to his standing, and
340 HOW TO TAKE BADGERS, ETC.
take him as you think fit with spring- snare,
box, trap, &c.
All four-footed vermin may be taken in
the same way»
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