But if you will be nice to foul your fingers, which good anglers seldom are, then take this bait: get a handful of well-made malt, and put it into a dish of water; and then wash and rub it betwixt your hands till you make it clean, and as free from husks as you can; then put that water from it, and put a small quantity of fresh water to it, and set it in something that is fit for that purpose, over the fire, where it is not to boil apace, but leisurely and very softly, until it become somewhat soft, which you may try by feeling it betwixt your finger and thumb; and when it is soft, then put your water from it: and then take a sharp knife, and turning the sprout end of the corn upward with the point of your knife, take the back part of the husk from it, and yet leaving a kind of inward husk on the corn, or else it is marr'd; and then cut off that sprouted end, I mean a little of it, that the white may appear; and so pull off the husk on the cloven side, as I directed you; and then cut off a very little of the other end, that so your hook may enter; and if your hook be small and good, you will find this to be a very choice bait, either for winter or summer, you sometimes casting a little of it into the place where your float swims..

And to take the Roach and Dace, a good bait is the young brood of wasps or bees, if you dip their heads in blood; especially good for Bream, if they be baked, or hardened in their husks in an oven, after the bread is taken out of it; or hardened on a fire-shovel and so also is the thick blood of sheep being half dried on a trencher, that so you may cut it into such pieces as may best fit the size of your hook; and a little salt keeps it from growing black, and makes it not the worse, but better: this is taken to be a choice bait, if rightly ordered.

There be several oils of a strong smell that I have been told of, and to be excellent to tempt fish to bite, of which I could say much but I remember I once carried a small

bottle from Sir George Hastings to Sir Henry Wotton, (they were both chemical men,) as a great present: it was sent, and received, and used, with great confidence; and yet, upon inquiry, I found it did not answer the expectation of Sir Henry; which, with the help of this and other circumstances, makes me have little belief in such things as many men talk of. Not but that I think that fishes both smell and hear, (as I have exprest in my former discourse:) but there is a mysterious knack, which though it be much easier than the philosopher's stone, yet it is not attainable by common capacities, or else lies locked up in the brain or breast of some chemical man, that, like the Rosicrucians,' will not yet reveal it. But let me nevertheless tell you, that camphire, put with moss into your worm-bag with your worms, makes them, (if many anglers be not very much mistaken,) a tempting bait, and the angler more fortunate. But I stepped by chance into this discourse of oils, and fishes' smelling; and though there might be more said, both of it and of baits for Roach and Dace and other float-fish, yet I will forbear it at this time,2

(1) Vide infra, Part II. Chap. i. note. The Rosicrusians were a sect of frantic enthusiasts, who sprung up in Germany about the beginning of the 14th century: they professed to teach the art of making gold; and boasted of a secret, in their power, to protract the period of human life, and even to restore youth. Their founder having been to the Holy Land, pretended to have learned all this from the Arabs. They propagated their senseless philosophy by tradition; and revealed their mysteries only to a chosen few; and to this practice the author alludes. Lemery, in his book Of Chemistry, has thus defined their art: "Ars şine arte; cujus principium mentiri, medium laborare, et finis mendicare." An art without art; whose beginning is lying, whose middle is labour, and whose end is beggary.

(2) Roach delight in gravelly or sandy bottoms: their haunts, especially as winter approaches, are clear deep and still waters; and at other times, they lie in and near the weeds, and under the shade of boughs.

They spawn about the latter end of May, when they are scabby and unwholesome: but they are again in order in about three weeks. The largest are taken after Michaelmas; and their prime season is in February or March.

The Baits for Roach, not already mentioned, are, cad-bait, and oak-worms, for the spring in May, ant's-eggs; and paste made of the crumb of a new roll, both white, and tinged with red, which is done by putting vermilion into the water, wherewith you moisten it; this paste will do for the winter also.

The largest Roach in this kingdom are taken in the Thames, where many have

and tell you, in the next place, how you are to prepare your tackling concerning which, I will, for sport sake,

been caught of two pounds and a half weight: but Roach of any size are hardly to be come at without a boat.

The haunts of Dace are, gravelly, sandy, and clayey bottoms; deep holes that are shaded; water-lily leaves; and under the foam caused by an eddy: in hot weather, they are to be found on the shallows, and are then best taken with an artificial fly, grasshoppers, or gentles, as hereafter directed.

Dace spawn about the latter end of March: and are in season about three weeks after they are not very good till about Michaelmas, and are best in February.

Baits for Dace, other than those mentioned by Walton, are the oak-worm, red-worm, brandling, gilt tail; and indeed any worm, bred on trees or bushes, that is not too big for his mouth; almost all kinds of flies and caterpillars.

Though Dace are often caught with a float, as Roach, yet they are not so properly float-fish: for they are to be taken with an artificial gnat, or ant-fly, or indeed almost any other small fly in its season; but in the Thames, above Richmond, the largest are caught with a natural green or dun grasshopper, and sometimes with gentles; with both which you are to fish as with an artificial fly. They are not to be come at till about September, when the weeds begin to rot; but when you have found where they lie, which, in a warm day, is generally on the shallows, 'tis incredible what havock you may make: pinch off the first joint of the grasshopper's legs, put the point of the hook in at the head, and bring it out at the tail; and in this way of fishing you will catch Chub, especially if you throw under the boughs.

But, this can be done only in a boat; for the management whereof, be provided with a staff, and a heavy stone fastened to a strong rope of four or five yards in length fasten the rope to the head of the boat, which, whether it be a punt or a wherry, is equally fit for this purpose, and so drive down with the stream: when you come to a shallow or other place where the fish are likely to lie, drop the stone, and standing in the stern, throw right down the stream, and a little to the right and left: after trying about a quarter of an hour in a place, with the staff push the boat about five yards down, and so throw again. Use a common fly-line, about ten yards long, with a strong single hair next the hook. It is true, there is less certainty of catching in this way than with a float or ground-bait for which reason, I would recommend it only to those who live near the banks of that delightful river, between Windsor and Isleworth, who have or can command a boat for that purpose, and can take advantage of a still, warm, gloomy day; and to such it will afford much more diversion than the ordinary inartificial method of fishing in the deeps for Roach and Dace.

In fishing at bottom for Roach and Dace, use for ground-bait bread soaked about an hour in water, and an equal quantity of bran; knead them to a tough consistence, and make them up into balls, with a small pebble in the middle : and throw these balls in where you fish; but be sure to throw them up the stream, for otherwise they will draw the fish beyond the reach of your line.

Fish for Roach within six, and for Dace within three inches of the bottom. Having enumerated the Baits proper for every kind of fish in their respective places, it may not be amiss here to mention one which many authors speak of as excellent for almost all fish; and that is the spawn of Salmon, or large Trout. Barker, who seems to have been the first that discovered it, recommends it to his patron in the following terms:

"Noble Lord,

"I have found an experience of late, which you may angle with, and take great store of this kind of fish. First, it is the best bait for a Trout that I have

give you an old rhyme out of an old fish-book; which will prove a part, and but a part, of what you are to provide.

My rod and my line, my float and my lead,

My hook and my plummet, my whetstone and knife,
My basket, my baits both living and dead,

My net, and my meat, for that is the chief:
Then I must have thread, and hairs green and small,
With mine angling purse: and so you have all.

seen in all my time; and will take great store, and not fail, if they be there. Secondly, it is a special bait for Dace or Dare, good for Chub or Bottlin, or Grayling. The bait is, the roe of a Salmon or Trout. If it be a large Trout that the spawns be any thing great, you may angle for the Trout with this bait as you angle with the brandling; taking a pair of scissars, and cut so much as a large hazel-nut, and bait your hook; so fall to your sport, there is no doubt of pleasure. If I had known it but twenty years ago, I would have gained a hundred pounds only with that bait. I am bound in duty to divulge it to your honour, and not to carry it to my grave with me. I do desire that men of quality should have it, that delight in that pleasure. The greedy angler will murmur at me, but for that I care not.

"For the angling for the Scale-fish: They must angle either with cork or quill, plumming their ground; and with feeding with the same bait, taking them [the spawns] as under, that they may spread abroad, that the fish may feed, and come to your place: there is no doubt of pleasure, angling with fine tackle; as single hair lines, at least five or six length long; a small hook, with two or three spawns. The bait will hold one week; if you keep it on any longer you must hang it up to dry a little: when you go to your pleasure again, put the bait in a little water, it will come in kind again."

Others, to preserve Salmon spawn, sprinkle it with a little salt, and lay it upon wool in a pot, one layer of wool and another of spawn. It is said to be a lovely bait for the winter or spring; especially where Salmon are used to spawn; for thither the fish gather, and there expect it. Ang. Vade Mecum, 53.

To know at any time what bait fish are apt to take, open the belly of the first you catch, and take out his stomach very tenderly; open it with a sharp penknife, and you will discover what he then feeds on. Venables, 91.

The people who live in the fishing-towns along the banks of the Thames have a method of dressing large Roach and Dace, which, as 'tis said, renders them very pleasant and savoury food; it is as follows: Without scaling the fish, lay him on a gridiron, over a slow fire, and strew on him a little flour; when he begins to grow brown, make a slit, not more than skin deep, in his back, from head to tail, and lay him on again: when he is broiled enough, the skin, scales and all, will peel off, and leave the flesh, which will have become very firm, perfectly clean; then open the belly, and take out the inside, and use anchovy and butter for sauce.

Having promised the reader Mr. Barker's recipe for anointing boots and shoes, (and having no further occasion to make use of his authority,) it is here given in his own words.

"Take a pint of liuseed-oil, with half a pound of mutton-suet, six or eight ounces of bees-wax, and half a pennyworth of rosin: boil all this in a pipkin together; so let it cool till it be milk-warm; then take a little hair-brush, and lay it on your new boots; but it is best that this stuff be laid on before the bootmaker makes the boots; then brush them once over after they come from him; as for old boots, you must lay it on when your boots be dry."

"

I have heard that the

But you must have all these tackling, and twice so many more,' with which, if you mean to be a fisher, you must store yourself; and to that purtackling hath been prized pose I will go with you, either to Mr. inventory of an angler. Margrave, who dwells amongst the booksellers in St. Paul's Church-yard, or to Mr. John Stubs, near to the Swan in Golding-lane:

at fifty pounds, in the

(1) If you go any great distance from home, you will find it necessary to carry with you many more things than are here enumerated; most of which may be very well contained in a wicker panier of about twelve inches wide, and eight high, of the form, and put into a hawking-bag. The following is a list of the most material: a rod with a spare top; lines coiled up, and neatly laid in round flat boxes; spare links, single hairs, waxed thread and silk; plummets of various sizes; floats of all kinds, and spare caps; worm-bags, and a gentle-box; hooks of all sizes, some whipped to single hairs; shot; shoemaker's wax, in a very small gallipot covered with a bit of leather; a clearing-ring, tied to about six yards of strong cord; the use of this is to disengage your hook when it has caught a weed, &c. in which case take off the butt of your rod, and slip the ring over the remaining joints, and, holding it by the cord, let it gently fall; a landing net, the hoop whereof must be of iron, and made with joints to fold, and a socket to hold a staff; take with you also such baits as you intend to use. That you may keep your fish alive be provided with a smal hoop-net, to draw close to the top. And never be without a sharp knife, and a pair of scissars. And if you mean to use the artificial fly, have your fly-book always with you. And for the more convenient keeping and carriage of lines, links, single hairs, &c. take a piece of parchment or vellum, seven inches by ten: on the longer sides, set off four inches; and then fold it cross-wise, so as to leave a flap of two inches, of which hereafter: then take eight or ten pieces of parchment, of seven inches by four; put them into the parchment or vellum so folded, and sew up the ends; then cut the flap rounding, and fold it down like a pocket-book: lastly, you may, if you please, bind along the ends and round the flap with red tape. Into this case, put lines coiled up, spare links, single hairs, and hooks ready whipped and looped.

And having several of these cases, you may fill them with lines, &c. proper for every kind of fishing; always remembering to put into each of them a gorger, or small piece of cane, of five inches long, and a quarter of an inch wide, with a notch at each end; with this, when a fish has gorged your hook, you may, by putting it down his throat till you feel the hook, and holding the line tight while you press it down, easily disengage it.

And if you should chance to break your top, or any other part of your rod, take the following directions for mending it: Cut the two broken ends with a long slope, so that they may fit neatly together; then spread some wax, very thin, on each slope; and with waxed thread or silk, according as the size of the broken part requires, bind them very neatly together. To fasten off, lay the fore-finger of your left hand over the binding, and with your right make four turns of the thread over it; then pass the end of your thread between the underside of your finger and the rod, and draw your finger away; lastly, with the fore-finger and thumb of your right hand, take hold of the first of the turns, and, gathering as much of it as you can, bind on till the three remaining turns are wound off, and then take hold of the end which you had before brought through, and then draw close.