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diff --git a/old/67474-0.txt b/old/67474-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 4e0fbd3..0000000 --- a/old/67474-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2821 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Experienced Angler; or Angling -Improved, by Robert Venables - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The Experienced Angler; or Angling Improved - Imparting Many of the Aptest Ways and Choicest Experiments for - the Taking Most Sorts of Fish in Pond or River - -Author: Robert Venables - -Release Date: February 22, 2022 [eBook #67474] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Fiona Holmes and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team - at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images - generously made available by The Internet Archive.) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EXPERIENCED ANGLER; OR -ANGLING IMPROVED *** - - - - - -Transcriber’s Notes. - -Hyphenation has been standardised. - -The Contents list has been created by the Transcriber and is placed in -the public domain. - -Changes made are noted at the end of the book. - - -CONTENTS - - CHAP. I.— When to provide tools and how to make them. - CHAP. II.— Divers sorts of angling; first, of the fly. - CHAP. III.— Of the Artificial Fly. - CHAP. IV.— Of angling at the ground. - CHAP. V.— Of all sorts of baits for each kind of fish. - CHAP. VI.— To keep your baits. - - - - -THE EXPERIENCED ANGLER; OR ANGLING IMPROVED. - - -J. Johnson, Printer, Brook Street, Holborn, London. - - - - -THE - -EXPERIENCED ANGLER; - -OR - -Angling Improved. - -IMPARTING MANY - -OF THE - -APTEST WAYS AND CHOICEST EXPERIMENTS - -FOR THE - -TAKING MOST SORTS OF FISH - -IN - -POND OR RIVER. - -BY COL. ROBERT VENABLES. - -“I have read and practised by many books of this kind, formerly made -public; from which, although I received much advantage, yet without -prejudice to their worthy Authors, I could never find in them that -height of judgment and reason, manifested in this, as I may call it, -Epitome of Angling.” _Isaac Walton._ - -LONDON: - -SEPTIMUS PROWETT, OLD BOND STREET, - -AND - -THOMAS GOSDEN, BEDFORD STREET, - -COVENT GARDEN. - -1825. - - - - -TO HIS INGENIOUS FRIEND THE AUTHOR, ON HIS ANGLING IMPROVED. - -HONOURED SIR, - -_Though I never, to my knowledge, had the happiness to see your -face, yet accidentally coming to a view of this discourse before it -went to the press; I held myself obliged in point of gratitude for -the great advantage I received thereby, to tender you my particular -acknowledgment, especially having been for thirty years past, not -only a lover but a practiser of that innocent recreation, wherein -by your judicious precepts I find myself fitted for a_ higher form; -_which expression I take the boldness to use, because I have read -and practised by many books of this kind, formerly made public; from -which, although I received much advantage in the practice, yet, without -prejudice to their worthy Authors, I could never find in them that -height of_ judgment _and_ reason, _which you have manifested in this, -as I may call it_, epitome of Angling; _since my reading whereof I -cannot look upon some notes of my own gathering, but methinks I do_ -puerilia tractare. _But lest I should be thought to go about to magnify -my own judgment, in giving yours so small a portion of its due, I -humbly take leave with no more ambition than to kiss your hand, and to -be accounted_ - -YOUR HUMBLE AND THANKFUL SERVANT, ISAAC WALTON. - - - - -MEMOIR OF COL. ROBERT VENABLES. - - -Of the author, Colonel Robert Venables, but little is known, and that -little not very satisfactory. Among the Manuscripts in the Harleian -Collection, are several Pedigrees of the Families of Venables: -particularly in that marked ‘1393, f. 39,’ where the great ancestor -of Venables is stated to have been Gabriel Venables, who came over -with William the Conqueror, and afterwards received the Earldom of -Kinderton, in Cheshire, from Hugh Lupus. Another Manuscript, No. 2059, -recites a deed from one of the family, residing at Northwich, as early -as anno 1260. - -But reverting more immediately to the subject of this notice, the -Harleian Manuscript ‘1993, f. 52.’ contains a paper, partly in the hand -writing of Colonel Venables, which furnishes a detailed account of the -time he served in the Parliament Army in Cheshire, and of the pay due -to him from 1643 to 1646. From this authority it appears, that in 1644 -he was made Governor of Chester; and from other sources we learn, that -in 1645, he was Governor of Tarvin. In 1649, he was Commander in Chief -of the Forces in Ulster, in Ireland, and had the towns of Lisnegarvy, -Antrim, and Belfast delivered to him. His actions in the sister -kingdom, are recited in an excessively rare book, entitled ‘A History, -or Briefe Chronicle of the Chief Matters of the Irish Warres,’ printed -at London, in 1650, 4to. - -From this period no trace of him is discoverable, and it is probable -that he was unemployed, until Cromwell, at the instigation of Cardinal -Mazarine, fitted out a fleet for the conquest of Hispaniola, in 1654, -when Colonel Venables, and Admiral Penn, were invested with the command -of that armament. It appears however, to have been undertaken in an -evil hour, and a contemporary manuscript in the Editor’s possession, -and which has not been printed till now, furnishes the most valuable -information respecting the disasters which they underwent. The -manuscript is evidently addressed to some one, and it commences:— - - -Sir, - -The opinion I was of, in that discourse we had at----, touching the -Western Voyage of the English in 1654. I have been since abundantly -confirmed in, by the perusal of some Papers and Memoirs of a Person -of no mean character throughout that action, whose employment gave -him opportunity to know all, at least the most considerable of its -transactions, and I have reason to believe, by the account I have -had of him, he was sufficiently able to take his measures of them -aright. The substance of what I gathered from his notes, and from -orders of the Councils of War, as well of the Commissioners, and from -declarations of the Army, and letters from persons who held posts -in that Army, all which I had the favour to inspect, I will here -faithfully present you with. For indeed I am very desirous to beget in -you the same sentiments of that affair, which I have, I think, with -good reason entertained. And the rather, because the course you design -to steer will give you opportunity of converse with those persons, who -are most inquisitive after, as most concerned to know, matters of this -nature; and yet, perhaps, under greater mistakes in this particular, -than any others. - -It was doubtless, none of the least ends which that fox, Oliver, had -in that design; to rid himself of some persons whom he could neither -securely employ, nor safely discard: which end seemed chiefly to -influence the managery of the whole business, as you will perceive by -the story. - -It was pretended at first it should be carried on with great secrecy; -but the delay was so great, and thereby the notice of it so public, as -alarmed the Spaniards to provide for their reception. Venables moved -to have had soldiers for this service drawn out of the Irish Army, -which he had been well acquainted with; but it was peremptorily denied, -and they were appointed to be drawn out of the army in England, whose -officers generally gave out of their several companies the rawest -and worst armed they had. And these being hastily shipped off at -Portsmouth, the chief of the land officers, who were to go with them, -were never suffered to rendezvous, or see together till they came to -Barbadoes, where they arrived January 29, 1654-5. Here they found them -to want 500 of the number promised, being but 2500 men in all, and not -above half of those well armed. And though they had been assured they -should find 1500 arms at Barbadoes, yet they could not there make up -200 arms; and all the help they had was to make half-pikes, wherein, -and in fixing those arms they had, they met with some difficulty, their -smith’s tools being on board their store ships, which were not yet come -to them. For those ships took in their provisions at London, and they -were promised should meet them at Portsmouth, and there they were told -that they should reach them at Barbadoes; which yet they did not, nor -till at least six months after. So that much of the provision, which -was defective at first taking in, was by that time grown very corrupt. - -While they staid at Barbadoes it was plainly discovered that not only -the inhabitants there were against the general design, but that the -seamen bandied against the land-men, and gave them not that assistance -and furtherance which was in their power. Notwithstanding the -land-soldiers great want of arms, Penn and the sea-officers would not -be prevailed with to furnish them with any, nor so much as to lend them -a pike or a lance; though he had above 1200 of the former to spare, and -great numbers of the latter were put aboard on purpose for the army to -kill cows with. At their leaving that place, the seamen had their full -allowance of victuals and brandy on their fish-days; when the land-men -had for four days in the week, but half their proportions, the other -three fish-days, only bread and water. - -In this condition they left Barbadoes, March the last, 1655. By the way -they touched at St. Christopher’s, whence they took aboard a regiment -of soldiers, who had been raised in that island; among whom they were -pleased to find two Englishmen, Cox and Bounty, who had then lately -come from Hispaniola, where the former had lived twelve years, and -served as a gunner in the castle of St. Domingo. - -Now when they were far out at sea, a dormant commission, not before -discovered, was broken up, whereby two others, Winslow and Butler, were -joined in commission, and equally empowered, with the two generals -Venables and Penn; and nothing was to be done without their joint -advice and orders: yea, when on shore, Venables, (though he had by -his own commission a command of all the land forces in chief,) yet -he was by this commission restrained from acting any thing without -the concurrence of the commissioners, or such one, or more, of them -as was present with him. A great debate now arose between these -Commissioners about dividing the lion’s skin, before he was caught, -which occasioned much heat among them, and gave great dissatisfaction -to the soldiers. There was a clause in this joint commission, that all -prizes and booties got by sea or land should be at the disposal of the -commissioners, for the advance of the present service and design. This -the greater part of the Commissioners judged was to be extended to all -sorts of pillage. Venables thought it was meet to interpret it only of -ships and their lading, and large quantities of treasure and goods in -towns and forts: and that to extend it to all booty, by whomsoever got, -would be both impossible to put in execution, and hugely disgustful -to the soldier to attempt. When he could not prevail to have his -sense of this hard clause pass, he propounded a middle way: that none -should conceal or retain any arms, money, plate, jewels, or goods, to -his private use, on pain of forfeiting his share in the whole, &c. -but that all should be brought in unto officers, chosen by mutual -consent, and sworn to be faithful therein; and then distribution to be -made to each man according to his quality and desert. And agreeably -thereto he framed both an order for the Commissioners to sign, and -a declaration for the officers of the army to subscribe, testifying -their submission to the order, and that they would endeavour that all -under their respective commands should observe it; and further, that -when their several pays should be discharged, they would acquiesce in -the disposal of the surplus by the Commissioners, either in rewards to -the deserving, or in necessaries for the public service, &c. This the -Commissioners so far approved as to appoint it to be writ fair, and -copies made, for each regiment one. The officers and soldiers were also -content, and satisfied therewith; but when it came to the point, only -Venables and Penn signed the order, and so the declaration fell too. -Which surely was a great oversight in the Commissioners who refused, -for by this means they would have soothed and pleased the army with a -fair flourish, but in reality had by common consent obtained the whole -to be at their own disposal. - -Then the Commissioners propounding a fortnight’s pay to the soldiery -instead of the pillage of St. Domingo, the chief city of Hispaniola, -Venables prevailed with them to be content with six weeks pay. But when -that would not be yielded to by the Commissioners, he requested the -officers and soldiers, without standing on any terms, to venture their -lives with him, and trust to Providence for the issue and reward; which -they agreed unto for that time, but withal many of them declared they -would never strike stroke more, where there should be commissioners -thus to controul the general and soldiers, but would forthwith return -for England. - -By this time they drew near to Hispaniola; the land general and -officers were for running the fleet into the harbour of St. Domingo, -but they of the fleet opposed it, Penn assured them there was a bomb -which would hinder their advance; though Cox, being called in, said -he believed there was none, yea, declared among the soldiers, that he -conceived the harbour was incapable of any thing of that kind. During -the debate about this matter, Captain Crispin, who commanded a frigate, -offered to venture the running in of his vessel into the harbour, and -bore up so near as to fire on the castle of St. Domingo, and discovered -nothing of any bomb, or other obstruction, as he after declared; yet -was he commanded off by Penn. Then they of the army resolved at a -council of war, among other things, that one regiment staying to land -to the east of the city, which fell by lot to Col. Butler; the rest of -the army should land some miles distant at the river Hine, the place -where Drake landed, and force the fort which stood at the mouth of -it: yet they of the fleet carried the army westward to Point Nizas, -whence they had to march above thirty miles north to the city, through -a strange, woody, and very hot country, where no water could be found, -and many of them had but two days victuals delivered them from the -fleet, none above three. The mean while Cox, who was designed to be -guide to the land forces, had been sent by Penn a fishing, and was not -returned, nor could be heard of at the landing; in the want of him, -Venables desired to have had Bounty, or Fernes, who also was acquainted -with the Island, but Penn would not part with either of them. - -So soon as they were landed, the Commissioners appointed the publishing -of an order against plundering, and that all pillage should be brought -in unto a common store; but therein gave Venables liberty to promise -the soldiers, in case the city should be taken by storm, six weeks pay, -or a moiety of the pillage, excepting arms, ammunition, and such like: -or in case it should be surrendered, three weeks pay, or a third of the -pillage. This was signed by Penn, Winslow, and Butler. - -The soldiers, who were before disgusted, were by this exasperated into -mutiny. A sea regiment, which came ashore, was the first that laid -down arms; and by their example all the rest. And much ado Venables -had in any sort to pacify them; at last they were persuaded to march, -though with much discontent: and in that unsatisfied, mutinying humour, -they marched four days without any guide, tormented with heat, hunger -and thirst, when they might have landed at the place best fitted for -attack, fresh on the first day. - -The mean while Col. Buller had, according to his order, essayed to -land eastward of the city; but finding no place for it, was afterwards -appointed by the Commissioners to land at Hine river, but with -express order not to stir thence till the army came up. Accordingly -he landed on Monday, April 17, and with him Col. Houldip, and 500 of -his regiment, having Cox in their company. At their approaching, the -Spaniards abandoned the fort near the river mouth, leaving two great -guns dismounted, and the walls, as much as their haste would allow, -dismantled. This encouraged Buller to pursue them towards the city; but -in the narrow passes of the woods, he missed his way, and came to some -plantations vacant and waterless, purposing there to expect the army: -yet next morning sent out a party to descry the fort St. Hieronimo, who -exposed themselves too much to view, and alarmed the Spaniards. - -Soon after Buller had marched from the fort where he landed, the army -came to the other side of the river Hine, but could not pass it, -wanting a guide to shew them the ford, which induced them to march -five miles up the river, seeking one; and at last, the day being spent, -they were forced to quarter that night without either food or good -fresh water. Next day, after three miles march more, a ford was found, -and the river passed, and they had not gone far, when a farm with water -chancing in their way, gave them great refreshment. Where making a -halt, and consulting what was meet for them to do, they resolved to -go to the fleet at the harbour for provision for their hungry men; -to which an Irishman, then brought in by some stratagem, offered to -guide them the shortest way. And though Venables was jealous of him, -and would not have heeded him, yet Commissioner Butler would have him -followed, and charged them by virtue of their instructions so to do; -and follow him they did, till a fruitless march three or four miles the -contrary way, proved him a liar. At last, hearing Buller’s drums, they -made towards him, and met with him near the strong fort, St. Hieronimo, -a regular and well fortified pier, in the road to the city. Venables -being at this time in the van, which he had led all their long march, -went himself with the guide, for the officers being all very weary, -were willing to be excused; to search the woods before the army, and -discovered the Spaniards in ambush, before they stirred; who presently, -thereupon advancing, the English forlorn immediately fired upon -them too hastily and at too much distance, which gave the Spaniards -advantage to fall in with them with their lances, before they could -charge again, and so gave them some disorder, and killed some officers; -among whom, to their great loss, Captain Cox perished; but the English -quickly recovering themselves, beat the enemy back, and pursued them -within cannon shot of the city. - -These weary spent men, drawn on by their eagerness to this skirmish, -forgot that thirst, which, so soon as the pursuit was over, they -fainted under; many, both men and horse, dying on the place for very -thirst. Venables, being much endangered at this action in the route of -the forlorn, was earnestly entreated and pressed by the officers not to -hazard himself so again, but to march with the body. This over, they -called a council of war, where, considering their want of match, which -was spent to three or four inches, and of provision, which all had been -without two days, and some longer, and had no other sustenance but -what fruits the woods afforded; they once again resolved to return to -their ships, which the Irishman’s relation, and Commissioner Butler’s -peremptory charge had diverted them from, and caused them to lose many -men and horses with thirst and hunger in marching back that way, which -otherwise had been saved. - -Some four or five days were spent at the harbour in refreshing the -tired, fainting soldiery, and taking new resolutions for a second march -and charge. Wherein, they could not well be more speedy, for Penn and -Winslow, two of the Commissioners, keeping at sea with the fleet, -(which rode some leagues off from the fort by Hine river,) and refusing -to come ashore, Venables, though then ill with the flux, was forced to -make many dangerous passages to and from them in small Brigantines for -their concurring counsel, which often differing, caused much delay, -and gave the Spaniards time to gather heart and strength for better -defence. The common soldiers this mean while, were but ill treated from -the fleet. Those that by sickness or wounds in the last action, were -disabled for further service, (they having no tents or carriages ashore -to dispose of them in) were sent a ship board, and there they were kept -forty-eight hours on the bare decks, without either meat, drink, or -dressing; that worms bred in their wounds, which would soon be in that -hot country, and some of them by that very usage perished, particularly -one Captain Leverington, a brave man. The others ashore being furnished -with the worst, and most mouldy of the biscuits; no beef, altogether -unwatered, and no brandy to cheer their spirits; had their thirst -greatly enraged, which that river, even where it was fresh, yet coming -from copper, rather augmented than assuaged. And this usage and diet, -together with the extraordinary rains that fell on their unsheltered -bodies, cast them all into violent fluxes; sorry encouragements and -preparatives for a second attempt, which yet was at last resolved on. - -Tuesday, April 25. They had with them one mortar-piece, and two -drakes, in the drawing whereof, and carrying of mattocks, spades, and -calabashes of fresh water, the strongest men were employed till all -were reduced to almost a like weakness; and the cruel sea-officers -offered them no more brandy with them, than would be about a good -spoonful to a man. One night they lodged in the woods; the next day -they advanced toward the fort of St. Hieronimo, which they resolved to -attack, being in their way, about a mile from the town, and not fit to -leave at their backs. - -April 26. Adjutant-General Jackson had this day the command of the -forlorn, consisting of four hundred men; in the van whereof, he put -Captain Butler, and himself brought up the rear. Also he marched -without any wings on either hand to search the woods, and discover -ambushes, which was expressly contrary both to order, and their -daily practice throughout their whole march from Point Nizas. With -the forlorn thus managed, and all ready to faint with thirst, having -marched eight miles without water, in a narrow pass in the thick woods, -where but six could well march abreast, they fell into an ambuscado -of the Spaniards, who suffered the forlorn all to march within them, -and then charged them both in van and flank. Captain Butler with the -van undauntedly received the charge, and in order, fired again, and -all of them stood till he fell; but the rear ran away without abiding -a charge, Jackson himself being the first man that turned his back. -Venables, his regiment, with Ferguson his Lieutenant Colonel in the -head of them, being next, charged their pikes on Jackson and his flying -men; but they being too well resolved to be stopt, first routed that -regiment, and then most of Heanes’s regiment. These all came violently -upon the sea regiment, which was led by Venables and Goodson, then -Vice-Admiral, who with their swords forced the runaways into the -woods, choosing rather to kill, than be routed by them. At the same -time, which much advantaged them, the rear part of Heanes’s regiment -having opened and drawn themselves on either side into the woods, -counterflanked the Spaniards, and charged their ambuscadoes, which the -Spaniards perceiving, and that the sea regiment advanced unrouted, -retreated. The English then charged them afresh, pursued them, and beat -them back beyond the fort, and so regained the bodies of the slain, -and the place of fight, which ground they kept the rest of that day, -and the night following, though the guns from the fort all that time, -as well as during the skirmish, played hotly upon them, and killed -sometimes eight or nine at a shot. - -In this action, the valiant Heanes, major general, and Ferguson before -mentioned, and such other officers of those regiments as knew not what -it was to fly, fell by the swords and lances of the Spaniards; and many -common soldiers with them. - -The English now about the fort, Venables commanded to assault it, and -that to that end, they should play the mortar-piece against it, and -had it drawn up for that purpose. But he himself being before brought -very low with his flux, the toil of the day had so far spent him, that -he could not stand or go but as supported by two; and in that manner -he moved from place to place, to encourage the men to stand, and to -plant it. But the latter he could not prevail on, neither by commands, -entreaties, or offers of rewards. At last, fainting among them, he -was carried off, and Fortescue, who succeeded major general, in the -stead of Heanes, took the command, who laboured much also to get the -mortar-piece planted, but without any effect. For the spirits of the -English soldiers were so sunk, by their want of water and provisions, -the excessive heat, and their great sickness occasioned thereby, that -not any one upon any account could be got to plant it. Night drawing -on, whilst the soldiers buried the dead, they called a council of war -of all the colonels, and field officers, where it was agreed, no man -dissenting, that the difficulties of thirst were not to be overcome, -and that if they staid there, though they beat the enemy, they must -perish for want of water. Whereupon, it was resolved to retreat next -morn at sun rise, if the mortar-piece could not play before. The -morning came, and no place found to plant the mortar-piece, nor men -that would work, the guns from the fort beating them off from every -place, they buried their shells, drew off their mortar-piece, drakes, -spades, &c. and making a strong rear-guard, retreated to their ships at -the harbour. - -In this attempt against the fort, the common soldiers shewed themselves -so extremely heartless, that they only followed their officers to -charge, and left them there to die, unless they were as nimble footed -as themselves. And of all others, the planters, whom they had raised in -those parts, were the worst, being only forward to do mischief; men so -debauched as not to be kept under discipline, and so cowardly as not to -be made to fight. - -Being come to the harbour, they betook themselves to the examination -and punishment of the cowardice of some, and of divers miscarriages -and disorders of others. Jackson was accused. - -1. That contrary to express order, he had marched without any to search -the woods. - -2. That he took but few pikes, and those he placed in the rear, as if -he feared only his own party. - -3. That he put others in the van, and himself brought up his rear. - -4. That he was the first man that run, and when there was a stop, he -opened his way with both hands to get foremost. - -These being proved before a council of war, he was sentenced to be -cashiered: his sword broken over his head: and he made a swabber to -keep the hospital ship clean, which was executed accordingly. And well -it might, for sure it was much gentler than he deserved.[1] - -[1] The Revolution in England, having necessarily raised great numbers -of individuals to the rank of officers, from the lowest stations, a -kind of equality reigned among the soldiery. The following instance of -that equality is a curious fact, and displays equally the republican -manners, and uncivilized spirit of that age. - -Adjutant-General Jackson, who had been the first to run during the -engagement, was tried by a court-martial, convicted of cowardice, -cashiered with ignominy, and condemned to _serve as a_ SWABBER _on -board the hospital ship_!!—General Venables, with a naiveté common to -the writers of that age, which, though seldom respectable, is always -pleasing, makes the following observations on this sentence. After -mentioning the terms of it, he adds, “And justly,—for the benefit of -the sick and wounded, who owed their sufferings to his mis-behaviour. -A sentence too gentle for so notorious an offender, against whom some -of the Colonels made a complaint for _whoring_ and drunkenness at -Barbadoes; but not being able to _prove_ the fact, he escaped; though -considering his former course of life, the presumptions were _strong_, -he and a woman lodging in one chamber, and not any other person with -either, _which was enough to induce a belief of his offence_, he, -having two wives in England, and standing guilty of forgery; all which -I desired Major-General Worsley in joining with me to acquaint his -Highness (Cromwell) with, that he might be taken off, and not suffered -to go with me, lest he should _bring a curse on us_, as I feared. -But his Highness would not hear us.—After this, both perjury and -forgery were proved against him, in the case of a Colonel or General, -at Barbadoes, ruined by him, by that means. Upon the complaint, and -with the advice of the said General, I rebuked him privately; which -he took so distastely, that as it afterwards appeared, he studied and -endeavoured nothing but mutiny; and found fit matter to work upon, as -with an army that has neither pay nor pillage, arms nor ammunition, -nor victuals, is not difficult: but this I came to understand -afterwards.”—VENABLES’ _Narrative_. - -A serjeant also, who in the skirmish threw down his arms, crying, -“gentlemen, shift for yourselves, we are all lost;” and ran away, was -hanged. Other offences met with meet punishments. - -Now the business was, to consult what was next to be done. Commissioner -Winslow came ashore to press for a third attempt, which the officers of -the army would not be persuaded to undertake; for they all, with one -consent, declared they would not lead on their men, saying, they would -never be got to march up to that place again; or if they did, they -would not follow them to a charge, but they freely offered to regiment -themselves, and to live and die together. Whereupon, the Commissioners -judging it needful to try to raise the soldiers by some success in a -smaller exploit, resolved to attempt some other plantation, and at last -Jamaica was pitched on to be the place. - -During this debate, the soldiers on land were in great want and -streights; for though all their provision was spent, yet Penn forbade -any supply to be sent them from the fleet, that their scarcity, yea, -famine, grew so high, that they ate all the horses, asses, and dogs -in the camp; yea, some ate such poisonous food, that they fell dead -instantaneously. But beyond all this, a motion was made, that setting -sail for England, the soldiers, whom they of the fleet usually called -dogs, should be left ashore to the mercy of the enemy; which motion, -Venables in behalf of the land-men, stiffly opposed, detesting so great -inhumanity. Yet the soldiers were so apprehensive of such a trick, that -when they came to go aboard, their officers would not suffer the sea -regiment, which was on shore, to be first shipped, lest they should be -so left in the lurch. - -The fifth day after they set sail from Hispaniola, they came before -Jamaica, where remembering the cowardice of the soldiers, which if not -experienced, would scarce have been believed so great in Englishmen, -they published an order against runaways, that the next man to any that -offered to run, should kill him, or be tried for his own life. Which -done, Penn and Venables placed themselves in the martin galley, and -sailed up to the fort, and played upon it with their great guns, as it -did upon them all the time that the soldiers were getting into the flat -bottomed boats. Which so soon as they had done, a fresh gale of wind -arose, which drove the boats directly upon the fort; this the Spaniards -seeing, and a major, their best soldier, being disabled by a shot from -the martin galley, they were so daunted that they took to their heels, -and left the fort to the English. The army finding fresh water here, -and fearing to advance further, lest (it being then three o’clock) -they should in a strange country, and without guides, be inconveniently -overtaken with night, in some place where they might be more exposed -to the enemies assaults, and beating up their quarters, they resolved -to stay at that fort, and landing place that night, and rest their -weak and sick men. Next morning they marched early, and about noon, -came to a Savanna near the chief town of the island, St. Jago, where -two or three Spaniards appeared at a distance, making some signals of -civility. The like number of English was sent to them, upon which they -rode away, but making a stand, one was sent to them to know what they -desired; they answered, ‘a treaty.’ The English, replied, they would -treat when they saw any impowered thereunto. After some time, a priest -and a major were sent from the town. The English as an introduction -to the treaty, first demanded to have one hundred cows, with cassavia -bread proportionably, sent them immediately; and so daily while the -treaty lasted. Cows were sent in, but no bread; that being, as they -said, scarce with them. Whereupon Commissioners were appointed on both -sides to treat, and in conclusion, the Spaniards yielded to render the -island and all in it, and all ships in the havens unto the English; the -Spaniards and inhabitants having their lives granted them, and such as -would, to be at liberty by a certain day to depart the island, but to -take nothing, save their wearing apparel, and their books, and writings -with them. - -Articles of agreement to this purpose being signed on both sides, the -English for their true performance, demanded and had the Governor -of the island, and the Spanish Commissioners for hostages; and so -they seemed to be in a fair way of settlement, with little ado. Yet -after this, a colonel among the Spaniards, who had no good will -to the governor, and was a man of interest among the commonalty, -persuaded them to drive all the cattle away to the mountains, and -thereby starve out the English. Which being understood, one of the -Spanish Commissioners, Don Acosta, a Portuguese, sent his priest, an -understanding negro, to dissuade them from their purpose. But they -being resolute, and instigated by the colonel, hanged the negro, which -enraged Acosta, and to be revenged on them for the death of his priest, -whom he loved, advised the English that the cattle must necessarily, in -a while, come down into the plains to drink. And by his direction, the -English recovered the cattle, and prevented their mischief. - -After this an order was published, that no private soldier should go -out to shoot cows, which was done for two reasons; first, because the -soldiers straggling about and going single, were often knocked on the -head; and next, because they maimed and marred more than they killed; -for it being a very woody country, unless a beast was shot dead, which -was but seldom done, it escaped its pursuer, though it often died of -its wounds; and many hundreds were found in the woods that had been -so slain, and very many running about hurt and wounded. Thus great -destruction was made of them, to no bodies advantage, that in the end, -they must need have smarted for the want of those which had been thus -lavishly spoiled and lost. Besides, the cattle which at their first -coming, were seen by great numbers, and so tame, that they might have -been easily managed and driven up, were so affrighted by the soldiers -disorderly chasing and shouting after them, that they were now grown -wild and untractable. And therefore, commanded parties with their -officers were thenceforwards ordered out to fetch in cattle as there -was need; and by that means they were sufficiently supplied, and no -waste made. But bread they still much wanted, for their own store ships -not having yet reached them, they had no bread but what came from the -fleet, whence it was very sparingly sent, and scarce any but what was -bad and corrupt. I find it noted, that in seventeen days time, they had -but three biscuits a man; that they could seldom get any thing from -the fleet, unless the Commissioner would sign remittances for greater -proportions than were indeed delivered; that of above a hundred tuns of -brandy, which was put on board in England for this service, and above -thirty tuns more taken in at Barbadoes, it could not be observed, that -the land-men ever had ten tuns to their use, between the middle of -April and the middle of July. So that the soldiers being put to feed -wholly on fresh flesh and fruits, without either brandy, or any kind of -bread; and that after they had been long at a scanty diet, upon salt -meats, it hugely increased sickness among them, insomuch, that after -their coming to Jamaica, they died by fifty, sixty, and sometimes a -hundred in a week, of fevers and fluxes. - -Their streights and distresses being so great, put them on necessity -of hastening to distribute the soldiers to plant for themselves, that -they might have somewhat of their own to subsist on, without depending -on the courtesy of others. And accordingly several of the regiment were -dispersed into several places; but though such was their occasion, each -for his particular private goods and necessaries, yet they could not -without much difficulty, and many fruitless labours, obtain to have -their trunks and stuff ashore to them; and many never had them at all, -but they were carried back with the fleet into England. - -Some discontents grew among the great ones. Venables telling -Commissioner Butler of his drunkenness, which he was often guilty of, -and in that condition, had discovered too much to the Spaniards, and -reproving him for it, made him his enemy, and to practise against him, -and thenceforwards he endeavoured to make factions, and raise disgusts -in the army. - -Penn gave notice of his intentions, suddenly to set sail for England, -and would not be dissuaded. - - * * * * * - -Here the manuscript ends, but in continuation, Oldmixon[2] observes, -that “they arrived in England in September, when they were both -imprisoned for their scandalous conduct in this expedition, which -would have been an irreparable dishonour to the English Nation, had -not the island of Jamaica, which chance more than council, bestowed -upon them, made amends for the loss at Hispaniola.” Their imprisonment -would seem to have received general approbation, as in certain Passages -of Every Dayes Intelligence, from Sept. 21 to 28, 1655, published -by authority, it is said, “Gov. Penn and Gen. Venables, would be -petitioning his Highnes, the Lord Protector for their enlargement -out of the Tower again; but it is a little too soon yet; it were not -amiss that they stayed till we hear again from the West Indies.” His -subsequent liberation, and the particulars of his life after this -period, with the time of his decease, and his residence when he quitted -the cares of this world, are alike unknown to the writer, and have -baffled all attempts at discovery. - -[2] _British Empire in America_, 1740, 8vo. - -[Illustration: _THE Experienc’d Angler, or Angling Improved._ - -_Sold by Rich: Marriott in S^t Dunstans Church-yard._ - -_Vaughan Sculp._ ] - - - - -THE Experienced Angler: - -OR ANGLING IMPROVED. - -_BEING_ - -_A general Discourse of Angling_; - -Imparting many of the aptest wayes and choicest Experiments for the -taking of most sorts of Fish in Pond or River. - -_LONDON_: - -Printed for _Richard Marriot_, and are to be sold at his Shop in St. -_Dunstan’s_ Church-yard, _Fleet-street_. 1662. - - - - -PREFATORY ADDRESS TO THE READER, FROM THE EDITION OF MDCLXII. - - - - -PREFATORY ADDRESS. - - -Delight and Pleasure are so fast rivetted and firmly rooted in the -heart of man, that I suppose there are none so morose or melancholy, -that will not only pretend to, but plead for an interest in the same, -most being so much enamoured therewith, that they judge that life but a -living death, which is wholly deprived or abridged of all pleasure; and -many pursue the same with so much eagerness and importunity, as though -they had been born for no other end, as that they not only consume -their most precious time, but also totally ruin their estates thereby: -for in this loose and licentious age, when profuse prodigality passes -for the characteristical mark of true generosity and frugality, I mean -not niggardliness; is branded with the ignominious blot of baseness. I -expect not that this under-valued subject, though it propound delight -at an easy rate, will meet with any other entertainment than neglect, -if not contempt, it being an art which few take pleasure in, nothing -passing for noble or delightful which is not costly; as though men -could not gratify their senses, but with the consumption of their -fortunes. - -_Hawking_ and _Hunting_ have had their excellencies celebrated with -large _encomiums_ by divers pens, and although I intend not any -undervaluing to those noble recreations, so much famed in all ages -and by all degrees, yet I must needs affirm, that they fall not within -the compass of every ones ability to pursue, being as it were only -entailed on great persons and vast estates; for if meaner fortunes -seek to enjoy them, _Actæon’s_ fable often proves a true story, and -these birds of prey not seldom quarry upon their masters: besides those -recreations are most subject to choler and passion, by how much those -creatures exceed a hook or line in worth: and indeed in those exercises -our pleasure depends much upon the will and humour of a sullen cur or -_kite_, (as I have heard their own passions phrase them); which also -require much attendance, care and skill to keep her serviceable to our -ends. Further, these delights are often prejudicial to the husbandman -in his corn, grass and fences; but in this pleasant and harmless Art -of Angling a man hath none to quarrel with but himself, and we are -usually so entirely our own friends, as not to retain an irreconcilable -hatred against ourselves, but can in short time easily compose the -enmity; and besides ourselves none are offended, none endamaged; and -this recreation falleth within the capacity of the lowest fortune to -compass, affording also profit as well as pleasure, in following of -which exercise a man may employ his thoughts in the noblest studies, -almost as freely as in his closet. - -The minds of anglers being usually more calm and composed than many -others, especially hunters and falconers, who too frequently lose their -delight in their passion, and too often bring home more of melancholy -and discontent than satisfaction in their thoughts; but the angler, -when he hath the worst success, loseth but a hook or line, or perhaps, -what he never possessed, a fish; and suppose he should take nothing, -yet he enjoyeth a delightful walk by pleasant rivers in sweet pastures, -amongst odoriferous flowers, which gratify his senses and delight his -mind; which contentments induce many, who affect not angling, to choose -those places of pleasure for their Summer’s recreation and health. - -But, peradventure, some may alledge that this art is mean, melancholy, -and insipid; I suppose the old answer, _de gustibus non est -disputandum_, will hold as firmly in recreations as palates, many -have supposed Angling void of delight, having never tried it, yet -have afterwards experimented it so full of content, that they have -quitted all other recreations, at least in its season, to pursue it; -and I do pursuade myself, that whosoever shall associate himself with -some honest expert angler, who will freely and candidly communicate -his skill unto him, will in short time be convinced, that _Ars non -habet inimicum nisi ignorantem_; and the more any experiment its -harmless delight, not subject to passion or expence, he will probably -be induced to relinquish those pleasures which being obnoxious to -choler or contention so discompose the thoughts, that nothing during -that unsettlement can relish or delight the mind; to pursue that -recreation which composeth the soul to that calmness and serenity, -which gives a man the fullest possession and fruition of himself -and all his enjoyments; this clearness and equanimity of spirit -being a matter of so high a concern and value in the judgments of -many profound Philosophers, as any one may see that will bestow the -pains to read, _de Tranquilitate Animi_, and _Petrarch de Utriusque -Conditionis Statu_: Certainly he that lives _Sibi et Deo_, leads the -most happy life; and if this art do not dispose and incline the mind -of man to a quiet calm sedateness, I am confident it doth not, as many -other delights; cast blocks and rubs before him to make his way more -difficult and less pleasant. The cheapness of the recreation abates -not its pleasure, but with rational persons heightens it; and if it -be delightful the charge of melancholy falls upon that score, and if -example, which is the best proof, may sway any thing, I know no sort -of men less subject to melancholy than anglers; many have cast off -other recreations and embraced it, but I never knew any angler wholly -cast off, though occasions might interrupt, their affections to their -beloved recreation; and if this art may prove a _Noble brave rest_ -to thy mind, it will be satisfaction to his, who is thy well-wishing -Friend. - - -[Illustration] - - - - -ANGLING IMPROVED: - -OR - -PROFIT AND PLEASURE UNITED. - - - - -CHAP. I. - -WHEN TO PROVIDE TOOLS, AND HOW TO MAKE THEM. - - -For the attaining of such ends which our desires propose to themselves, -of necessity we must make use of such common mediums as have a natural -tendency to the producing of such effects as are in our eye, and at -which we aim; and as in any work, if one principal material be wanting, -the whole is at a stand, neither can the same be perfected: so in -Angling, the end being recreation, which consisteth in drawing the -fish to bite, that we may take them; if you want tools, though you -have baits, or baits, though you have tackle, yet you have no part -of pleasure by either of these singly: nay, if you have both, yet -want skill to use them, all the rest is to little purpose. I shall -therefore first begin with your tools, and so proceed in order with the -rest. - -1. In Autumn, when the leaves are almost or altogether fallen, which -is usually about the Winter solstice, the sap being then in the root; -which about the middle of January begins to ascend again, and then the -time is past to provide yourself with stocks or tops: you need not be -so exactly curious for your stocks as the tops, though I wish you to -choose the neatest taper-grown you can for stocks, but let your tops be -the most neat rush-grown shoots you can get, straight and smooth; and -if for the ground-rod, near or full two yards long, the reason for that -length shall be given presently; and if for the fly, of what length -you please, because you must either choose them to fit the stock, or -the stock to fit them in a most exact proportion; neither do they need -to be so very much taper-grown as those for the ground, for if your -rod be not most exactly proportionable, as well as slender, it will -neither cast well, strike readily, or ply and bend equally, which will -very much endanger your line. When you have fitted yourself with tops -and stocks, for all must be gathered in one season, if any of them -be crooked, bind them all together, and they will keep one another -straight; or lay them on some even-boarded floor, with a weight on the -crooked parts, or else bind them close to some straight staff or pole; -but before you do this you must bathe them all, save the very top, in a -gentle fire. - -For the ground angle, I prefer the cane or reed before all other, both -for its length and lightness: and whereas some object against its -colour and stiffness, I answer, both these inconveniences are easily -remedied; the colour by covering it with thin leather or parchment, -and those dyed into what colour you please; or you may colour the -cane itself, as you see daily done by those that sell them in London, -especially if you scrape off the shining yellow outside, but that -weakens the rod. The stiffness of the cane is helped by the length and -strength of the top, which I would wish to be very much taper-grown, -and of the full length I spoke of before, and so it will kill a very -good fish without ever straining the cane, which will, as you may -observe, yield and bend a little; neither would I advise any to use a -reed that will not receive a top of the fore-mentioned length. Such -who most commend the hazel-rod, (which I also value and praise, but -for different reasons), above the cane; do it because, say they, the -slender rod saveth the line; but my opinion is, that the equal bending -of the rod chiefly, next to the skill of the Angler, saveth the line, -and the slenderness I conceive principally serveth to make the fly-rod -long and light, easy to be managed with one hand, and casteth the fly -far, which are to me the considerations chiefly to be regarded in a -fly-rod; for if you observe the slender part of the rod, if strained, -shoots forth in length as if it were part of the line, so that the -whole stress or strength of the fish is borne or sustained by the -thicker part of the rod, which is no stronger than the stronger end of -such a top as I did before direct for the ground-rod, and you may prove -what I say to be true, if you hang a weight at the top of the fly-rod, -which you shall see ply and bend, in the stiff and thick part, more -or less as the weight is heavy or light. Having made this digression -for the cane, I return to the making up of the top, of which at the -upper or small end, I would have you to cut off about two feet, or -three quarters of a yard at most; and then piece neatly to the thick -remaining part, a small shoot of black thorn or crab tree, gathered in -due season as before, fitted in a most exact proportion to the hazel, -and then cut off a small part of the slender end of the black thorn or -crab tree, and lengthen out the same with a small piece of whale-bone, -made round, smooth, and taper; all which will make your rod to be very -long, gentle, and not so apt to break or stand bent as the hazel, both -which are great inconveniences, especially breaking, which will force -you from your sport to mend your top. - -2. To teach the way or manner how to make a line, were time lost, it -being so easy and ordinary; yet to make the line well, handsome, and to -twist the hair even and neat, makes the line strong. For if one hair -be long and another short, the short one receiveth no strength from -the long one, and so breaketh, and then the other, as too weak, breaks -also; therefore you must twist them slowly, and in the twisting, keep -them from entangling together, which hinders their right plaiting or -bedding. Further, I do not like the mixing of silk or thread with hair, -but if you please, you may, to make the line strong, make it all of -silk, or thread, or hair, as strong as you please, and the lowest part -of the smallest lute or viol strings, which I have proved to be very -strong, but will quickly rot in the water, you may however help that -in having new and strong ones to change for those that decay; but as -to hair, the most usual matter whereof lines are made, I like sorrel, -white, and grey best; sorrel in muddy and boggy rivers, and both the -latter for clear waters. I never could find such virtue or worth in -other colours, to give them so high praise as some do, yet if any other -have worth in it, I must yield it to the pale or watery green, and if -you fancy that, you may dye it thus. Take a pottle of allum water, and -a large handful of marigolds, boil them until a yellow scum arise, then -take half a pound of green copperas, and as much verde-grease, beat -them into a fine powder, then put those with the hair into the allum -water, set all to cool for twelve hours, then take out the hair and lay -it to dry. Leave a bought, or bout, at both ends of the line, the one -to put it to, and take it from your rod, the other to hang your lowest -link upon, to which your hook is fastened, and so that you may change -your hook as often as you please. - -3. Let your hooks be long in the shank, and of a compass somewhat -inclining to roundness, but the point must stand even and straight, and -the bending must be in the shank; for if the shank be straight, the -point will hang outward, though when set on it may stand right, yet -it will after the taking of a few fish, cause the hair at the end of -the shank to stand bent, and so, consequently cause the point of the -hook to lie or hang too much outward, whereas upon the same ground the -bending shank will then cause the point of the hook to hang directly -upwards. - -When you set on your hook, do it with strong but small silk, and lay -your hair upon the inside of the hook, for if on the outside the silk -will cut and fret it asunder; and to avoid the fretting of the hair by -the hook on the inside, smooth all your hooks upon a whetstone, from -the inside to the back of the hook, slope ways. - -4. Get the best cork you can without flaws or holes, as quills and pens -are not of sufficient strength in strong streams; bore the cork through -with a small hot iron, then put into it a quill of a fit proportion, -neither too large to split it, or so small as to slip out, but so as -it may stick in very closely; then pare your cork into the form of a -pyramid, or small pear, and of what size you please, then on a smooth -grindstone, or with pumice make it complete, for you cannot pare it so -smooth as you may grind it: have corks of all sizes. - -5. Get a musquet or carbine bullet, make a hole through it, and put in -a strong twist, hang this on your hook to try the depth of river or -pond. - -6. Take so much parchment as will be about four inches broad, and five -long, make the longer end round, then take so many pieces more as will -make five or six partitions, sew them all together, leaving the side of -the longest square open, to put your lines, spare links, hooks ready -fastened, and flies ready made, into the several partitions; this will -contain much, and will also lie flat and close in your pocket. - -7. Have also a little whetstone about two inches long, and one quarter -square; it’s much better to sharpen your hooks than a file, which -either will not touch a well-tempered hook, or leave it rough but not -sharp. - -8. Have a piece of cane for the bob and palmer, with several boxes of -divers sizes for your hooks, corks, silk, thread, lead, flies, &c. - -9. Bags of linen and woollen, for all sorts of baits. - -10. Have a small pole, made with a loop at the end, like that of your -line, but much larger, to which must be fastened a small net, to land -great fish, without which, should you want assistance, you will be in -danger of losing. - -11. Your pannier cannot be too light; I have seen some made of osiers, -cleft into slender long splinters, and so wrought up, which is very -neat, and exceeding light: you must ever carry with you store of hooks, -lines, hair, silk, thread, lead, links, corks of all sizes, lest you -should lose or break, as is usual, any of them, and be forced to leave -your sport in quest of supplies. - - - - -CHAP. II. - -DIVERS SORTS OF ANGLING; FIRST, OF THE FLY. - - -As there are many kinds and sorts of fish, so there are also various -and different ways to take them; and, therefore, before we proceed to -speak how to take each kind, we must say something in general of the -several ways of angling, as necessary to the better order of our work. - -Angling, therefore, may be distinguished either into fishing by day, -or, which some commend, but the cold and dews caused me to dis-relish -that which impaired my health, by night; and these again are of two -sorts, either upon the superficies of the water, or more or less under -the surface thereof: of this sort is angling with the ground-line, with -lead, but no float, for the Trout, or with lead and float for all sorts -of fish, or near the surface of the water for Chub, Roach, &c. or with -a troll for the Pike, or a minnow for the Trout; of which more in due -place. - -That way of angling upon or above the water, is with cankers, palmers, -caterpillars, cad-bait, or any worm bred on herbs or trees, or with -flies as well natural as artificial; of these last shall be our first -discourse, as comprising much of the other last-named, and as being the -most pleasant and delightful part of angling. - -But I must here beg leave to dissent from the opinion of such who -assign a certain fly to each month, whereas I am certain, scarce -any one sort of fly continues its colour and virtue one month; and -generally all flies last a much shorter time, except the stone-fly, by -some called the May-fly, which is bred of the water cricket, creeps out -of the river, and getting under the stones by the water side, turns to -a fly, and lies under the stones; the May-fly and the reddish fly with -ashy grey wings. Besides the season of the year may much vary the time -of their coming in; a forward Spring brings them in sooner, and a late -Spring the later. Flies being creatures bred of putrefaction, take life -as the heat furthers or disposes the seminal virtue by which they are -generated into animation: and therefore all I can say as to time is, -that your own observation must be your best instructor, when is the -time that each fly comes in, and will be most acceptable to the fish, -of which I shall speak more fully in the next section. Further also I -have observed, that several rivers and soils produce several sorts of -flies; as the mossy boggy soils have one sort peculiar to them; the -clay soil, gravely and mountainous country and rivers; and a mellow -light soil different from them all; yet some sorts are common to all -these sorts of rivers and soils, but they are few, and differ somewhat -in colour from those bred elsewhere in other soils. - -In general, all sorts of flies are very good in their season, for such -fish as will rise at the fly, viz. Salmon, Trout, Umber, Grayling, -Bleak, Chevin, Roach, Dace, &c. Though some of these fish do love some -flies better than other, except the fish named, I know not any sort or -kind that will ordinarily and freely rise at the fly, though I know -some who angle for Bream and Pike with artificial flies, but I judge -the labour lost, and the knowledge a needless curiosity; those fish -being taken much easier, especially the Pike, by other ways. All the -fore-mentioned sorts of fish will sometimes take the fly much better at -the top of the water, and at another time much better a little under -the superficies of the water; and in this your own observation must -be your constant and daily instructor; for if they will not rise to -the top, try them under, it being impossible, in my opinion, to give -any certain rule in this particular: also the five sorts of fish first -named will take the artificial fly, so will not the other, except an -oak-worm or cad-bait be put on the point of the hook, or some other -worm suitable, as the fly must be, to the season. - -You may also observe, what my own experience taught me, that the fish -never rise eagerly and freely at any sort of fly, until that kind come -to the water’s side; for though I have often, at the first coming in of -some flies, which I judged they liked best got several of them, yet I -could never find that they did much, if at all value them, until those -sorts of flies began to flock to the rivers sides, and were to be found -on the trees and bushes there in great numbers; for all sorts of flies, -wherever bred, do, after a certain time, come to the banks of rivers, -I suppose to moisten their bodies dried with the heat; and from the -bushes and herbs there, skip and play upon the water, where the fish -lie in wait for them, and after a short time die, and are not to be -found: though of some kinds there come a second sort afterwards, but -much less, as the orange fly; and when they thus flock to the river, -then is the best season to angle with that fly. And that thou may the -better find what fly they covet most at that instant, do thus: - -When you come first to the river in the morning, with your rod beat -upon the bushes or boughs which hang over the water, and by their -falling upon the water you will see what sorts of flies are there in -greatest numbers; if divers sorts, and equal in number, try them all, -and you will quickly find which they most desire. Sometimes they change -their fly; though not very usual, twice or thrice in one day; but -ordinarily they do not seek another sort of fly till they have for some -days even glutted themselves with a former kind, which is commonly when -those flies die and go out. Directly contrary to our London gallants, -who must have the first of every thing, when hardly to be got, but -scorn the same when kindly ripe, healthful, common, and cheap; but the -fish despise the first, and covet when plenty, and when that sort grow -old and decay, and another cometh in plentifully, then they change; -as if nature taught them, that every thing is best in its own proper -season, and not so desirable when not kindly ripe, or when through long -continuance it begins to lose its native worth and goodness. - -I shall add a few cautions and directions in the use of the natural -fly, and then proceed: - -1. When you angle for Chevin, Roach, or Dace, with the fly, you must -not move your fly swiftly; when you see the fish coming towards it, -but rather after one or two short and slow removes, suffer the fly to -glide gently with the stream towards the fish; or if in a standing or -very slow water, draw the fly slowly, and not directly upon him, but -sloping and sidewise by him, which will make him more eager lest it -escape him; for, should you move it nimbly and quick, they will not, -being fish of slow motion, follow as the Trout will. - -2. When Chub, Roach, or Dace shew themselves in a sun-shiny day upon -the top of the water, they are most easily caught with baits proper for -them; and you may chuse from amongst them which you please to take. - -3. They take an artificial fly with a cad-bait, or oak-worm, on the -point of the hook; and the oak-worm, when they shew themselves is, -better upon the water than under, or than the fly itself, and is more -desired by them. - - - - -CHAP. III. - -OF THE ARTIFICIAL FLY. - - -Having given these few directions for the use of the natural fly of all -sorts, and shewed the time and season of their coming, and how to find -them, and cautioned you in the use of them, I shall proceed to treat -of the artificial fly. But here I must premise, that it is much better -to learn how to make a fly by sight, than by any written direction -that can possibly be expressed, in regard the terms of art do in most -parts of England differ, and also several sorts of flies are called -by different names; some call the fly bred of the water cricket or -creeper a May-fly, and some a stone-fly; some call the cad-bait fly -a May, and some call a short fly, of a sad golden green colour, with -short brown wings, a May-fly: and I see no reason but all flies bred -in May, are properly enough called May-flies. Therefore, except some -one that hath skill, would paint them, I can neither well give their -names nor describe them, without too much trouble and prolixity; nor, -as I alledged, in regard of the variety of soils and rivers, describe -the flies that are bred and frequent each: but the angler, as before -directed, having found the fly which the fish at present affect, -let him make one as like it as possibly he can, in colour, shape, -proportion; and for his better imitation let him lay the natural fly -before him. All this premised and considered, let him go on to make his -fly, which according to my own practice I thus advise. - -First, I begin to set on my hook, placing the hair on the inside of its -shank, with such coloured silk as I conceive most proper for the fly, -beginning at the end of the hook, and when I come to that place which I -conceive most proportionable for the wings, then I place such coloured -feathers there, as I apprehend most resemble the wings of the fly, -and set the points of the wings towards the head; or else I run the -feathers, and those must be stripped from the quill or pen, with part -of it still cleaving to the feathers, round the hook, and so make them -fast, if I turn the feathers round the hook; then I clip away those -that are upon the back of the hook, that so, if it be possible, the -point of the hook may be forced by the feathers left on the inside of -the hook, to swim upwards; and by this means I conceive the stream will -carry your flies’ wings in the posture of one flying; whereas if you -set the points of the wings backwards, towards the bending of the hook, -the stream, if the feathers be gentle as they ought, will fold the -points of the wings in the bending of the hook, as I have often found -by experience. After having set on the wing, I go on so far as I judge -fit, till I fasten all, and then begin to make the body, and the head -last; the body of the fly I make several ways; if the fly be one entire -colour, then I take a worsted thread, or moccoda end, or twist wool or -fur into a kind of thread, or wax a small slender silk thread, and lay -wool, fur, &c. upon it, and then twist, and the material will stick to -it, and then go on to make my fly small or large, as I please. If the -fly, as most are, be of several colours, and those running in circles -round the fly, then I either take two of these threads, fastening them -first towards the bend of the hook, and so run them round, and fasten -all at the wings, and then make the head; or else I lay upon the hook, -wool, fur of hare, dog, fox, bear, cow, or hog, which, close to their -bodies, have a fine fur, and with a silk of the other colour bind the -same wool or fur down, and then fasten all: or instead of the silk -running thus round the fly, you may pluck the feather from one side of -those long feathers which grow about a cock or capon’s neck or tail, -by some called hackle; then run the same round your fly, from head to -tail, making both ends fast; but you must be sure to suit the feather -answerable to the colour you are to imitate in the fly; and this way -you may counterfeit those rough insects, which some call wool-beds, -because of their wool-like outside and rings of divers colours, though -I take them to be palmer worms, which the fish much delight in. Let me -add this only, that some flies have forked tails, and some have horns, -both which you must imitate with a slender hair fastened to the head or -tail of your fly, when you first set on your hook, and in all things, -as length, colour, as like the natural fly as possibly you can: the -head is made after all the rest of the body, of silk or hair, as being -of a more shining glossy colour than the other materials, as usually -the head of the fly is more bright than the body, and is usually of -a different colour from the body. Sometimes I make the body of the -fly with a peacock’s feather, but that is only one sort of fly, whose -colour nothing else that I could ever get would imitate, being the -short, sad, golden, green fly I before mentioned, which I make thus: -take one strain of a peacock’s feather, or if that be not sufficient, -then another, wrap it about the hook, till the body be according to -your mind; if your fly be of divers colours, and those lying long ways -from head to tail, then I take my dubbing, and lay them on the hook -long ways, one colour by another, as they are mixed in the natural fly, -from head to tail, then bind all on, and fasten them with silk of the -most predominant colour; and this I conceive is a more artificial way -than is practised by many anglers, who use to make such a fly, all of -one colour, and bind it on with silk, so that it looks like a fly with -round circles, but in nothing at all resembling the fly it is intended -for: the head, horns, tail, are made as before. That you may the better -counterfeit all sorts of flies, get furs of all sorts and colours you -can possibly procure, as of bear’s hair, foxes, cows, hogs, dogs, which -close to their bodies have a fine soft hair or fur, moccado ends, -crewels, and dyed wool of all colours, with feathers of cocks, capons, -hens, teals, mallards, widgeons, pheasants, partridges, the feather -under the mallard, teal or widgeon’s wings, and about their tails, -about a cock or capon’s neck and tail, of all colours; and generally -of all birds, the kite, &c. that you may make yours exactly of the -colour with the natural fly. And here I will give some cautions and -directions, as for the natural fly, and so pass on to baits for angling -at the ground. - -1. When you angle with the artificial fly, you must either fish in -a river not fully cleared from some rain lately fallen, that had -discoloured it; or in a moorish river, discoloured by moss or bogs; -or else in a dark cloudy day, when a gentle gale of wind moves the -water; but if the wind be high, yet so as you may guide your tools with -advantage, they will rise in the plain deeps, and then and there you -will commonly kill the best fish; but if the wind be little or none at -all, you must angle in the swift streams. - -2. You must keep your artificial fly in continual motion, though the -day be dark, the water muddy, and the wind blow, or else the fish will -discern and refuse it. - -3. If you angle in a river that is mudded by rain, or passing through -mosses or bogs, you must use a larger bodied fly than ordinary, which -argues, that in clear rivers the fly must be smaller; and this not -being observed by some, hinders their sport, and they impute their want -of success to their want of the right fly, when perhaps they have it, -but made too large. - -4. If the water be clear and low, then use a small bodied fly with -slender wings. - -5. When the water begins to clear after rain, and is of a brownish -colour, then a red or orange fly. - -6. If the day be clear, then a light coloured fly, with slender body -and wings. - -7. In dark weather, as well as dark waters, your fly must be dark. - -8. If the water be of a whey colour, or whitish, then use a black or -brown fly: yet these six last rules do not always hold, though usually -they do, or else I had omitted them. - -9. Observe principally the belly of the fly, for that colour the fish -observe most, as being most in their eye. - -10. When you angle with an artificial fly, your line may be twice the -length of your rod, except the river be much encumbered with wood and -trees. - -11. For every sort of fly have three; one of a lighter colour, another -sadder than the natural fly, and a third of the exact colour with the -fly, to suit all waters and weathers, as before. - -12. I never could find, by any experience of mine own, or other man’s -observation, that fish would freely and eagerly rise at the artificial -fly, in any slow muddy rivers: by muddy rivers, I mean such rivers, -the bottom or ground of which is slime or mud; for such as are mudded -by rain, as I have already, and shall afterwards further, shew at -sometimes and seasons I would choose to angle, yet in standing meers -or sloughs, I have known them, in a good wind, to rise very well, but -not so in slimy rivers, either the Weever, in Cheshire, or the Sow, in -Staffordshire, and others in Warwickshire, &c. and the Black-water in -Ulster; in the last, after many trials, though in its best streams, I -could never find almost any sport, save at its influx in Lough Neagh; -but there the working of the Lough makes it sandy; and they will bite -also near Tom Shane’s Castle, Mountjoy, Antrim, &c. even to admiration; -yet sometimes they will rise in that river a little, but not comparable -to what they will do in every little Lough, in any small gale of wind. -And though I have often reasoned in my own thoughts, to search out the -true cause of this, yet I could never so fully satisfy my own judgment, -so as to conclude any thing positively; yet have taken up these two -ensuing particulars as most probable. - -1. I conjectured the depth of the loughs might hinder the force of the -sun beams from operating upon, or heating the mud in those rivers, -which though deep, yet are not so deep as the loughs; I apprehend that -to be the cause, as in great droughts fish bite but little in any -river, but not at all in slimy rivers, in regard the mud is not cooled -by the constant and swift motion of the river, as in gravelly or sandy -rivers, where, in fit seasons, they rise most freely, and bite most -eagerly, save as before in droughts, notwithstanding at that season -some sport may be had, though not with the fly, whereas nothing at all -will be done in muddy slow rivers. - -2. My second supposition was, whether, according to that old received -axiom, suo quæque, similima cœlo, the fish might not partake of the -nature of the river, in which they are bred and live, as we see in -men born in fenny, boggy, low, moist grounds, and thick air, who -ordinarily want that present quickness, vivacity, and activity of body -and mind, which persons born in dry, hilly, sandy soils and clear air, -are usually endued withal. The fish participating of the nature of the -muddy river, which is ever slow, for if they were swift, the stream -would cleanse them from all mud, are not so quick, lively, and active, -as those bred in swift, sandy, or stony rivers, and so coming to the -fly with more deliberation, discern the same to be counterfeit, and -forsake it; whereas, on the contrary, in stony, sandy, swift rivers, -being colder, the fish are more active, and so more hungry and eager, -the stream and hand keeping the fly in continual motion, they snap the -same up without any pause, lest so desirable a morsel escape them. - -You must have a very quick eye, a nimble rod and hand, and strike with -the rising of the fish, or he instantly finds his mistake, and forces -out the hook again: I could never, my eye-sight being weak, discern -perfectly where my fly was, the wind and stream carrying it so to and -again, that the line was never any certain direction or guide to me; -but if I saw a fish rise, I use to strike if I discerned it might be -within the length of my line. - -Be sure in casting, that your fly falls first into the water, for if -the line falls first, it scares or frightens the fish; therefore draw -it back, and cast it again, that the fly may fall first. - -When you try how to fit your colour to the fly, wet your fur, hair, -wool, or moccado, otherwise you will fail in your work; for though when -they are dry, they exactly suit the colour of the fly, yet the water -will alter most colours, and make them lighter or darker. - -The best way to angle with the cad-bait, is to fish with it on the top -of the water, as you do with the fly; it must stand upon the shank of -the hook, in like manner with the artificial fly; if it come into the -bend of the hook, the fish will little or not at all value it, nor if -you pull the blue gut out of it; and to make it keep that place, you -must, when you set on your hook, fasten a horse hair or two under the -silk, with the ends standing a very little out from under the silk, and -pointing towards the line; this will keep it from sliding back into the -bend; and thus used, it is a most excellent bait for a Trout. You may -imitate the cad-bait, by making the body of chamois, the head of black -silk. - -I might here notice several sorts of flies, with the colours that are -used to make them; but for the reasons before given, that their colours -alter in several rivers and soils, and also because, though I name the -colours, yet it is not easy to choose that colour by any description, -except so largely performed as would be over large, and swell this -small piece beyond my intended conciseness, which are easy and short, -if rightly observed, are full enough, and sufficient for making and -finding out all sorts of flies in all rivers. I shall only add, that -the Salmon flies must be made with wings standing one behind the other, -whether two or four; also he delights in the most gaudy and orient -colours you can choose; the wings I mean chiefly, if not altogether, -with long tails and wings. - - - - -CHAP. IV. - -OF ANGLING AT THE GROUND. - - -Now we are come to the second part of angling, viz. under the water, -which if it be with the ground-line for the Trout, then you must not -use any float at all, only a plumb of lead, which I would wish might -be a small bullet, the better to roll on the ground; and it must also -be lighter or heavier, as the stream runs swift or slow, and you -must place it about nine inches or a foot from the hook; the lead -must run upon the ground, and you must keep your line as straight as -possible, yet by no means so as to raise the lead from the ground; -your top must be very gentle, that the fish may more easily, and to -himself insensibly, run away with the bait, and not be scared with -the stiffness of the rod; and if you make your top of black thorn and -whale-bone, as I before directed, it will conduce much to this purpose: -neither must you strike so soon as you feel the fish bite, but slack -your line a little, that so he may more securely swallow the bait, and -hook himself, which he will sometimes do, especially if he be a good -one; the least jerk, however, hooks him, and indeed you can scarce -strike too easily. Your tackle must be very fine and slender, and so -you will have more sport than if you had strong lines, which frighten -the fish, but the slender line is easily broke; with a small jerk. -Morning and evening are the best times for the ground-line for a Trout, -in clear weather and water, but in cloudy weather, or muddy water, you -may angle at ground all day. - -2. You may also in the night angle for the Trout with two great garden -worms, hanging as equally in length as you can place them on your hook; -cast them from you as you would cast the fly, and draw them to you -again upon the top of the water, and not suffer them to sink; therefore -you must use no lead this way of angling; when you hear the fish rise, -give some time for him to gorge your bait, as at the ground, then -strike gently. If he will not take them at the top, add some lead, and -try at the ground, as in the day time; when you feel him bite, order -yourself as in day angling at the ground. Usually the best Trouts bite -in the night, and will rise in the still deeps, but not ordinarily in -the stream. - -3. You may angle also with a minnow for the Trout, which you must put -on your hook thus: first, put your hook through the very point of his -lower chap, and draw it quite through; then put your hook in at his -mouth, and bring the point to his tail, then draw your line straight, -and it will bring him into a round compass, and close his mouth that no -water gets in, which you must avoid; or you may stitch up his mouth; or -you may, when you have set on your hook, fasten some bristles under the -silk, leaving the points about a straw’s breadth and half, or almost -half an inch standing out towards the line, which will keep him from -slipping back. You may also imitate the minnow as well as the fly, but -it must be done by an artist with the needle. - -You must also have a swivel or turn, placed about a yard or more from -your hook, observing you need no lead on your line, for you must -continually draw your bait up the stream, near the top of the water. -If you strike a large Trout, and it should break either your hook or -line, or get off, then near to her hole, if you can discover it, or the -place you struck her, fix a short stick in the water, and with your -knife loose a small piece of the rind, so as you may lay your line in -it, and yet the bark be close enough to keep your line in, that it slip -not out, nor the stream carry it away: bait your hook with a garden -or lob-worm, your hook and line being very strong, let the bait hang -a foot from the stick, then fasten the other end of your line to some -stick or bough in the bank, and within one hour, you may be sure of -her, if all your tackle hold. - -The next way of angling is with a troll for the Pike, which is very -delightful; you may buy your troll ready made, therefore I shall not -trouble myself to describe it, only let it have a winch to wind it -up withall. For this kind of fish, your tackle must be strong, your -rod must not be very slender at the top, where you must place a small -slender ring for your line to run through; let your line be silk, at -least two yards next the hook, and the rest of strong shoe-maker’s -thread; your hook double, and strongly armed with wire, for above a -foot; then with a probe or needle, you must draw the wire in at the -fish’s mouth and out at the tail, that so the hook may lie in the mouth -of the fish, and both the points on either side; upon the shank of the -hook fasten some lead very smooth, that it go into the fish’s mouth, -and sink her with the head downward, as though she had been playing on -the top of the water, and were returning to the bottom; your bait may -be small Roach, Dace, Gudgeon, Loach, or sometimes a Frog; your hook -thus baited, you must tie the tail of the fish close and fast to the -wire, or else with drawing to and again, the fish will rend off the -hook, or, which I judge neater, with a needle and strong thread, stitch -through the fish on either side the wire, and tie it very fast: all -being thus fitted, cast your fish up and down in such places as you -know Pike frequent, observing still, that he sink some depth before -you pull him up again. When the Pike rises, if it be not sunk deep, -you may see the water move, or at least you may feel him; then slacken -your line, and give him length enough to run away to his hold, whither -he will go directly, and there pouch it, ever beginning, as you may -observe, with the head swallowing that first, thus let him lie, until -you see the line move in the water, and then you may certainly conclude -he hath pouched your bait, and rangeth abroad for more; then with your -troll wind up your line, till you think you have it almost straight, -then with a smart jerk hook him, and make your pleasure to your -content. Some use no rod at all, but hold the line in links on their -hand, using lead and float. Others use a very great hook, with the hook -at the tail of the fish, and when the Pike rises, then they strike at -the first pull. Others put a strong string or thread in at the mouth -of the bait, and out at one of the gills; then over the head, and in -at the other gill, and so tie the bait to the hook, leaving a little -length of the thread or string betwixt the fish and the hook, that so -the Pike may turn the head of the bait, the better to swallow it, and -then as before; after some pause, strike. Some tie the bait-hook and -line to a bladder or bundle of flags, or bull-rushes, fastening the -line very gently in the cleft of a small stick, to hold the bait from -sinking more than its allowed length, half a yard. The stick must be -fastened to the bladder or flags, to which the line being tied, that it -may easily unfold and run to its length, and so give the Pike liberty -to run away with the bait, and by the bladder or flags, recover their -line again. You must observe this way to turn off your bait with the -wind or stream, that they may carry it away. Some use, for more sport, -if the Pike be a great one, to tie the same to the foot of a goose, -which the Pike, if large, will sometimes pull under the water. Before I -proceed to give you each sort of bait for every kind of fish, give me -leave to add a caution or two, for the ground-line and fishing, as I -did for the natural and artificial fly, and then we shall go on. - -There are two ways of fishing for Eels, proper and peculiar to that -fish alone; the first is termed by some, angling for Eels, which is -thus: take a short strong rod, and exceeding strong line, with a -little compassed, but strong hook, which you must bait with a large -well-scoured red worm, then place the end of the hook very easily in -a cleft of a stick, that it may very easily slip out; with this stick -and hook thus baited, search for holes under stones, timbers, roots, or -about flood-gates; if there be a good Eel, give her time, and she will -take it; but be sure she has gorged it, and then you may conclude, if -your tackling hold, she is your own. - -The other way is called bobbing for Eels, which is thus: take the -largest garden worms, scour them well, and with a needle run a very -strong thread or silk through them from end to end; take so many as -that at last you may wrap them about a board, for your hand will be -too narrow, a dozen times at least, then tie them fast with the other -two ends of the thread or silk, that they may hang in so many long -bouts or hanks; then fasten all to a strong cord, and something more -than a handful above the worms, fasten a plumb of lead, of about three -quarters of a pound, making your cord sure to a long and strong pole; -with these worms thus ordered, you must fish in a muddy water, and -you will feel the Eels tug strongly at them; when you think they have -swallowed them as far as they can, gently draw up your worms and Eels, -and when you have them near the top of the water, hoist them amain to -land; and thus you may take three or four at once, and good ones, if -there be store. - -1. When you angle at ground, keep your line as straight as possible, -suffering none of it to lie in the water, because it hinders the nimble -jerk of the rod; but if, as sometimes it will happen, that you cannot -avoid but some little will lie in the water, yet keep it in the stream -above your float, by no means below it. - -2. When you angle at ground for small fish, put two hooks to your line, -fastened together thus: lay the two hooks together, then draw the one -shorter than the other by nine inches, this will cause the other end -to over-reach as much, as the other is shorter at the hooks, then turn -that end back, and with a water-knot, in which you must make both the -links to fasten, tie them so as both links may hang close together, -and not come out at both ends of the knot. Then upon that link which -hangeth longest, fasten your lead near a foot above the hook; put upon -your hooks two different baits, and so you may try, with more ease -and less time, what bait the fish love best; and also very often, as -I have done, take two fish at once with one rod. You have also, by -this experience, one bait for such as feed close upon the ground, as -Gudgeon, Flounder, &c. and another for such as feed a little higher, as -Roach, Dace, &c. - -3. Some use to lead their lines heavily, and to set their float about -a foot or more from the end of the rod, with a little lead to buoy it -up, and thus in violent swift streams, they avoid the offence of a -float, and yet perfectly discern the biting of the fish, and so order -themselves accordingly; but this has its inconvenience, viz. the lying -of the line in the water. - -4. Give all fish time to gorge the bait, and be not over hasty, except -you angle with such tender baits as will not endure nibbling at, but -must upon every touch be struck at, as sheep’s blood and flies, which -are taken away at the first pull of the fish, and therefore enforce -you, at the first touch, to try your fortune. - -Now we are to speak next of baits, more particularly proper for every -fish, wherein I shall observe this method, first to name the fish, then -the baits, according as my experience hath proved them grateful to the -fish; and to place them as near as I can in such order as they come -in season, though many of them are in season at one instant of time, -and equally good. I would not be understood, as if when a new bait -comes in, the old one were antiquated and useless; for I know the worm -lasts all the year, flies all the Summer, one sort of bob-worm all the -Winter, the other under cow-dung, in June and July; but I intimate that -some are found when others are not in rerum natura. - - - - -CHAP. V. - -OF ALL SORTS OF BAITS FOR EACH KIND OF FISH, AND HOW TO FIND AND KEEP -THEM. - - -[Illustration: SALMON] - -The SALMON takes the artificial fly very well; but you must use a -troll, as for the Pike, or he, being a strong fish, will hazard your -line, except you give him length: his flies must be much larger than -you use for other fish, the wings very long, two or four, behind one -another, with very long tails; his chiefest ground-bait a great garden -or lob-worm. - -[Illustration: TROUT] - -2. The TROUT takes all sorts of worms, especially brandlings; all sorts -of flies, the minnow, young frogs, marsh-worm, dock-worm, flag-worm, -all sorts of cad-bait, bob, palmers, caterpillars, gentles, wasps, -hornets, dores, bees, grasshoppers, cankers, and bark-worm; he is a -ravenous, greedy fish, and loveth a large bait at ground, and you must -fit him accordingly. - -[Illustration: GRAYLING] - -3. The UMBER, or GRAYLING, is generally taken with the same baits as -the Trout; he is an eager fish, biteth freely, and will rise often at -the same fly, if you prick him not. - -[Illustration: BARBEL] - -The BARBEL bites best at great red worms, well scoured in moss; -gentles, cheese, or paste, made of cheese with suet, maggots, and red -worms; feed much for this fish. - -[Illustration: CARP] - -4. CARP and TENCH love the largest red worms, the - -[Illustration: TENCH] - -especially if they smell much of tar; to which end you may, some small -time before you use them, take so many as you will use at that time, -and put them by themselves in a little tar, but let them not lie long -lest it kill them; paste also of all sorts, made with strong-scented -oils, tar, bread, grain boiled soft, maggots, gentles, marsh-worm, -flag-worm, especially; feed much and often for these fish. - -[Illustration: PIKE] - -The PIKE takes all sorts of baits, save the Fly, Gudgeon, Roach, Dace, - -[Illustration: LOACH] - -and young frogs in Summer. You may halter him thus: fasten a strong -line with a snare at the end of it to a pole, which if you go -circumspectly to work, he will permit you to put it over his head, and -then you must by strength, hoist him to land. - -[Illustration: EEL] - -EELS take great red worms, beef, wasps, guts of fowls, and the minnow. -Bait night-hooks for him with small Roach, the hook must lie in the -mouth of the fish, as for the Pike; this way takes the greatest Eels. - -[Illustration: GUDGEON] - -7. The GUDGEON, RUFF, and BLEAK, take the smallest red worms, cad-bait, -gentles, and wasps. The BLEAK takes the natural or artificial fly, -especially in the evening. - -8. The RUFF taketh the same baits as the PEARCH, save that you must -have lesser worms, he being a smaller fish. - -[Illustration: ROACH] - -9. For ROACH and DACE take small worms, cad-bait, flies, bobs, sheep’s -blood, small white snails, all sorts of worms bred on herbs or trees, -paste, wasps, and gnats. - -The BLEAK is an eager fish, and takes the same baits as the ROACH, only -they must be less. You may angle for him with as many hooks on your -line at once, as you can conveniently fasten on it. - -10. The CHEVIN or CHUB, all sorts of earth-worms, bob, the minnow, -flies of all sorts, cad-bait, all sorts of worms bred on herbs and -trees, especially oak-worms, young frogs, wasps, bees, or grasshoppers, -on the top of the water; cheese, grain, beetles, a great brown fly -that lives on the oak, black snails, their bellies slit that the white -appear; he loves a large bait, as a wasp, colwort-worm, and then a wasp -altogether. - -[Illustration: BREAM] - -11. The BREAM takes red worms, especially those that are got at the -root of a great Dock, it lies wrapped up in a knot, or round clue; -paste, flag-worms, wasps, green-flies, butter-flies, or a grasshopper, -his legs being cut off. - -12. FLOUNDER, SHAD, and MULLET, love red worms of all sorts, wasps, and -gentles. - -As for the MINNOW, LOACH, BULL-HEAD, or - -[Illustration: MILLER’S THUMB] - -being usually children’s recreation, I once purposed to have omitted -them wholly, but considering they often are baits for better fish, as -Trout, Pike, Eel, &c. Neither could this discourse be general, if they -were omitted; and though I should wave mentioning them, yet I cannot -forget them, who have so often vexed me with their unwelcome eagerness; -for the - -[Illustration: MINNOW] - -will have a part in the play, if you come where he is; which is almost -every where, you need not seek him: I find him much oftener than I -desire, it is only in deep still places which he least frequents, and -is not over curious in his baits; any thing will serve that he can -swallow, and he will strain hard for what he cannot gorge: but chiefly -likes small red worms, cad-bait, worms bred on trees, and wasps. - -The LOACH and BULL-HEAD are much of the same diet; but their principal -bait is small red worms. - -Having spoken before of pastes, I shall now shew how you may make the -same; and though there be as many kinds as men have fancies, yet I -esteem these best. - -1. Take the tenderest part of the leg of a young rabbit, virgin -wax, and sheep’s-suet; beat them in a mortar till they be perfectly -incorporated, then with a little clarified honey, temper them before -the fire into a paste. - -2. Sheep’s-kidney suet, as much cheese, fine flower or manchet, make it -into a paste; soften it with clarified honey. - -3. Sheep’s blood, cheese, fine manchet, clarified honey; make all into -a paste. - -4. Sheep’s blood, saffron, and fine manchet; make all into a paste. - -You may add to any paste, coculus-indiæ, assa-fœtida, oil of polipody -of the oak, of lignum vitæ, of ivy, or the gum of ivy dissolved: I -judge there is virtue in these oils, and gum especially, which I would -add to all pastes I make, as also a little flax to keep the paste, that -it wash not off the hook. - - - - -CHAP. VI. - -TO KEEP YOUR BAITS. - - -1. Paste will keep very long, if you put virgin wax and clarified honey -into it, and stick well on the hook, if you beat cotton wool, or flax -into it, when you make your paste. - -2. Put your worms into very good long moss, whether white, red, or -green, matters not; wash it well, and cleanse it from all earth and -filth, wring it very dry, then put your worms into an earthen pot, -cover it close that they crawl not out; set it in a cool place in -Summer, and in Winter in a warm place, that the frost kill them not; -every third day in Summer change your moss, and once in the week in -Winter; the longer you keep them before you use them the better: clean -scouring your worms makes them clear, red, tough, and to live long on -the hook, and to keep colour, and therefore more desireable to the -fish: a little Bol Amoniac put to them, will much further your desire, -and scour them in a short time: or you may put them all night in water, -and they will scour themselves, which will weaken them; but a few hours -in good moss will recover them. Lest your worms die, you may feed them -with crumbs of bread and milk, or fine flour and milk, or the yolk -of an egg, and sweet cream coagulated over the fire, given to them a -little and often; sometimes also put to them earth cast out of a grave, -the newer the grave the better; I mean the shorter time the party hath -been buried, you will find the fish will exceedingly covet them after -this earth, and here you may gather what gum that is, which J. D. in -his _Secrets of Angling_, calls ‘Gum of Life.’ - -3. You must keep all other sorts of worms with the leaves of those -trees and herbs on which they are bred, renewing the leaves often in a -day, and put in fresh for the old ones: the boxes you keep them in must -have a few small holes to let in air. - -4. Keep gentles or maggots with dead flesh, beast’s livers, or suet; -cleanse or scour them in meal, or bran, which is better; you may breed -them by pricking a beast’s liver full of holes, hang it in the sun in -Summer time; set an old course barrel, or small firkin, with clay and -bran in it, into which they will drop, and cleanse themselves in it. - -5. Cad-bait cannot endure the wind and cold, therefore keep them in a -thick woollen bag, with some gravel amongst them: wet them once a day, -at least, if in the house, but often in the hot weather: when you carry -them forth, fill the bag full of water, then hold the mouth close, that -they drop not out, and so let the water run from them; I have thus kept -them three weeks, or you may put them into an earthern pot full of -water, with some gravel at the bottom, and take them forth into your -bag as you use them. - -6. The spawn of some fish is a good bait, to be used at such time as -that fish is spawning: some days before they spawn they will bite -eagerly; if you take one that is full-bellied, take out the spawn, boil -it so hard as to stick on your hook, and so use it; or not boil it at -all, the spawn of SALMON is the best of all sorts of spawn. - -7. I have observed, that CHEVIN, ROACH, and - -[Illustration: DACE] - -bite much better at the oak-worm, or any worm bred on herbs and trees, -especially if you angle with the same, when they shew themselves at -the top of the water, as with the natural fly, than if you use it -under: for I have observed, that when a gale of wind shakes the trees, -the worms fall into the water, and presently rise and float on the top, -where I have seen the fish rise at them, as at flies, which taught me -this experience; and indeed they sink not, till tost and beaten by the -stream, and so die and lose their colour; the fish then, as you may see -by your own on your hook, do not much esteem them. - -8. There are two, some say three, sorts of cad-bait; the one bred -under stones, that lie hollow in shallow rivers, or small brooks, in a -very fine gravelly case or husk, these are yellow when ripe: the other -in old pits, ponds, or slow running rivers, or ditches, in cases or -husks of straw, sticks, or rushes, these are green when ripe: both are -excellent for TROUT, used as before directed, and for most sorts of -small fish. The green sort, which is bred in pits, ponds, or ditches, -may be found in March, before the other yellow ones comes in; the other -yellow ones come in season with May, or the end of April, and go out in -July: a second sort, but smaller, come in again in August. - -9. Yellow bobs are also of two sorts, the one bred in mellow light -soils, and gathered after the plough, when the land is first broken up -from grazing, and are in season in the Winter till March; the other -sort is bred under cow-dung, hath a red head; and these are in season -in the Summer only: scour them in bran, or dry moss, or meal. - -10. Bark-worms are found under the bark of an oak, ash, alder, and -birch, especially if they lie a year or more after they have fallen, -you may find a great white worm, with a brown head, something -resembling a dore bee, or humble-bee, this is in season all the year, -especially from September until June, or mid-May; the Umber covets this -bait above any, save fly, and cad-bait; you may also find this worm in -the body of a rotten alder, if you break it with an axe or beetle; but -be careful only to shake the tree in pieces with beating, and crush not -the worm: you may also find him under the bark of the stump of a tree, -if decayed. - -11. Dry your wasps, dores, or bees, upon a tile-stone, or in an oven -cooled after baking, lest they burn; and to avoid that, you must lay -them on a thin board or chip, and cover them with another so supported, -as not to crush them, or else clap two cakes together: this way they -will keep long, and stick on your hook well. If you boil them hard, -they grow black in a few days. - -12. Dry your sheep’s blood in the air, upon a dry board, till it become -a pretty hard lump; then cut it into small pieces for your use. - -13. When you use grain, boil it soft, and get off the outward rind, -which is the bran; and then if you will, you may fry the same in -honey and milk, or some strong-scented oils, as polypody, spike, ivy, -turpentine; for Nature, which maketh nothing in vain, hath given -the fish nostrils, and that they can smell, is undeniable; and I am -persuaded, more guided by the sense of smelling, than sight, for -sometimes they will come to the float, if any wax be upon it, smell -at it and go away. We see also that strong scents draw them together; -as, put grains, worms, or snails, in a bottle of hay tied pretty close, -and you will, if you pluck it out suddenly, sometimes draw up EELS in -it. But I never yet made trial of any of these oils; for when I had -the oils, I wanted time to try them; or when I had time, I wanted the -oils: but I recommend them to others for trial, and do purpose, God -willing, to prove the virtue myself, especially that ointment so highly -commended by J. D. in his _Secrets of Angling_.[3] - -[3] In the edition of 1613, duod. the receipt here referred to occurs -at the end of the volume: - - Would’st thou catch fish? - Then here’s thy wish; - Take this receipt - To anoint thy bait. - - Thou that desirest to fish with line and hook, - Be it in poole, in river, or in brook, - To blisse thy bait, and make the fish to bite, - Loe here’s a means if thou canst hit it right; - Take gum of life, fine beat and laid to soak - In oyle, well drawn from that which kills the oak; - Fish where thou wilt, thou shalt have sport thy fill, - When twenty fail, thou shalt be sure to kill. - _Probatum._ - - It’s perfect and good - If well understood - Else not to be told - For silver or gold. - -Lauson, who ‘augmented with many approved experiments,’ the second -edition of the _Secrets of Angling_, 1652, duod. observes, ‘This -excellent receipt divers Anglers can tell you where you may buy them.’ -On the subject of ‘gum of life,’ he continues, ‘I have heard much of an -oyntment that will presently cause any fish to bite; but I could never -attain the knowledge thereof, the nearest in mine opinion, except this -Probatum, is the oyle of an ospray, which is called Aquila Marina, the -Sea-Eagle. She is of body neare the bignesse of a goose; one of her -feete is web’d to swim withall, the other hath talons to catch fish. -It seems the fish come up to her, for she cannot dive. Some likelihood -there is also in a paste made of Coculus Indie, Assa-Fœtida, Honey and -Wheat-flour; but I never tried them, therefore I cannot prescribe.’ - -‘That which kills the oak,’ is expressly said to signify ‘the Ivy,’ -edit. 1652. - -In a third, and hitherto unrecorded edition of the _Secrets of -Angling_, it is said, ‘This excellent receipt you may buy ready and -truely made, at the signe of the Flying Horse, an Apothecaries in -Carter-Lane.’ - -EDITOR. - - -14. When you see ant-flies in greatest plenty, go to the ant-hills -where they breed, take a great handful of the earth, with as much of -the roots of the grass growing on those hills; put all into a large -glass bottle, then gather a pottle full of the blackest, ant-flies -unbruised, put them into the bottle, or into a firkin, if you would -keep them long, first washed with honey, or water and honey; ROACH and -DACE will bite at these flies under water near the ground. - -15. When you gather bobs after the plough, put them into a firkin, with -sufficient of the soil they were bred in, to preserve them; stop the -vessel quite close, or all will spoil; set it where neither wind nor -frost may offend them, and they will keep all Winter for your use. - -16. At the latter end of September, take some dead carrion that hath -some maggots bred in it, which are beginning to creep; bury all deep in -the ground, that the frost kill them not, and they will serve in March -or April following, to use. - -17. To find the flag-worm, do thus: go to an old pond, or pit, where -there are store of flags, or, as some call them, sedges, pull some up -by the roots, then shake those roots in the water, till all the mud -and dirt be washed away from them, then amongst the small strings or -fibres that grow to the roots, you will find little husks or cases -of a reddish, or yellowish, and some of other colours; open these -carefully with a pin, and you will find in them a little small worm, -white as a gentle, but longer and thinner; this is an excellent bait -for the Tench, the Bream, and especially the Carp: if you pull the -flags-asunder, and cut open the round stalk, you will also find a worm -like the former in the husks; but tougher, and in that respect better. - - - - -CHAP. VII. - -OF SEVERAL HAUNTS OR RESORTS OF FISH, AND IN WHAT RIVERS OR PLACES OF -THEM THEY ARE MOST USUALLY FOUND. - - -This part of our discourse being a discovery of the several places or -rivers each kind of fish do most haunt or covet, and in which they are -ordinarily found. - -The several sorts of rivers, streams, soils, and waters they most -frequent, is a matter, in this under-valued art, of no small -importance; for if you come with baits for the Trout, or Umber, and -angle for them in slow muddy rivers or places, you will have little, if -any sport at all: and to seek for Carp or Tench in stony swift rivers, -is equally preposterous; and though I know that sometimes you may meet -with fish in such rivers and places, as they do not usually frequent, -for no general rule but admits of particular exceptions, yet the exact -knowledge of what rivers or soils, or what part of the river, for some -rivers have swift gravely streams, and also slow, deep, muddy places; -such or such sorts of fish do most frequent, will exceedingly adapt -you, to know what rivers, or what part of them are most fit for your -baits, or what baits suit best with each river, and the fish in the -same. - -1. The Salmon loves large swift rivers, where there is considerable -ebbing and flowing, and there that fish is found in the greatest -numbers; nevertheless, I have known them to be found in lesser rivers, -high up in the country, yet chiefly in the latter end of the year, -when they come thither to spawn, he chooses the most swift and violent -streams, or rather cataracts, and in England the clearest gravely -rivers usually with rocks or weeds; but in Ireland, I do not know any -river, I mean high in the country, that hath such plenty of them as the -black water, by Charlemont, and the broad water, by Shane’s Castle, -both which have their heads in great bogs, and are of a dark muddy -colour, and very few comparatively in the upper ban, though clearer and -swifter than they. - -2. The Trout is found in small purling brooks, or rivers that are very -swift, and run upon stones or gravel; he feeds whilst strong in the -swiftest streams, behind a stone, a log, or some small bank, which, -shooting into the river, the streams beareth upon; and there he lieth -watching for what comes down the stream, and suddenly catches it up. -His hold is usually in the deep, under a hollow place of the bank, or -a stone which lying hollow, he loves exceedingly; and sometimes, but -not so usually, he is found amongst weeds. - -3. The Pearch prefers a gentle stream, of a reasonable depth, seldom -shallow, close by a hollow bank; and though these three sorts of fish -covet clear and swift rivers, green weeds, and stony gravel; yet they -are sometimes found, but not in such plenty and goodness, in slow muddy -rivers. - -4. Carp, Tench, and Eel, seek mud and a still water; Eels under roots -or stones, a Carp chooseth the deepest and most still place of pond -or river, so does the Tench, and also green weeds, which he likes -exceedingly; the greatest Eels love as before; but the smaller ones are -found in all sorts of rivers and soils. - -5. Pike, Bream, and Chub, choose sand or clay: the Bream, a gentle -stream, and the broadest part of the river; the Pike, still pools full -of fry, and shelters himself, the better to surprise his prey unawares, -amongst bull-rushes, water-docks, or under-bushes; the Chub loves the -same ground, but is more rarely found without some tree to shade and -cover him, in large rivers and streams. - -6. Barbel, Roach, Dace, and Ruff, seek gravel and sand more than the -Bream, and the deepest parts of the river, where shady trees are more -grateful to them, than to the Chub or Chevin. - -7. The Umber seeks marl, clay, clear waters, swift streams, far from -the Sea, for I never saw any taken near it; and the greatest plenty of -them that I know of, are found in the mountainous parts of Derbyshire, -Staffordshire, as Dovetrent, Derwent, &c. - -8. Gudgeon desires sandy, gravely, gentle streams, and smaller rivers; -but I have known them taken in great abundance in Trent, in Derbyshire, -where it is very large; but conceive them to be in greater plenty -nearer the head of that river, about or above Heywood: I can say the -same of other rivers, and therefore conceive they love smaller rivers -rather than the large, or the small brooks, for I never found them -in so great plenty in brooks, as small rivers; he bites best in the -Spring, till he spawns, and little after till wasp time. - -9. Shad, Thwait, Peel, Mullett, Suant, and Flounder, love chiefly to -be in or near the saltish water, which ebb and flow; I have known the -Flounder taken in good plenty, in fresh rivers; they covet sand and -gravel, deep gentle streams near the bank, or at the end of a stream -in a deep still place: though these rules may, and do hold good in the -general, yet I have found them admit of particular exceptions, but -every man’s habitation engaged him to one, or usually at most, to two -rivers, his own experience will quickly inform him of the nature of the -same, and the fish in them. I would persuade all that love angling, -and desire to be complete Anglers, to spend some time in all sorts of -waters, ponds, rivers, swift and slow, stony, gravely, muddy and slimy; -and to observe all the differences in the nature of the fish, the -waters and baits, and by this means he will be able to take fish where -ever he angles; otherwise, through want of experience, he will be like -the man that could read in no book but his own: besides, a man, his -occasions or desires drawing him from home, must only stand as an idle -spectator, whilst others kill fish, but he none; and so lose the repute -of a complete Angler, how excellent soever he be at his own known river. - -Furthermore, you must understand, that as some fish covet one soil -more than another, so they differ in their choice of places, in every -season; some keep all Summer long near the top, some never leave the -bottom; for the former sort you may angle with a quill or small float -near the top, with a fly, or any sort of worm bred on herbs or trees, -or with a fly at the top: the latter sort you will, all Summer long, -find at the tails of wiers, mills, flood-gates, arches of bridges, -or the more shallow parts of the river, in a strong, swift or gentle -stream, except Carp, and Tench, and Eel; in Winter all retreat into -deep still places; where it ebbs and flows, they will sometimes bite -best, but in the ebb most usually; sometimes when it flows, but rarely -at full water, near the arches of Bridges, wiers, or flood-gates. - - - - -CHAP. VIII. - -WHAT TIMES ARE UNSEASONABLE TO ANGLE IN. - - -There being a time for all things, in which with ease and facility -the same may be accomplished, and most difficult, if not impossible, -at another: the skill and knowledge how to choose the best season to -angle, and how to avoid the contrary, come next to be handled; which I -shall do first negatively, viz. what times are unfit to angle; and then -affirmatively, which are the best seasons. - -1. When the earth is parched with a great drought, so that the rivers -run with a much less current than is usual, it is to no purpose to -angle; and indeed the heat of the day in Summer, except cooled by -winds, and shallowed with clouds, though there be no drought, you will -find very little sport, especially in muddy, or very shallow and clear -rivers. - -2. In cold, frosty, snowy weather, I know the fish must eat in all -seasons, and that a man may kill fish when he must first break the ice; -yet I conceive the sport is not then worth pursuing, the extreme cold -taking away the delight, besides the endangering health, if not life, -by those colds, which at least cause rhumes and coughs: wherefore I -leave Winter and night angling, to such strong healthful bodies, whose -extraordinary delight in angling, or those whose necessity enforceth -them to seek profit by their recreation, in such unseasonable times. - -3. When there happens any small frost, all that day after the fish will -not rise freely and kindly, except in the evening, and that the same -prove very pleasant. - -4. If the wind be very high, so that you cannot guide your tools to -advantage. - -5. When shepherds or countrymen wash their sheep, though while they are -washing, I mean the first time only, the fish will bite exceedingly -well; I suppose the filth that falls from the sheep draws them, as like -baiting a place together, and then they so glut themselves, that till -the whole washing time be over, and they have digested their fulness; -they will not take any artificial baits. - -6. Sharp, bitter, nipping winds, which most usually blow out of the -North or East especially, blast your recreation; but this is rather the -season than the wind, though I also judge those winds have a secret -malign quality to hinder the recreation. - -7. After any sort of fish have spawned, they will not bite any thing to -purpose, until they have recovered their strength and former appetite. - -8. When any clouds arise, that will certainly bring a shower or storm, -though in the midst of Summer, they will not bite: I have observed, -that though the fish bite most eagerly, and to your heart’s content, -yet upon the first appearing of any clouds, that will certainly bring -rain, though my own judgment could not then apprehend, or in the least -conjecture, that a storm was arising, they have immediately left off -biting; and that has been all given me to understand that a shower was -coming, and that it was prudent to seek shelter against the same. - - - - -CHAP. IX. - -THE BEST TIMES AND SEASONS TO ANGLE. - - -We now come to the affirmative part, which is the best season to angle, -that as before, we discovered when it would be lost labour to seek -recreation; so now you may learn to improve opportunity, when it offers -itself to best advantage. - -1. Calm, clear, or which is better, cool cloudy weather in Summer, the -wind blowing gently, so as you may guide your tools with ease; in the -hottest months, the cooler the better. - -2. When the floods have carried away all the filth that the rain had -washed from the higher grounds into the river, and that the river keeps -his usual bounds, and appears of a whey colour. - -3. When a sudden violent shower hath a little mudded and raised the -river, then if you go forth in, or immediately after such a shower, and -angle in the stream at the ground, with a red worm chiefly; if there be -store of fish in the river, you will have sport to your own desire. - -4. A little before any fish spawn, your own observation will inform -you of the time, by the fulness of their bellies, they come into the -gravely, sandy fords, to rub and loosen their bellies, and then they -bite very freely. - -5. When rivers after rain do rise, yet so as that they keep within -their banks, in swift rivers the violence of the stream forces the -fish to seek shelter and quiet ease; in the little and milder currents -of small brooks, where they fall into larger rivers, and behind the -ends of bridges that are longer than the breadth of the river, making -a low vacancy, where the bridge defends a small spot of ground from -the violence of the stream, or in any low place near the river’s side, -where the fish may lie at rest, and secure from the disturbance of the -rapid stream; in such a place, not being very deep, and at such a time, -you will find sport: as regards myself, I have ever found it equal to -the best season. - -6. For Carp and Tench early in the morning, from sun rising, until -eight of the clock, and from four after noon, till night; and from sun -set, till far in the night in the hot months. - -7. In March, in the beginning of April, and at the latter end of -September, and all Winter, fish bite best in the warmth of the day, -when no winds are stirring, and the air quite clear. In Summer months, -morning and evening are best, or cool cloudy weather: if you can find -shelter, no matter how high the wind be. - -8. Fish rise best at the fly, after a shower that has not mudded the -water, yet has beaten the gnats and flies into the rivers; you may in -such a shower observe them rise much, if you will endure the rain; -also the best months for the fly, are March, April, May, and part of -June; in the cooler months, in the warmest time of the day; or in warm -weather, about nine in the morning, three in the afternoon, if any -gentle gale blow; sometimes in a warm evening, when the gnats play much. - -9. Also after the river is cleared from a flood, they rise exceeding -well; I conceive that being glutted with ground-baits, they now covet -the fly, having wanted it a time. - -10. A Trout bites best in a muddy rising water, in dark, cloudy, windy -weather, early in the morning, from half an hour after eight, till -ten; and in the afternoon, from three, till after four, and sometimes -in the evening; but about nine in the morning, and about three in the -afternoon, are his chief and most constant hours of biting at ground -or fly, as the water suits either; March, April, May, and part of -June, are his chief months, though he bites well in July, August and -September. After a shower in the evening, he rises well at gnats. - -11. Salmon, at three in the afternoon, chiefly in May, June, July, and -August, with a clear water and some wind. He bites best when the wind -is blowing against the stream, and near the sea. - -12. Carp and Tench, morning and evening, very early and late, June, -July and August, or indeed in the night. - -13. A Chevin, from sun rising or earlier, at snails especially; for in -the heat of the day he cares not for them, in June and July till about -eight, again at three in the afternoon at ground, or fly; and his chief -fly which he most delights in, is a great moth, with a very great head, -not unlike to an owl, with whitish wings, and yellowish body, you may -find them flying abroad in Summer evenings in gardens, when some wind -is stirring, in large rivers chiefly, streams or shade. He will take -a small lamprey, or seven-eyes, an eel-brood, either of them about a -straw’s bigness. - -14. Pike bites best at three in the afternoon, in a clear water, -accompanied by a gentle gale, in July, August, September, and October. - -15. Bream, from about sun rising, till eight, in a muddy water, a good -gale of wind; and in ponds, the higher the better, and where the waves -are highest, and nearer the middle of the pond, the better; from the -end of May, June, July especially, and August. - -16. Roach and Dace all day long; best at the top, at fly, or oak-worm -principally, and at all other worms bred on herbs or trees, palmers, -caterpillars, &c. in plain rivers or ponds, under water-dock leaves, or -under shady trees. - -17. Gudgeon from April, and till he have spawned in May, and a little -after that, till wasp time, and then to the end of the year, all day -long. - -18. Flounder all day in April, May, June, and July. - - - - -CHAP. X. - -GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. - - -1. Let the Angler’s apparel be sad dark colours, as sad grey’s, tawny, -purple, hair, or musk colour. - -2. Use shoe-maker’s wax to your silk or thread, with which you make or -mend either rod or fly; it holds firmer, and sticks better than any -other. - -3. Into such places as you use to angle at, once a week at least, cast -in all sorts of corn boiled soft, grains washed in blood, blood dried -and cut into pieces, snails, worms chopped small, pieces of fowl, or -beast’s guts, beast’s livers; for Carp and Tench you cannot feed too -often, or too much; this course draweth the fish to the place you -desire. And to keep them together, cast about twenty grains of ground -malt at a time, now and then as you angle; and indeed all sorts of -baits are good to cast in, especially whilst you are angling with that -bait, principally cad-bait, gentles, and wasps, and you will find -they will snap up yours more eagerly, and with less suspicion; but by -no means, when you angle in a stream cast them in at your hook, but -something above where you angle, lest the stream carry them beyond your -hook, and so instead of drawing them to you, you draw them from you. - -4. Destroy all beasts or birds that devour the fish or their spawn,[4] -as the - -[Illustration: OTTER] - -&c. and endeavour, whether in authority or not, to see all statutes put -in execution, against such as use unlawful nets, or means to take fish; -especially bar-netting and night-hooking. - -[4] THE OTTER’S ORATION. - - Why stand we beasts abasht, or spare to speake? - Why make wee not a vertue of our need? - We know by proofe, in wit wee are to weake, - And weaker much, because all Adams seed, - (Which beare away the waight of wit indeed) - Do dayly seeke our names for to distaine, - With slanderous blotte, for which we Beasts be slaine. - First of my selfe, before the rest to treate, - Most men cry out, that fishe I do deuoure, - Yea some will say, that Lambes (with mee) be meate: - I graunt to both, and he that hath the powre, - To feede on fish that sweeter were than sowre, - And hath yong flesh to banquet at his fill, - Were fonde to fraunche on garbage, graynes or swill. - But master Man, which findeth all this fault, - And streynes deuise for many a daynty dishe, - Which suffreth not that hunger him assault, - But feedes his fill on euery flesh and fishe, - Which must haue all, as much as witte can wish, - Us seely Beasts, deuouring Beasts do call, - And he himsefe, most bloody beaste of all. - Well yet me thinks, I heare him preach this Text, - How all that is, was made for vse of man: - So was it sure, but therewith followes next, - This heauy place, expound it who so can: - The very scourge and plague of God his Ban, - Will light on such as queyntly can deuise, - To eat more meate, then may thir mouthes suffise. - Now master Man stand forth and here declare, - Who euer yet could see an Otter eate, - More meate at once, then serued for his share? - Who sees vs beasts sitte bybbing in our seate - With sundry wynes, and sundry kindes of meate? - Which breede disease, yfostred in such feastes, - If men do so, be they not worse than beasts? - The beastly man, must sitte al day and quaffe, - The Beaste indeede, doth drincke but twise a day, - The beastly man, must stuffe his monstrous masse - With secrete cause of surfeiting alway; - Where beasts be glad to feede when they get prey, - And neuer eate more than may do them good, - Where men be sicke, and surfet thorough foode. - Who sees a Beast, for sauery Sawces long? - Who sees a beast, or chicke or Capon cramme? - Who sees a beast, once luld on sleepe with song? - Who sees a beast make venson of a Ramme? - Who sees a Beast destroy bothe whelpe and damme? - Who sees a Beast vse beastly Gluttonie? - Which man doth vse, for great Cinilytie. - I know not I, if dyuing be my fault, - Me thinks most men, can dine as well as I: - Some men can diue in Seller and in vault, - In Parlor, Hall, Kitchen and in Buttery - To smell the Roste, whereof the fume doth flee: - And as for games, men dine in every streame, - All frawdes be fishe, their stomacks neuer squeame. - So to conclude, when men their faults can mend, - And shunne the shame, where with they beasts do blot, - When men their time and treasure not mispend, - But follow grace, which is with paines ygot, - When men can vice rebuke, and vse it not: - Then shall they shine, like men of worthy fame, - And else, they be but _Beasts_ well worthy blame. - - _Noble Art of Venerie_, 1611, _4to._ pp. 201-203. - - -5. Get your rods and tops without knots, they are dangerous for -breaking. - -6. Keep your rod dry, lest it rot, and not near the fire, lest it grow -brittle. - -7. In drought, wet your rod a little before you begin to angle. - -8. Lob-worms, dew-worms, and great garden worms, all one. - -9. When you angle at ground, or with the natural fly, your line must -not exceed the length of your rod. For the Trout at ground, it must be -shorter, and in some cases, not half the length as in small brooks or -woody rivers, either at ground, or with the natural fly. - -10. When you have hooked a good fish, have an especial care to keep -your rod bent, lest he run to the line, and break your hook, or his -hold. - -11. Such tops or stocks as you get, must not be used till fully -seasoned, which will not be in one year and a quarter, but I like them -better if kept till they be two years old. - -12. The first fish you take, cut up his belly, and you may then see -his stomach; it is known by its largeness and place, lying from the -gills to the small guts; take it out very tenderly, if you bruise it, -your labour and design are lost; and with a sharp knife cut it open -without bruising, and then you may find his food in it, and thereby -discover what bait the fish at that instant takes best, either flies -or ground-baits, and so suit them accordingly. - -13. Fish are frightened with any the least sight or motion, therefore -by all means keep out of sight, either by sheltering yourself behind -some bush or tree, or by standing so far off the river’s side, that -you can see nothing but your fly or float; to effect this, a long rod -at ground, and a long line with the artificial fly, may be of use to -you. And here I meet with two different opinions and practises, some -will always cast their fly and bait up the water, and so they say -nothing occurs to the fish’s sight but the line; others fish down the -river, and so suppose, the rod and line being long, the quantity of -water takes away, or at least lessens the fish’s sight; but others -affirm, that rod and line, and perhaps yourself, are seen also. In -this difference of opinions I shall only say, in small brooks you -may angle upwards, or else in great rivers you must wade, as I have -known some, who thereby got the sciatica, and I would not wish you to -purchase pleasure at so dear a rate; besides, casting up the river you -cannot keep your line out of the water, which has been noted for a -fault before; and they that use this way confess, that if in casting -your fly, the line fall into the water before it, the fly were better -uncast, because it frightens the fish; then certainly it must do it -this way, whether the fly fall first or not, the line must first come -to the fish, or fall on him, which undoubtedly will frighten him: -my opinion is, therefore, that you angle down the river, for the -other way you traverse twice so much, and beat not so much ground as -downwards. - -14. Keep the sun, and moon, if night, before you, if your eyes will -endure, which I much question, at least be sure to have those planets -on your side, for if they be on your back, your rod will with its -shadow offend much, and the fish see further and clearer, when they -look towards those lights, than the contrary; as you may experiment -thus in a dark night, if a man come betwixt you and any light, you see -him clearly, but not at all if the light come betwixt you and him. - -15. When you angle for the Trout, you need not make above three or four -trials in one place, either with fly or ground-bait, for he will then -either take it, or make an offer, or not stir at all, and so you lose -time to stay there any longer. - -[Illustration: PEARCH] - -PEARCH bites exceedingly well at all sorts of earth-worms, especially -lob-worms, brandlings, bobs, oak-worms, gentles, cad-bait, wasps, -dores, minnows, colwort-worm, and often at almost any bait, save the -fly. - -He bites well all day long in seasonable weather, but chiefly from -eight in the morning till after ten, and from a little before three in -the afternoon till almost five. - -[Illustration: CHUB] - -16. A CHEVIN loves to have several flies, and of divers sorts, on the -hook at once, and several baits also at once on the hook, as a wasp and -colwort-worm, or an old wasp, and young dore, or humble, when his wings -and legs are grown forth, or a fly and cad-worm, or oak-worm. - -17. Take for a Trout, two lob-worms well scoured, cut them into two -equal halves, put them on your hook; this is an excellent bait. - -In a muddy water, a Trout will not take a cad-bait, you must therefore -only use it in clear water. - -If you desire to angle in a very swift stream, and have your bait rest -in one place, and yet not over burthen your line with lead; take a -small pistol bullet, make a hole through it, wider at each side than -the middle, yet so open in every place, as that the line may easily -pass through it without any stop; place a very small piece of lead on -your line, that may keep this bullet from falling nearer the hook than -that piece of lead, and if your float be made large enough to bear -above water, against the force of the stream, the fish will, when they -bite, run away with the bait as securely, as if there were no more -weight upon your line, than the little piece of lead, because the hole -in the bullet gives passage to the line, as if it were not there. - -18. When cattle in Summer come into the fords, their dung draws the -fish to the lower end of the ford; at such time angle for a Chevin, -with baits fit for him, and you will have sport. - -19. Before you set your hook to your line, arm the line by turning the -silk five or six times about the link, and so with the same silk set -on your hook; this preserves your lines, that your hook cut it not -asunder, and also that it will not, when using the cast fly, snap off -so easily, which it is very subject to do. - -20. In very wet seasons Trouts leave the rivers and larger brooks, and -retreat into such little brooks as scarce run at all in dry Summers. - -21. To all sorts of pastes, add flax, cotton, or wool, to keep the -paste from falling off your hook. - -22. Deny not part of what your endeavours shall purchase unto any sick -or indigent persons, but willingly distribute a part of your purchase -to those who may desire a share. - -23. Make not a profession of any recreation, lest your immoderate love -towards it should bring a cross wish on the same. - -[Illustration] - - -J. Johnson, Printer, Brook Street, Holborn, London. - - -Transcriber’s Notes - -Page 10—changed were to where — where the fish lie in wait for them - -Page 14—changed then run the the same round your fly — then run the -same round your fly. - -Page 16—changed artifical to artificial. - -Page 20—changed fall to falls, twice; — that your fly falls first — if -the line falls first - -Page 23— changed get to gets — and close his mouth so no water gets in. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EXPERIENCED ANGLER; OR -ANGLING IMPROVED *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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