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you； and then cutting off a very little of the other end； that so your hook
may enter； and if your hook be small and good； you will find this to be a
very choice bait； either for winter or summer； you sometimes casting a
little of it into the place where your float swims。
And to take the Roach and Dace； a good bait is the young brood of
wasps or bees； if you dip their heads in blood； especially good for Bream；
if they be baked； or hardened in their husks in an oven； after the bread is
taken out of it； or hardened on a fire…shovel： and so also is the thick blood
of sheep； being half dried on a trencher； that so you may cut into such
pieces as may best fit the size of your hook； and a little salt keeps it from
growing black； and makes it not the worse； but better： this is taken to be a
choice bait； if rightly ordered。
There be several oils of a strong smell that I have been told of； and to
be excellent to tempt fish to bite； of which I could say much。 But I
remember I once carried a small bottle from Sir George Hastings to Sir
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Henry Wotton； they were both chemical men； as a great present： it was
sent； and receiv'd； and us'd； with great confidence； and yet； upon inquiry； I
found it did not answer the expectation of Sir Henry； which； with the help
of this and other circumstances； makes me have little belief in such things
as many men talk of。 Not but that I think that fishes both smell and hear；
as I have express in my former discourse： but there is a mysterious knack；
which though it be much easier than the philosopher's stone； yet is not
attainable by common capacities； or else lies locked up in the brain or
breast of some chemical man； that； like the Rosicrucians； will not yet
reveal it。 But let me nevertheless tell you； that camphire； put with moss
into your worm…bag with your worms； makes them； if many anglers be not
very much mistaken； a tempting bait； and the angler more fortunate。 But I
stepped by chance into this discourse of oils； and fishes smelling； and
though there might be more said； both of it and of baits for Roach and
Dace and other float…fish； vet I will for bear it at this time； and tell you； in
the next place； how you are to prepare your tackling： concerning which； I
will； for sport sake； give you an old rhyme out of an old fish book； which
will prove a part； and but a part； of what you are to provide。
My rod and my line； my float and my lead； My hook and my plummet；
my whetstone and knife； My basket； my baits； both living and dead； My
net； and my meat； for that is the chief： Then I must have thread； and hairs
green and small； With mine angling purse： and so you have all。
But you must have all these tackling； and twice so many more； with
which； if you mean to be a fisher； you must store yourself； and to that
purpose I will go with you； either to Mr。 Margrave； who dwells amongst
the book…sellers in St。 Paul's Church…yard； or to Mr。 John Stubs； near to the
Swan in Goldinglane： they be both honest； an； and will fit an angler with
what tackling he lacks。
Venator。 Then； good master； let it be at for he is nearest to my
dwelling。 And I pray let's meet there the ninth of May next； about two of
the clock； and I'll want nothing that a fisher should be furnished with。
Piscator。 Well； and I'll not fail you； God willing； at the time and place
appointed。
Venator。 I thank you； good master； and I will not fail you。 And； good
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master； tell me what BAITS more you remember； for it will not now be
long ere we shall be at Tottenham…High…Cross； and when we come thither
I will make you some requital of your pains； by repeating as choice a copy
of Verses as any we have heard since we met together； and that is a proud
word； for we have heard very good ones。
Piscator Well； scholar； and I shall be then right glad to hear them。 And
I will； as we walk； tell you whatsoever comes in my mind； that I think may
be worth your hearing。 You may make another choice bait thus： take a
handful or two of the best and biggest wheat you can get； boil it in a little
milk； like as frumity is boiled； boil it so till it be soft； and then fry it； very
leisurely； with honey； and a little beaten saffron dissolved in milk； and you
will find this a choice bait； and good； I think； for any fish； especially for
Roach； Dace； Chub； or Grayling： I know not but that it may be as good for
a river Carp； and especially if the ground be a little baited with it。
And you may also note； that the SPAWN of most fish is a very
tempting bait； being a little hardened on a warm tile and cut into fit pieces。
Nay； mulberries； and those black…berries which grow upon briars； be good
baits for Chubs or Carps： with these many have been taken in ponds； and
in some rivers where such trees have grown near the water； and the fruit
customarily drops into it。 And there be a hundred other baits； more than
can be well named； which； by constant baiting the water； will become a
tempting bait for any fish in it。
You are also to know； that there be divers kinds of CADIS； or Case…
worms； that are to be found in this nation； in several distinct counties； in
several little brooks that relate to bigger rivers； as namely； one cadis called
a piper； whose husk； or case； is a piece of reed about an inch long； or
longer； and as big about as the compass of a two…pence。 These worms
being kept three or four days in a woollen bag； with sand at the bottom of
it； and the bag wet once a day； will in three or four days turn to be yellow；
and these be a choice bait for the Chub or Chavender； or indeed for any
great fish； for it is a large bait。
There is also a lesser cadis…worm； called a Cockspur； being in fashion
like the spur of a cock； sharp at one end： and the case； or house。 in which
this dwells； is made of small husks； and gravel； and slime； most curiously
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made of these； even so as to be wondered at； but not to be made by man；
no more than a king…fisher's nest can； which is made of little fishes' bones；
and have such a geometrical interweaving and connection as the like is not
to be done