The Pearch, taketh all sorts of Earth-worms, especially the Lob-worm, and Brandling, well scowred, Bobs, Oak-worms, Dors, Gentles, Cole-wort-worms, Wasps, Cadbaits, and Menow, or a little Frog, the Hook being fastned through the skin of his Leg, towards the upper part of it. Be sure you give the Pearch time enough to pouch his Bait, before you strike.
The Salmon, is taken best with Lob-worms, scented with the Oyl of Ivy-berries, or the Oyl of Polypody of the Oak mixt with Turpentine: Or the well-scowred Garden-worm, is an excellent Bait: The Salmon bites best in May, June, and July, at three a Clock in the Afternoon, if the Water be clear, a little Wind stirring, especially near the Sea.
The Tench, is a great lover of large Red Worms, first dipt in Tar. As also all sorts of Paste, made up with strong scented Oyls, or Tar, or a Paste made up of Brown Bread, and Honey. He will bite too at a Cad-worm, Lob-worm, Flag-worm, green Gentle, Cadbait, Marsh-worm, or soft boil’d Bread-grain.
The Torcoth, being before mentioned, I only let you know, that he is only found, in the Pool Linperis in Carnarvan-shire; and leave you to the Welch-mens description, both of him and his Bait.
The Trout, is fattest, and in his prime in May, and is caught with all sorts of Worms, especially Brandlings, commonly found in an Old Dung-hill, Cow-dung, Hors-dung, or Tanners-bark: Also with Flies, Natural and Artificial, with young Frogs, Menow, Marsh, Dock or Flag-worms; all sorts of Cad-bait, Dors, Bobs, Palmers, Gentles, Wasps, Hornets, &c. and with the Catterpiller, used according to the Rule before prescribed for the Grayling.
Lastly, The Umber, endeth our Alphabet, and Discourse of Fishing too, and gives me occasion to add no more, but that he is taken as the Trout, just now mentioned; And therefore now to your Sport: To assist your well effecting which, I have but this to add; Cast into your Haunts where you use to Fish, once in four or five dayes, soft boyled Corn (or oftner for Carp, and Tench) Also Garbage, Beasts Livers, chopt Worms, Grains steept in Blood, to attract them to the place; and to keep them together, throw in half a handfull of Grains of ground Malt: But in a stream, cast it above your Hook, that floating towards you may draw the Fish thither.
Before I conclude, I was afraid this discourse would have been imperfect, had not something been spoken of Fish-ponds, their Ordering, and Improving, that the private Gentleman may not be destitute of some appropriated place to himself, wherein he may Recreate himself in this excellent Pastime; great Rivers belonging either to the King, or to Lords of Mannours, whose Authorities and Jurisdictions must be kept inviolate, and excludes our Intrusion there.
Of Fish-ponds.
When you have a desire to dig a Fish-pond, coveting the several Advantages that do thence accrue to you, you must first of all consult, what Grounds are most fit and proper to be cast into a Pond, viz, Those which are Marrishy; or Boggy; or full of Springs, unfit for Grazing, or to be put to any profitable use besides. Of these the last, full of springs, will yield the best Water; that which is Marshy will feed Fish; and that which is Boggy is best for a Defence against Thieves.
Thus being furnished with a piece of Wast Ground, I now mentioned, let us now to work; And first draw by small Trenches all the Springs or moist Veines into one place, and so drain the rest of the Ground; then mark out the Head of your Pond, and make it the highest part of the ground in the Eye, tho it be the lowest in the true Level: Cut the Trench of your Floodgate so, that when the VVater is let out, it may have a swift Fall: On each side of which Trench drive in great Stakes of Oak, Ash or (which is best) Elme, six foot long, and six Inches square; place these in Rowes four foot distance one from another, as broad and wide from the Floodgate as you intend the Head of your Pond shall go: Now give us the Spade Tom, and fetch us the Pick-ax Jack, and to digging of our Pond; Dig it as big and large a Compass as the Ground will permit, throw your Earth amongst the said stakes, and ram it between them, hard and firm, till you have covered the stakes: Drive in as many new ones more besides the heads of the first stakes, and ram more Earth above them too: Do thus with stakes above stakes till the head-sides be of a convenient Height: Taking care, that the inside of your Banks be smooth, even, hard and strong, that you may not fear the wearing of the Earth off the stakes by any Current of the Water.