A booke of fishing with hooke & line, and of all other instruments thereunto belonging. Another of sundrie engines and trappes to take polcats, buzards, rattes, mice and all other kindes of vermine & beasts whatsoeuer, most profitable for all warriners, and such as delight in this kinde of sport and pastime. Made by L.M.

The Otter.

They take the Otter or water Wolfe, in a wele made and deuised for the nonce, as shall be shewed in his place, which wele is not made in all points like vnto other weles, where he will eate the fish and come foorth againe safe be∣fore he be drowned. Therefore there is inuented among the fisher men, a wele for to take him made with a double teme or tonuell, and against the vtmost teme within is set an yeirne like a gredyeirne with foure hooles staying and sliding vpon two round stickes, which must be set vpright in the wele before the teme, to holde vp the yeirne: which two stickes must be fast bound to the wele, both aboue and beneath, then must ye haue a good stiffe rod, the one ende shall be set ouer the wele to hold vp the gredyeirne or grate, and the other ende of the rodde, must reach ouer the inner teme, and a small oziar tied at that end of the rodde, which

small Oziar must be made with a round knot, and so put downe vpon the ende of the nethermost Oziar in the midst of the inner teme, but a very litle way put on that when the Otter is within the first teme, he comes to the second where the fish is, and there he puts off the Oziar, and the rodde flirtes vp, and the gredyerne falles and stoppes the vtmost teme where he came in, and as soone as he heares it fall, he will turne backe, without touching any fish, gnawing at the gredyerne where hee came in, and so is drowned.

And when ye haue a wele of fish robbed with the Ot∣ter, or your layer, of weles with fish spoyled and robbed with the Otter, there lay your Otter Wele, well bayted with fish, and so ye shall soone take him. Which Otter Wele must be made of good round Ozyars of the Hasell rodde or gore rodde, for those are the best. These Otter Weles are made at Twyford, by sides Reading. There be two of the Gootheriches which liues much by making of such, and other weles. Also the Otter wele is made at Dorney, by Windsor, of one called Twiner. If your O∣tter wele be olde, and not strong, and if the Otter chaunce to breake it and scape, ye shall hardly take him of a long time after, for he is very subtill to be caught againe in such a wele. There be that hath prouided many wayes ere they could take him. Thus much heere for the setting of the Otter Wele, and here shall follow the saide Otter Wele, with his proportion how to be made and set, the more ca∣sier to make them where as they haue not béene séene be∣fore. To knowe if an Otter do haunt riuer or ponde, you must watch the waters in the night, then shall you heare him plunging and chasing the fish all night by ests and bankes ••••des, so watch or else your fish may be kilde and you know not how nor when.