The angler's vade mecum, or, A compendious, yet full, discourse of angling discovering the aptest methods and ways ... for the catching all manner of fresh-water fish ... : together with a brief discourse of fish ponds, and not only the easiest but most palatable ways of dressing all sorts of fish ... / by a lover of angling.

CHAP. VI. Oyntments to Alure Fish to the Bait.

NEXT follow Oyntments and Receipts, which I have read and been informed of, by several knowing Anglers, for the better furtherance of this Sport, some whereof I have Experienced, and tho I found them advanta∣gious to my Recreation, yet far from so high a degree as has been pretended to me; never∣theless I shall present you with them, and if you'l be at the expence and labour of a Tryal, you may Elect those for your daily use, which on your own Experience you find to be the best, and the first shall be one highly comend∣ed by Monsieur Charras (Operator and Apo∣thecary Royal to the present French King, Lewis the 14.) in his Pharmacopoeia, printed at London, part the second, f. 245.

1. Take Mans Fat and Cats Fat, of each half an Ounce, Mummy finely poudred three Drams, Cummin-seed finely poudered, one Dram, distilled Oyl of Annise and Spike, of each six Drops, Civet two Grains, and Cam∣phir 4 Grains, make an Oyntment according ••o Art, and when you Angle, anoint 8 Inches of the Line next the Hook therewith, and keep

it in a pewter Box, made something taper, and when you use this Oyntment, never Angle with less than three Hairs next Hook, because if you Angle but with one hair, it will not stick on.

2. Take Gum Ivy, and put thereof a good quantity into a Box made of Oak (such as A∣pothecaries use of White-wood, and long for Pills) and chase and rub the inside of the box with this Gum, and when you Angle put three or four Worms therein, letting them remain but a short time (for if long it kills them) and then take them out and Fish with them, put∣ting more in their stead out of the worm-bag and Moss, and thus do all day.

3. To get Gum-Ivy, at Michaelmas or Spring, drive several great Nails into large Ivy stalks, and wriggle the same till they become very loose, and let them remain, and a Gum will issue thereout. Slit in the Spring and at Michaelmas several great Ivy stalks, and visit them once a Month to see if Gum flow from the wounded part.

4. Take Assa-faetida, half an ounce, Cam∣phir two Drams, bray them well together with some drops of Oyl Olive, and put it in a pew∣ter Box, and use it as the first Receipt of this Chapter; some instead of Oyl Olive, use the Chymical Oyl of Lavender and Camomil, and so ne add the quantity of a Nutmeg of Venice Turpentine to it.

5. Take Venice Turpentine and best Hive

Honey, and Oyl of Polypody of the Oak drawn by Retort, mix all together, and use it as the first Receipt of this Chapter.

6. Take Oyl of Ivy-berries, made by ex∣pression or infusion, and put some in a Box, and use it as is directed in the second Receipt of this Chapter.

7. Dissolve Gum Ivy in the Oyl of Spike, and anoint the bait therewith.

8. Put Camphir into the Moss, wherein are the Worms the day you Angle.

9. Dissolve two ounces of Gum Ivy, in a gill of Spring water, then mix these together in the like quantity of the Oyl of Sweet Almonds, then take what quantity of Worms you intend to use that day (first well scoured in Moss) and put them in linnen Thrums, first well washed in Spring water, and squeez'd, then wet the same Thrums in this Composition, and put the Thrums and Worms into a Linnen bag, and use them.

10. Take Assa faetida 3 Drams, Spikenard of Spain one Dram, put them in a Pint of Spring-water, let them stand in a shady place 14 days in the ground, then take it out, and strain it through a linnen cloth, and put to the liquor one Dram of Sperma Cati, and keep it close in a strong glass Bottle, and when you go to Angle take what quantity you intend to use that day of Worms (first well scowrd in Moss) and put them upon a pewter Sawcer, and powr a little of this water upon them, then put them

in the Moss again and use them.

11. Take Juyce of Camomil half a spoonful, Chymical Oyl of Spike one Dram, and Oyl of Comfrey by Infusion, one Dram and an half, Goose Grease two Drams, these being well dis∣solved over the Fire, let stand until cold, then put it into a strong Glass Bottle, which let be unstopt 3 or 4 days, then stop it very well; when you Angle anoint the same there∣with.

12. Take a handful of Housleek, half a handful of inner green bark of the Ivy stalk, pound these well together, and press the Juyce thereout, and wet your Moss therewith, and when you Angle put 6 or 8 Worms therein, out of the other Worm-bag, and when spent by fish∣ing, do the like.

13. Some use the Juyce of Netles and Housleek, as the last, and some only the Juyce of Housleek.

14. Some anoint their bait with the Marrow got out of a Herons Thigh-bone.

15. Take the Bones or Scull of a Dead-man, at the opening of a Grave, and beat the same into pouder, and put of this pouder in the Moss wherein you keep your Worms, but others like Grave Earth as well.