Systema agriculturæ, the mystery of husbandry discovered treating of the several new and most advantagious ways of tilling, planting, sowing, manuring, ordering, improving of all sorts of gardens, orchards, meadows, pastures, corn-lands, woods & coppices, as also of fruits, corn, grain, pulse, new-hays, cattle, fowl, beasts, bees, silk-worms, &c. : with an account of the several instruments and engines used in this profession : to which is added Kalendarium rusticum, or, The husbandmans monthly directions, also the prognosticks of dearth, scarcity, plenty, sickness, heat, cold, frost, snow, winds, rain, hail, thunder, &c. and Dictionarium rusticum, or, The interpretation of rustick terms, the whole work being of great use and advantage to all that delight in that most noble practice.

SECT. II. Of Angling.

There is not any exercise more pleasing nor agreeable to a truly sober and ingenious man, than this of Angling; a moderate, in∣nocent, salubrious, and delightful exercise: It wearieth not a man over-much, unless the waters lie remote from his home: it inju∣reth no man, so that it be in an open large water; he being e∣steemed a Beast rather than a man that will oppose this exer∣cise: neither doth it any wise debauch him that useth it: The delight also of it, rouzes up the Ingenious early in the Spring-mornings, that they have the benefit of the sweet and pleasant Morning-air, which many through sluggishness enjoy not; so that health (the greatest Treasure Mortals enjoy) and pleasure go hand in hand in this exercise. What can more be said of it, than that the most Ingenious most use it?

When you have any leisure days or hours from your ordina∣ry Profession or imployment, you cannot better spend them than in this Innocent Exercise; wherein observe that your Apparel be not of any bright or frightning colour, lest that drive the Fish out of your reach, or make them timorous.

That you bait the place you intend to Angle in, with such things the Fish you aim at generally affect, for several days be∣fore you Angle, if it be a standing or quiet water; but if a swift stream, there is no great need of any; but if you do, let it be but a few hours before, or just at your Angling-time, and that above your Hook.

The best time to provide Rods and Stocks is in December or January, before the rising of the Sap; when gathered, dry them by degrees, in a smoaky place is best; they are better to use at sixteen moneths old than sooner. To preserve them, rub them over with Linseed-oyl, or Sweet-butter never salted, twice or thrice a year: If your Stock be hollow, fill the bore with Oyl, and let it stand twenty four hours, and then pour it out again; this will preserve it from injury.

If the top of your Rod be brittle or decayed, you may whip on a piece of Whalebone made round and taper, which will be better than the natural top.

In making your Lines observe, that for most sorts of Fish the Hair-line is the best, because it is not so apt to snarl as other Lines, and will yield to the streining of the Fish very much before it will break; which is a very great advantage in the ta∣king of a stubborn Fish. Let the hair be round you make your Line withal, and as near as you can of a size: Also you may co∣lour your hair of a sorrel, grey, or green colour; but then they are a little weakned by the colouring.

It is good to provide your self with all sorts of Hooks; the smallest to take the smaller Fish withal, and the greater the greater

Fish. Also with hooks peculiar for the Jack or Pike, and hooks to lay for Eels.

Your Flotes may be made of Quills, or of Cork and Quills, which are the best, and least offensive. Let your Plummet where∣with you sound the depth of the water be of Lead, about the weight of a Musket-bullet; which is very convenient to know the depth of the water by.

According to the nature of the Fish, so you must provide your self with baits. Herein observe, that if you open the first Fishes Maw that you take, you may see what that Fish most de∣lights in for that season. If you use Pasts for baits, you must add Flax or Wooll, to keep the Paste from washing off the hook. The Eyes of the Fish you take are good baits for many sorts of Fish; for the Trout, flies and Palmer-worms made Artifici∣ally, are the best baits in clear water, the season being observed wherein each of them is to be used: Any baits anointed with Gum of Ivy dissolved in Oyl of Spike, or with the Oyl of Ivy-berries, or the Oyl of Polypodie of the Oak mixed with Turpentine, will be great inticements to Fish to bite.

It is best fishing in a River a little disturbed with Rain, or in Cloudy weather; the South-winde is the best, the West indiffe∣rent, the East the worst: but if the weather be warm, and the Sky Cloudy, they will bite in any winde. Keep your self as far from the Water-side as you can, and fish down the stream. In a swift stream where the bottom is hard, and not too deep, if you go into the middle of it and cast your Fly up against the stream, the Trout that lies upon the Fin in such strong Currents, and discerns you not, being behinde him, presently takes your bait.

In March, April and September, and all the Winter-moneths, it is best fishing in a clear, serene, and warm day; but in the Summer-time, in the mornings, evenings, and coolest Cloudy weather.

After a clear Moon-shiny night, if the day succeeding prove Cloudy, is a very good time for Angling: for it is the nature of most Fish to be fearful to stir in bright nights; and so being hungry, if the weather in the morning prove Cloudy, they will bite eagerly.

To the intent that you may not labour in vain, I shall give you a hint of such times that Fish delight not in biting; though some that have more than ordinary skill, may possibly take a few at any time.

In the extremity of heat, when the Earth is parch'd with Drought, there is little sport to be obtained; nor in frosty wea∣ther, the Air being clear, unless in the Evening; nor in high winds; nor in sharp North or East-winds; nor immediately af∣ter Spawning-time, their hunger being abated, and the Fish not worth taking: Nor yet after a dark night, for then the greater Fish have been abroad, and satiated themselves; but the little Fish will then bite best, having absconded themselves all night for fear of the greater.

The greatest Fish bite best in the night, being fearful to stir in the day: Therefore that is the best season to Angle for them.

Notes

• Observations in Angling.
• No bright Ap∣parel.
• Bait the stream or place.
• Provide good Rods.
• The Line.
• The Hook.
• The Flote and Plummet.
• Baits.
• Seasons for Angling.
• Seasons not to Angle in.