Lest whiles it hangs the liquid waves among
The sight thereof, the wary fish should fear:
And at one end a loop or compass fine,
To fasten to the other of your line.
Cork.
Then take good cork, so much as shall suffice,
For every line to make his swimmer fit; [9.P.192]*
And where the midst and thickest parts doth rise,
There burn a round small hole quite through it;
And put therein a quill of equal size,
But take good heed the cork you do not slit;
Then round or square with razor pare it near
Pyramidwise, or like a slender pear.
The smaller end doth serve to sink more light
Into the water with the plummet's sway;
The greater swims aloft and stands upright,
To keep the line and bait at even stay;
That when the fish begin to nib and bite,
The moving of the float doth them bewray:
These may you place upon your lines at will,
And stop them with a white and handsome quill.
Hooks.
<poem> Then buy your hooks the finest and the best That may be had of such as use to sell, [10.p.192]* And from the greatest to the very least Of every sort pick out and choose them well; Such as in shape and making pass the rest, And do for strength and soundness most excel:
Then in a little box of driest wood From rust and canker keep them fair and good.
- <poem>
