INrRODUCriON 



teacher of angling, be he practical or philosophi- 

 cal, gets closer to his readers than an author of a 

 book on any other subject. He communes with 

 them ! He is looked upon, not only as a Mentor, 

 but as a delightful companion and friend. 



We cannot wonder at this result, for there is 

 something subtle in the charm of a good book on 

 angling, the influence of which is felt by all who 

 read it, although some there be who never handled 

 a rod or lured a fin. No man can creel a trout 

 on a mountain stream without feeling the ele- 

 vating influence of his environment ; for winsome 

 nature is, all the while, at his heart's door with 

 such a gentle and persistent knocking that the 

 best part of him is opened to her for all the days 

 of his summer outing, and even after that is ended, 

 he comes back to bricks and mortar a better man, 

 with broader sympathies for his fellows. If he 

 chances at such a time to write a book, not a line 

 in it will be callous in its humanity, and its covers 

 will brim with faith, hope, and charity for all 

 men. • 



These somewhat desultory notes are suggested 

 by the sumptuous volume now before me, — 

 " Forest, Lake, and River." Certainly none such 

 has ever been given to the Craft, and, as I look 

 upon the gorgeous, but chastely artistic beauty of 



xxiv 



