244 ANGLERS' EVENINGS. 



phical preface with a list of angling works, including in 

 all three hundred. In 1856 Mr. Russell Smith, the well- 

 known bookseller, gave us the then most complete list of 

 British and American works on angling. It enumerated 

 264, exclusive of those relating to natural history. The 

 next catalogue of fishing literature was compiled by Mr. 

 T. Westwood, whose charming work upon Walton and 

 his editions ought to be read by everyone. This catalogue 

 was published in 1861 by the Field, and, up to the year 

 1874, was the most complete of its kind, enumerating a 

 much larger number of angling and kindred works than 

 could be found in any previous list, Mr. Westwood laid 

 the literature of all lands under contribution, and we 

 have placed fairly before us, the indices of national 

 character as it may be gathered from the character of the 

 sports of the people. In this list are found works in 

 many languages ; Norway, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, 

 Holland, Italy, America, France, Germany, and Great 

 Britain all come before us in the interesting position of 

 contributors to the literature of the gentle art. The order 

 in which they stand in relation to the work done is that 

 in which I have enumerated them. Thus, Norway is 

 the lowest with one work, while Germany stands out 

 prominently with eighty-eight works. America^ which 

 both Blakey in 1856, and Westwood in 1861 included in 

 their catalogues, only contributed to this literature 

 fourteen works. When we consider how many years 

 have passed since the Independence Day of the 

 Americans first dawned upon them, we English people 

 cannot but feel pleased to infer that all their ideas 



