246 ANGLERS' EVENINGS. 



each countiy tliose books which are printed in the 

 language of that country. Observe how pre-eminently 

 Britain is proved to be the country of angling ! France 

 has only one-tenth of the number of books which we 

 possess upon the subject of angling proper. Germany 

 has only one-sixth; America has only, up to the present 

 date, produced twelve works upon angling proper, though 

 it must be admitted she has done much in improving the 

 methods for the artificial propagation of the best breeds 

 of fish, if not much to improve the modes of fishing ; as 

 to the Greek and Latin nations, whether ancient or 

 modern, their list of such works does not exceed 

 one-twentieth of our number. Besides angling works 

 proper, Great Britain can boast of poetical works, and 

 works upon the Natural History of fish, more numerous 

 than those of all other nations added together. 



When we examine these various works as to the value 

 of the information given, and also as to the date at which 

 each country displayed a knowledge of the gentle art, 

 another striking fact presents itself. Although the ancient 

 Greek and Latin writers (owing to the circumstance that 

 they flourished, as well as perished, long before our rise) 

 have given the earliest evidences of a knowledge of 

 angling, still no nation of modern times has given so early 

 a proof as Britain of the advance in civilization which is 

 indicated by an acquaintance with " Ye fyssynge wyth an 

 Angle." 



Proceeding, as far as possible, chronologically, I will 

 begin with the earliest mention of angling in the works 

 of profane writers. liomer, who is supposed to have 



