INTRODUCTION. 5 



fure, as their own Safety, they would never 

 be able, in fo fmail a Compafs of Water, to 

 avoid the numberlefs Snares and Engines that 

 are every where planted, in order to furprife 

 them. Batofthefe Engines, which are moftof 

 them unfair, and highly prejudicial to the 

 Gentleman Angler, ilhall take no other No- 

 tice than to condemn the Ufe of them, and 

 proceed to the Confideration of the Art of 

 Angling, which is the Subject of this Trea- 

 tife. 



SEC T. IL 



jin Encovutitft on the Art of Angling, 



I Call Angling an yfr/, and an Art it is 

 worthy a wife Man's learning. It is, 

 faid an excellent Angler, fomewhat like Poe- 

 try • Men niuft be born with Inclinations to 

 it ; tho* both may be improved by Conver- 

 fation and Pradice. He that experts to be a 

 good Angler, fhould not onlypofTefsa pene- 

 trating Wit, but a large Meafure of Hope 

 and Patience, and a Propenfity to the Art it- 

 felf: But having once acquired and pradlifed 

 it. Angling will then prove fo pleafant, that, 

 like Virtue, it will be a Reward to itfelf. 



Some fay that Angling is as antient as Deu- 

 calion's Flood : Others that5^/«;, who was the 

 firft Inventor of virtuous Recreations, was alfo 

 the firft Angler ; and others again, that Setb^ 

 one of the Sons of^^^;;2,taughtit tohisChildren, 

 B 3 and 



