Izaak Walton. 189 



" fof you are to note," saith he, " that we anglers all love 

 one another." We at least all love Izaak Walton, " an 

 excellent angler and now with God." Reading the in- 

 genious defence of fishing by our author, " an honest 

 man and a most excellent fly-fisher," is not waste time 

 in these days of violent anti-vivisectionists, who have 

 seen poor hares chased down for sport all their lives, 

 and their Prince shoot pigeons from a trap without a 

 protest, but who affect to feel pity for a cat sacrificed 

 upon the holy altar of science. Miserable hypocrites, 

 who swallow so large a camel and strain at so very 

 small a gnat ! It shows what demoralization is brought 

 about in good people by rank and fashion ; one rule for 

 the Prince who disgraces himself by cruel sports, another 

 for the medical student who exalts himself working for 

 the good of his race. 



But to quaint Izaak's defence ; and first as to the fish 

 themselves. 



" Nay, the increase of these creatures that are bred 

 and fed in water is not only more and more miraculous, 

 but more advantageous to man, not only for the length- 

 ening of his life, but for the preventing of sickness ; for 

 'tis observed by the most learned physicians that the 

 casting off of Lent and other fish days hath doubtless 

 been the chief cause of those many putrid, shaking, in- 

 termitting agues into which this nation of ours is now 

 more subject than those wiser countries which feed on 

 herbs, salads, and plenty of fish. And it is fit to re- 



