THE WORD ANGLING. 3 



the subject, in the same way as all must be delighted 

 with the excellent imitation of it by Sir H. Davy in 

 his Salmonia; and still more with the spirited and highly 

 poetical articles on fishing in Blackwood's Magazine, 

 the striking originality, and peculiar raciness of which 

 evidently bring them home to Professor Wilson, well 

 known to be one of the best and most enthusiastic 

 anglers in the North. 



ARRANGEMENT OF THE SUBJECT. 



As the chief knowledge required by a skilful angler, 

 is the thorough acquaintance with the food and habits 

 of the fish he wishes to catch, I think I cannot better 

 commence my instructions to beginners, than by an 

 account of these circumstances, upon which they must 

 found all the skill they may subsequently acquire. I 

 might indeed have begun with a description of rods, 

 lines, hooks, and baits the instruments of the angler's 

 art, but as these have all been gradually invented, and 

 brought to perfection, wholly by observing the food 

 and habits of fishes, it is undoubtedly the best and 

 most scientific way to begin with this fundamental 

 knowledge. 



When these preliminary steps have been got over, 

 and I request the beginner's attention to them, before 

 proceeding farther, I have, in what follows, been in 

 some measure guided by the consideration, that local 

 circumstances must frequently limit the sport of the 

 most ardent angler, to the waters within his reach. 



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