604 AMERICAN ANGLER'S BOOK. 



the " mode peculiar" of fishing for Striped Bass, or rather Rockfish, as 

 practised by adepts at Newport, Narragansett Bay, and other places 

 along our coast to the north would prove interesting. I have acted 

 on this hint, and availed myself of the kindness of an experienced 

 Bass-fisher to lay before the reader an article on that subject. 



That I have furnished so much additional matter on Salmon Rivers 

 is due chiefly to a somewhat caustic review of this book, which 

 appeared in the Montreal " Witness." The reviewer pointed out a 

 geographical error, which for want of proper oversight in publishing 

 some matter furnished by a friend, crept into the first edition. Also, 

 a seeming error of the same kind, which is due to my own carelessness. 

 It is quite natural that a member of the great Yankee family, who 

 are so often taunted by her Britannic Majesty's subjects with being 

 thin-skinned, should feel his " fur rubbed the wrong way," on being 

 reminded so pointedly of his errors, and told that his book contained 

 "less information and more gossip than the sportsman looks for;" 

 and so conclude that the critic, though he might know a good deal 

 about Salmon-fishing, was some "severe, sour-complexioned man," 

 with no bonhommie, and about as much sentiment or poetry in his 

 nature as there is in a peck of dried apples. But the ways of anglers 

 should be " ways of pleasantness," and their paths " paths of peace." 



" For what avails to brooke or lake to goe 



With handsome rods and hookes of every sort, 

 Well-twisted lines and many trinkets moe, 

 To find the fish within their watery fort, 

 If that the minde be not contented soe, 



But wants those gifts that should the rest support." 



I accordingly kept down my pugnacity, corrected my geography, 

 and, acting on the sensible hint of my critic, sought the latest infor- 

 mation concerning the Salmon rivers of Canada. To this end I 

 applied directly to him ; and the sequence has been, that he and a 

 friend, who is officially connected with the Canadian Fisheries, have 

 not only sent me a great deal of interesting printed matter, but he has 

 also given me instruction under his own hand, and written me friendly 



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