INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 7 



Fresh-water fishing especially is its subject. Lakes, 

 estuaries, rivers, brooks, its scene ; and the Salmon, in all 

 its varieties, the Pike, the Bass, and the Perch, the fish 

 with which it will principally deal. All Game Fish will, 

 however, find a place in its pages ; all those, I mean, which 

 can be, and usually are, taken with the rod and reel ; nor 

 will a few pages be denied to deep-sea fishing ; and to the 

 consideration of some of the finny tribe which visit our 

 rivers and shores, and which, from various causes, such as 

 pecuharity of habit, singularity of structure, excellence on 

 the table, or the like, may appear worthy of a passing 

 notice, although not coming strictly within the sportsman's 

 category of Game Fishes. 



All the modes of rod-fishing will be treated of in their 

 places ; but fly-fishing, spinning with the live, and trolling 

 with the dead, bait, more especially will be discussed ; as, 

 for my own part, I regard these as the only true and 

 sportsmanlike modes of operation. Bottom-fishing, ground- 

 baiting with the float and sinker, and the like, are doubt- 

 less all very well in their way ; and will perhaps, in many 

 instances, even with Sporting Fishes, be found the most 

 killing, as they are clearly the easiest methods ; while, 

 with other varieties, they are the only modes that can be 

 adopted; still they are to fly-fishing, or spinning the 

 minnow, what shooting sitting is to shooting on the wing ; 

 and the fisher who is proud of lugging out of their native 



