The North Country Angler. 2 1 



tool, like a fork, with which, when my hook has 

 been entangled in a tree, by thrusting the fork 

 against the twig or branch, and turning it round, 

 I could break off any small branch, and recover 

 my hook along with it. And when this fork 

 would not do, I had a hook sharp in the inside 

 of the bend, to cut off a small branch, root or 

 weed. These I carried in a pocket of my apron, 

 with a neat penknife, and a small pair of scissars, 

 with large rounds to put my thumb and finger into. 

 And I had another, a mischievous thing, to screw 

 into my pole, like the point of a tuck or small 

 sword, about five inches long, with which I have, 

 sometimes, punished a noisy troublesome cur, 

 either when riding or walking. 



This last, you will find, a most excellent in- 

 strument to keep off those rascally poachers called 

 game-keepers, who, sometimes, threaten to break 

 your rod. 



CHAP. VII. 

 Of the Bag and Creel. 



JL WOULD have my angler distinguished, and 

 known by having all his accoutrements neat 

 and convenient. I do not like to see an angler 

 with a piece of a stocking, or an old night-cap 

 dangling at a button, with his moss and worms 

 in it. It is far better to have something like a 



