CHAPTER III 



WALTON AS AN ANGLER 



" O come, and rich in intellectual wealth, 

 Blend thought with exercise, with knowledge, health ; 

 Long, in this sheltered scene of lettered talk. 

 With sober step repeat the pensive walk ; 

 Nor scorn, when graver triflings fail to please. 

 The cheap amusements of a mind at ease, 

 Here every care in sweet oblivion cast, 

 And many an idle hour — not idly passed." 



Samuel Rogers (An Epistle to a Friend). 



" He that wonders shall reign." — Gospel According to the 

 Hebrews, quoted by Clem. Alex., Strom, ii. 9, 45. 



When residing in London, Walton must often 

 have left " City noise " for the purpose of fishing 

 in the rivers round it — the River Lea in particular. 

 Although most, but not all, of Walton's biographers 

 think it very improbable that he ever himself 

 used a reel, and although the Thames and other 

 southern rivers drew good store of sea-fish, they 

 nearly all think that most of his information on 

 salmon-fishing was derived from hearsay only.^ 



^ See Salmon and Sea Trout, by Sir H. Maxwell, Bart. Walton 

 informs us that though some of our northern countries have as fat 

 and as large salmon as the Thames, yet none are of so excelleut a 

 taste. 



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