form a ready and a correct judgment ; whereby many an 

 hour of fatigue, and of vexatious disappointment, may be 

 avoided. 



It is true, I have been somewhat prolix, and perhaps 

 occasionally a little digressive, in treating of various iva~ 

 tcrs ; but it is a branch of the art which has been too 

 much neglected by authors, and is not sufficiently attend- 

 ed to even by many old anglers : much less by those who 

 snap at the liberty of a day, or of a few hours only, to in- 

 dulge in this recreation. I feel a confidence in the necessity 

 of what I have detailed : I have reduced the laborious 

 researches of years, comparatively to a nutshell, and thus 

 have tendered to the young angler the means of dis- 

 tinguishing, with a proper degree of readiness, and with 

 certainty, when and where he will be most likely to find 

 abundance of fishes. 



Nevertheless, in spite of all the instruction that can be 

 given, there will be found in almost every county some 

 peculiarities, which are easily learnt ; it requiring only 

 that certain kind of ready, compliant accommodation, 

 which every good angler carries with him, to adopt such 

 variations with success. 



Wlien we have once been thoroughly grounded in the 

 rudiments of a science, the application of each matter 

 relating thereto appears simple, and is familiarly treated. 

 I flatter myself my readers will admit, that in this com- 

 pendium thal\ object is fully attained. 



Of Ground- Baits. 



These are employed for the puqx>se of attracting fishes 

 to any particular spot, where the angler intends to try for 

 sport; or they are occasionally used during floods, &c. by 



grme- 



