THE 



VADE-MECUM OF FLY-FISHING, 



&c. fcc. 



CHAPTER I. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



" My good scholar, we may say of angling as Dr. Boteler 

 said of strawberries, ' Doubtless God could have made a 

 better berry, but doubtless God never did ;' and so, if I 

 might be judge, God never did make a more calm, quiet, 

 innocent recreation than angling." IZAAC WALTON. 



GLORIOUS old Izaac ! What delightful thoughts 

 what poetical imaginings the bare mention 

 of thy name evokes I They come fresh and un- 

 contaminated from the pure fountains of nature 

 as if haloed with cowslip garlands, bespangled 

 with the blue-bell and the water-lily stealing 

 along amid the murmur of the summer stream, 

 the hum of insects, and the song of birds ! 

 B 



