9O Lawson not Properly Appreciated. 



from roots, and he will tire himself. This 

 is the chief pleasure of angling. This flie 

 and two linkes among wood, or close by 

 a bush, moved in the crust of the water, 

 is deadly in an evening, if you come close. 

 This is called bushing for trouts." 



When this description of fly-fishing for 

 trout with the May-fly was first published 

 is doubtful. The only edition of the 

 Secrets with Lawson's notes which I 

 possess is that of Sir Henry Ellis, i8n, 

 reprinted from the edition of 1652 (Wal- 

 ton's first edition appeared next year); 

 but there was a previous edition in 1630, 

 and one before that, "circa 1620," accord- 

 ing to the Bibliotheca Piscatoria. At any 

 rate to Lawson belongs the credit of the 

 best description of fly-fishing for trout 

 previous to Barker, Walton, and Cotton. 



Of " divers wayes to catch the wrinkling 

 eele," he gives very practical directions ; 

 in fact, I think Lawson is much more 

 deserving of a place in that Valhalla of 

 angling writers the Bibliotheca Piscatoria 

 than some who figure therein. It will be 

 seen by the following extract that he got 

 in, as it were, only by the skin of his 

 teeth : 



" Lawson (William). A new Orchard 

 and Garden, etc. London, 1617-8, 1626,. 

 etc., 4to. 



