Pickering's Magnum Opus. 219 



the fish." I confess I do not agree with 

 the estimate of this edition formed by 

 Mr. Westwood. He does not care for 

 Stothard's illustrations, calls them un- 

 worthy of the book and of the artist, but 

 admits that Inskipp's fish, "with some 

 exceptions," display all the force and 

 freshness of nature. I think that if you 

 want Walton with editorial annotation 

 developed to its utmost limits, with scenic 

 and other illustrations to match, you must 

 have this third edition of Pickering. 



Among the American reprints of Wal- 

 ton, that of Dr. Bethune, first published 

 in 1847, is f ar an ^ away the best. The 

 Chronicle pays it this high compliment 

 " For the lover of angling books, and for 

 the collector especially, there is no edition 

 so useful as this " ; and quotes the following 

 reference to it in Mr. J. Wynne's Private 

 Libraries of New York : 



" During the darker seasons of the year, 

 when forbidden the actual use of his rod, 

 our friend has occupied himself with 

 excursions through sale catalogues, fishing 

 out from their dingy pages whatever tends 

 to honour his favourite author and 

 favourite art, so that his spoils now 

 number nearly five hundred volumes of 

 all sizes and dates. Pains have been 

 taken to have, not only copies of the 



