THE 



BOOK. 



THE followers of Old Izaak Walton are thought by 

 many to be insignificant characters, and they are 

 subject to all sorts of jeers and insulting remarks; 

 but those who smile at them and ridicule their amuse- 

 ment, cannot conceive half the pleasure attendant 

 upon Angling, for, as Walton says, " A man must 

 be born an Angler to thoroughly enjoy the Art/' 



It will be understood that I belong to that class in 

 society who have not many days to spare, generally 

 speaking, from business. Those situated as above are 

 in the habit of communicating in the course of the 

 week, and forming parties of three or four to meet on 

 the Saturday evening, or early on Sunday morning, at 

 a given time and spot, and so punctual have I known 

 these appointments kept, that a party consisting of 

 four have, notwithstanding they had to come a 

 distance of, in some instances, two or three miles in 



