" The natural and acquired skill actually necessary before any 

 man can throw a ' neat fly,' is only known to those who have 

 made this method of angling their study and amusement." 

 " Frank Forester." 



tl Luck has little to do with the size of an angling score ; for skill 

 in handling, a knowledge of the haunts of the fish, of the condi- 

 tions of wind, weather and water, character of baits to be used, 

 of the changes and drift of tideways, sun-rays and shadows, and a 

 familiar acquaintance with the natural history of the family pisces, 

 their habits, habitat, and idiosyncrasies (for no other animal is so 

 erratic as these scaly fins), all go to make up the complete angler, 

 known as such from the days and writings of Izaak Walton, in 

 the seventeenth, up to this great nineteenth century." Wm. C. 

 Harris. 



" What is the use of my telling you what manoeuvres that 

 trout will perform before he comes to the landing-net, gently as a 

 lamb ? I don't know what he will do ; never saw two of them 

 act alike." Oliver Gills, Jr. 



" Probably the secret of the infatuation of this amusement to 

 most or many of the brothers of the angle, is to be found in the 

 close and quiet communion and sympathy with nature essential 

 to the pursuit of the spoil of the water." John Lyle King. 



" The principle of the rod is in reality only this, that it is the 

 home end of the line, stiffened and made springy, so that you 

 can guide and manage it cast and draw it, keep a gentle press- 

 ure with it on the hook, so that the fish shall not rid himself of 

 it, and finally lift him to the landing net." W. C. Prime- 



"The Palmer hackle is never totally out of season." Alfred 

 Ronalds. 



"Hold him tight, O'Shaughnessy ; you are the greatest hook 

 ever invented." Thaddeus Morris. 



