6 BOOKS ON ANGLING. 



worthy of attention, in regard to their practical 

 information. Upon the subject of fly-fishing (al- 

 though it unfortunately gives no more than the 

 outline of bright ideas), the work which evinces 

 most thought and industry in its author, is Cap- 

 tain Williamson's "Vade Mecum," published in 

 1808. In another work, Ronalds' " Fly-fisher's 

 Entymology," the drawings and descriptions of flies, 

 natural and artificial, render it not only an acqui- 

 sition, but almost absolutely essential to an angler's 

 " armory :" and that author's observations on 

 the senses of fish, are, I think, well worth attention, 

 though I do not entirely subscribe to them, and 

 may have occasion to dispute their correctness in 

 some respects hereafter. 



With respect to the fly-fisher's outfit, let me 

 premise, that it is not prejudice which gives pre- 

 ference in my esteem to London-made tackle ; 

 but rather a strong conviction that it is much 

 more serviceable, better constructed, and of better 

 manufacture and materials, both to the eye and 

 hand, than any which can be procured from the 

 country or even from the sister countries : and for 

 one obvious reason, viz. that we have in this 

 immense metropolis, the emporium of the world, 

 the greatest command of capital ; which always 

 attracts to it the best artificers and materials ; 

 while the best sportsmen of all kinds (who, in 



