OPINIONS OF THE PRES 



"The ' Modern Practical Angler' is the latest, though let us hope not the last, of Mr. 

 Cholmondeley-Penneli's contributions to our angling literature. The purpose of the work 

 is twofold : first, to suppl}' the demand which exists for some general and complete angling 

 manual, bringing the subject up to the mark of modern art ; and secondly, to introduce 

 the author's views on the subject of fly-fishing, which not only differ vvidely from hitherto 

 received canons, but, if accepted, will practically revolutionise, in the direction of 

 simplifying, the whole system both of making and using artificial flies. Our readers will 

 hardly need our assurance that the first object has been thoroughly and ably fulfilled. 

 .... In regard to the second portion of the book, which relates to fly-fishing, the result 

 of Mr. Pennell's teaching is ' the substitution of six typical flies — three for salmon and 

 grilse, and three for trout, grayling, &c. — for the whole of the artificial flies now used.' 

 This is indeed a ' revolutionary measure,' and one in which every fly-fisher is directly and 

 personally interested ; for who would not be glad to dispense if he could, once and for all, 

 with the cumbrous assortment of furs, silks, and feathers with which the orthodox 

 practice now loads his tackle-box, and the thousand-and-one patterns of flies enjoined by 

 Tackle-makers and angling writers as necessary for each variety offish, river, and season? 

 To the disciples of Mr. Pennell's school this will be all changed. His three typical trout- 

 flies, which are new both in principle and construction, can be made, he assures us, by the 

 merest tyro ; and both these and the salmon-flies— dressed, of course, of different sizes — 

 will readily stow away, with the materials for making them, in the compass of an ordi- 

 nary bait-box. The 'glorious uncertainty' as to 'which is the right fly,' and the loss of 

 precious time in experimental changes, are also obviated under Mr. Pennell's system, 

 which we look forward with great interest to testing by the river-side on the first opportu- 

 nity. The prospect seems almost too tempting to be realised ; but it cannot be denied 

 that the author's theories and conclusions are the legitimate deductions from an argument 

 logically and even severely worked out ; and we can hardly conceive that Mr. Pennell, 

 whose 'fame is on many waters,' would peril his reputation by putting forward in so 

 deliberate a manner theories which he had not himself thoroughly tested in practice. 



"Mr. Pennell is not only well known as a se7iior angler, but as one of the straightest 

 riders and straightest shots in England, and whatever he writes is well worthy of the 

 consideration of Sportsmen." — Baily's Magazine. 



"The book is adapted as a vade-7nenim to all classes of anglers." — Land and Water. 



" Mr. Pennell is so well and so favourably known as a fishing author, that anything which 

 comes from his pen is sure to deserve and secure serious consideration from an angler's 

 point of view. What Mr. Pennell's politics may be we do not know, but in matters 

 piscatorial he is undoubtedly an awful ladical : he insists on the most complete revolution 

 in all things, and he is a philosophical radical to boot, for he gives reasons for the faith 

 that is in him .... we have no doubt that this, the latest addition to angling literature, 

 will take a high place in the estimation of the public." — Field. 



" Written by an angler of long and varied experience, the ' Modern Practical Angler' 

 is certainly the best modern fishing guide that has come under our notice. The work is 

 full of practical information. " — Gentleman' s Magazine. 



"The book is clever and handsome, containing much that will interest old anglers and 

 instruct new ones, and also a little that will rouse some of those fierce yet pleasant 

 controversies to which votaries of ' the quiet art' are fully as prone as their brethren of 

 other sports, who do not deny being more noisy. Mr. Pennell has fished in many places, 

 in many ways, with many men ; he has an eye for natural scenery^ and a knowledge of 

 natural history ; and he has proved himself the possessor of an elegant and sprightly pen 

 both in prose and \Gr&&."— Scotsman. 



" We have no need to certificate the author's thorough knowledge of a sport which, as 

 he justly observes, is becoming every day more a matter of difficulty and of fine art 

 .... Mr. Pennell covers ably the whole field of angling pursuit. "—i?a//y Telegraph. 



