AND HOW TO CATCH HIM. 27 



it available ; and just as certainly might a man expect to become 

 an accomplished skater upon his first essay from a mere elementary 

 knowledge of principles by which that feat is accomplished, as to 

 angle successfully with no better materials than a scientific know- 

 ledge on the subject. Yet there are some, who without either prac- 

 tice in the art, or the slightest knowledge of the matter, who stand 

 so remarkably well with themselves, that with no other qualification 

 than a rig out in fishing tackle, which they have either purchased 

 or borrowed for the occasion, and which ten to one is ill-adapted 

 for their present purpose, are quite disconcerted at what they term 

 their " infernal ill luck," and still more astonished at the success 

 of their companions, though the latter have been anglers from 

 their youth upwards and thoroughly acquainted with every inch 

 of the river that may profitably be fished over. But it was in 

 honest Izaak's time, even as now ; for the scholar, though in 

 his general language modest and unassuming, yet when his own skill 

 proved unavailing, he in express terms attributed his want of for- 

 tune to the better rod and tackling of his master, who very justly 

 admonished him, that the reason of his failure was, that he had 

 not yet acquired the skill to carry his hand and line, or how to 

 guide it to the right place, and this must be taught him ; for that 

 he was to remember that angling was an art, either by practice 

 or by long observation, or by both. Such of my readers, therefore, 

 that as yet may be but tyros in angling, I would advise not to be 

 disconcerted with any ill success they may hitherto have met with. 

 " Ne cede mails sed contra audentior ito" is the angler's motto, 

 and he may rest assured, if he will but persevere diligently in the 

 pursuit, and earnestly seek for information on the subject, that in 

 the end his labours will meet their due reward. Neither let anyone 

 be cast down with the formidable requisites to a successful day's 

 fishing, which seem even to throw into the shade the nine knotty 

 points essential to the successful termination of a law-suit, and 

 which have been so frequently held out in terrorem to the litigious 

 aspirant to a verdict and damages ; for though the requisites in the 

 former instance are the more numerous of the two ; the whole of 

 them are not indispensible, and the skill and ability of a good 

 fisherman can generally achieve the rest. It may be right how- 

 ever before we proceed further, to point out what these requisites 

 are, in order that every one may see at the very first onset the 

 force and number of the enemy he has to contend with. They 



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