8 TO THE READER. 



but that many useful things might be learned by that book, but he was 

 laughed at because that art was not to be taught by words, but practice : and 

 so must Angling. And note also, that l in this Discourse I do not undertake 

 to say all that is known, or may be said of it, but I undertake to acquaint 

 the Reader with many things that are not usually known to every Angler ; 

 and I shall leave gleanings and observations enough to be made out of the 

 experience of all that love and practise this recreation, to which I shall 

 encourage them. For Angling may be said to be so like the Mathematics, 

 that it can never be fully learnt ; at least not so fully, but that there will 

 still be more new experiments left for the trial of other men that succeed 

 us. 



But I think all that love this game may here learn something that may 

 be worth their money, if they be not poor and needy men : and in case 

 they be, I then wish them to forbear to buy it ; for I write not to get money, 

 but for pleasure, and this Discourse boasts of no more, for I hate to promise 

 much, and deceive the Reader. 



And however it proves to him, yet I am sure I have found a high con- 

 tent in the search and conference of what is here offered to 2 the Reader's 

 view and censure. I wish him as much in the perusal of it, and so I might 

 here take my leave ; but will stay a little and tell him, that whereas it is 

 said by many, that in fly-fishing for a Trout, the Angler must observe his 

 twelve several flies for the twelve months of the year, I say, he that follows 

 that rule, shall be as sure to catch fish, and be as wise, as he that makes 

 hay by the fair days in an Almanac, and no surer; for those very flies 

 that used to appear about, and on, the water in one month of the year, 

 may the following year come almost a month sooner or later, as the same 

 year proves colder or hotter : and yet, in the following Discourse, I have 

 set down the twelve flies that are in reputation with many anglers ; and 

 they may serve to give him some observations 3 concerning them. And 

 he may note, that there are in Wales, and other countries, peculiar flies, 

 proper to the particular place or country ; and doubtless, unless a man 

 makes a fly to counterfeit that very fly in that place, he is like to lose his 

 labour, or much of it ; but for the generality, three or four flies neat and 

 rightly made, and not too big, serve for a Trout in most rivers, all the 

 summer : and for winter fly-fishing it is as useful as an Almanac out of 

 date. And of these, because as no man is born an artist, so no man is 

 born an Angler, I thought fit to give thee this notice. 



When I have told the reader, that in this fifth 4 impression there are 

 many enlargements, gathered both by my own observation, and the com- 

 munication with friends, I shall stay him no longer than to wish him a 

 rainy evening to read this following Discourse ; and that if he be an honest 

 Angler, the east wind may never blow when he goes a-fishing. 



I. W 



VARIATIONS. 



1 And in this Discourse I do not, &c. ^d edit. 2 to his view. Ibid. 



3 light. Ibid. 4 third. yi and tfh edit. 



