WALTON TO THE READER. 69 



Now, for the Art of catching fish, that is to say, 

 How to make a man that was none, to be an angler 

 ' by a book ; he that undertakes it, shall undertake 

 a harder task than Mr. Hales, a most valiant and 

 excellent fencer, who in a printed book called, A pri- 

 vate School of Defence, undertook to teach that art 

 or science, and was laughed at for his labour. Not 

 but that many useful things might be learnt 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 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 an- 

 gler ; 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 mathematicks, that it can never be fully 

 learnt; at least not so fully, but that there will still 

 be more new experiments teft 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 1 am sure I 

 hav^ found a high content in the search and confe- 

 rence of what is here offered to the reader's view and 

 censure : 1 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 ob- 

 serve his twelve several flies for the twelve months 

 of the year : I say, he that follows that rule, shall 

 be as sure to catch fah, and be as wise, as he that 

 makes hay by the fair days in an almanack, and no 

 surer; for those very flies that use to appear about 



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