The Compleat ^Angler 



not usually known to every angler ; 

 and I shall leave gleanings and obser- 

 vations enough to be made out of the 

 experience of all that love and practise 

 this recreation, to which I shall encour- 

 age 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 1 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 content 

 in the search and conference of what is 

 here offered to 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 



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Macfeley church -*zzx 



