Angling is an art, and an art 

 worth learning; the question is 

 whether you be capable of learning 

 it. For Angling is something like 

 Poetry, men are to be born so. I 

 mean with inclinations to it, though 

 both may be heightened by discourse 

 and practice. But he that hopes to 

 be a good Angler, must not only 

 bring an inquiring, searching, ob- 

 serving wit; but he must bring a 

 large measure of hope and patience, 

 and a love and propensity to the art 

 itself; but by having once got and 

 practised it, then doubt not but 

 Angling will prove to be so pleasant, 

 that it will prove to be like virtue, 

 a reward to itself. IZAAK WALTON, 

 The Complete Angler. 



