Things not attempted in this Work. 3 



Observation and experiment alone must lead to 

 further progress here ; and in the hope that my 

 long experience as an angler, differing as it does 

 from that of most authorities in several important 

 particulars in regard both to tools and methods, 

 may reveal a few facts to stimulate or direct the 

 intelligent practice of others, I have ventured to 

 take advantage of the proverbial long-suffering of 

 the brethren of the rod, and to inflict upon them 

 another book on angling. 



I promise, however, not to trespass so far upon 

 their good-nature as to attempt to give a history 

 either of the fish to be caught, or of all the various 

 means of catching them that have obtained in the 

 world, from that distant time when the divers of 

 Antony adopted the mean method of fastening the 

 fish on to his hooks to ensure him success in his 

 contest with Egypt's dusky queen, until these days 

 of truly scientific angling and highly educated fish. 

 Neither shall I be at pains to set forth for the 

 hundredth time the joys of angling, and the enthu- 

 siasm of the angler, as he sallies forth to the dales 

 and to the uplands, his spirits in full accord with 

 nature in her spring-time, and his heart beating 

 high in anticipation of his triumphs. I shall dare 

 to dispense even with an apostrophe to the tutelary 

 deities of the stream, and this, too, when an apology 

 would be more fitting from one who makes bold to 



