Angling in Olden Times. 257 



slight treatment of their favourite, when they realise 

 the rarity with which it ministers to the ordinary 

 angler's sport, and recognise the bounden duty that 

 is laid upon all in this utilitarian age to consult 

 " the greatest happiness of the greatest number." 



Walton's knowledge of the natural history of the 

 salmon was extremely imperfect, and his views on 

 many points in salmon-fishing are consequently 

 erroneous. Indeed, so often are his statements 

 opposed to fact, that it has been questioned if he 

 ever saw the fish of which he professes to treat. 

 Among other doubtful stories, he tells us that 

 " salmon are very seldom observed to bite at a 

 minnow, yet sometimes they will, and not usually 

 at a fly, but more usually at a worm." And the 

 Cromwellian Captain Francks, in his 'Northern 

 Memoirs' (written only five years after 'The 

 Complete Angler,' though not published till 1694), 

 says, " The ground-bait for salmon was of old the 

 general practice, and beyond dispute brought con- 

 siderable profit." But Francks knew of another 

 "general practice" in Scottish rivers, which, whether 

 it brought greater profit or not to the fisher, was 

 certainly more deadly to the fish, and vastly more 

 picturesque in the eyes of the onlooker. For he 

 says, " when the salmon goes to the shallows, that 

 is the time the prejudicate native consults his 

 opportunity to put in execution that barbarous 



