PREFACE. 



THE following pages were written at various times, 

 and are chiefly recollections of scenes and circum- 

 stances which took place in my younger days, with 

 the exception of the paper on Thames Fishing, 

 the greater part of which has appeared in Fraser's 

 Magazine. 



Those who, like myself, are admirers of the 

 secluded and tranquil scenes which are so fre- 

 quently to be met with on the banks of many of 

 our pretty streams and rivers, will find some of 

 them faithfully described. 



The present Volume has no pretensions to be 

 considered as a regular Angler's Guide. What I 

 know and practice, I have mentioned, and I trust 

 that my ' brethren of the rod' will find a few use- 

 ful hints. At all events my favourite art will be 

 found to be divested of the cruelty which is so 

 generally attached to it, and I have endeavoured 

 to shew that it may be enjoyed without the inflic- 

 tion of unnecessary pain. 



