PRELIMINARIES. 13 



being of the best, but if economy is desired, efficient 

 tackle could be purchased for about half that sum. 

 In any case, the initial outlay of a man who wishes 

 to take up all-round angling must be considerable 

 so it is just as well to buy good stuff ; it saves money 

 in the long run. 



Moreover, there is a decided amount of pleasure 

 to be got out of good tackle per se. A well-tapered, 

 well-balanced, and neatly-finished rod gives its 

 owner many moments of satisfaction quite apart 

 from actual fishing ; a tackle-book of pleasing ex- 

 terior and well-ordered interior is fruitful of joyous 

 sensations quite independent of the catching of 

 fish ; a telescopic, knuckle-jointed net, which can be 

 shot out and fixed by a single motion of the hand 

 is a delight in itself ; every article in the angler's 

 armoury has its individual value as a source of 

 pleasure at some time or other. 



Older anglers of the " rough-and-ready " school 

 may be inclined to smile at these assertions, and to 

 observe that the art of angling consists in catching 

 fish, and not in playing about with tackle or admiring 

 varnish. But I think the novice will do well not to 

 follow the rough-and-ready school nowadays, at any 

 rate too far. There are so many fishers, and waters 

 are so much fished, that he is bound to meet with 

 disappointment if he starts with the idea that a 



