x PREFACE 



toil who have arrogated to themselves the title. I refer 

 rather to the men who constitute the backbone of the 

 country, the busy workers with either hand or brain, or 

 both, who tend the great machine which goes to keep 

 our Empire in the forefront of the nations. 



To these men, angling comes as an engrossing recrea- 

 tion which, taken in small doses, tends to relieve the 

 monotony and strain of modern existence. Such have 

 but a limited time for the enjoyment of sport, and from 

 that must be further subtracted the time taken up in 

 reaching the scene of action and returning : therefore, 

 the places that they fish must be easily accessible. 



The busy angler has but little leisure to search out 

 waters for himself, learn new methods, or try strange 

 lures; but little information on these points is given by the 

 average book on angling, and can indeed be only learned 

 in the first instance by experience. 



The experiences of others, no matter how limited in 

 extent they may be, are always of some value as 

 teachers, and indeed, as Sir Edward Grey says : 



" Even a little imperfectly told becomes interesting, 

 and weak words stir kindred memories." 



It is in the hope that this may prove the case that 

 this little book is put forward, and the writer will be 

 perfectly satisfied if it should, to some extent, meet the 

 want for others which he has so often felt for himself* 



Most of the experiences given are records of single 

 day's angling within easy rail of London. As a sporting 

 centre the Metropolis would hardly be chosen by many 

 most of the great centres being more, or at least as, 

 favourably situated in that respect. It has, however, 

 been my fate to live in the great city, and therefore the 

 localities described are within a moderate railway 

 journey in the Southern, Eastern, or Western counties. 

 Equally varied and excellent sport can be obtained, no 

 doubt, on other and more northern waters, while the 

 methods given may be practised with as much or even 

 greater success on lakes, rivers, and seas, within even 

 easier reach of those whose occupations require their 

 residence in the Midland or Northern counties, in 



