OPINIONS OF THE PRESS 



"THE MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER." 



BAILY'S MAGAZINE. "The 'Modern Practical Angler' is the latest, though 

 let us hope not the last, of Mr. Cholmondeley-Pennell's contributions to our 

 angling literature. The purpose of the work is twofold : first, to supply the 

 demand which exists for some general and complete angling manual, bringing the 

 subject up to the mark of modern art: and secondly, to introduce the author's 

 views on the subject of fly-fishing, which not only differ widely from hitherto 

 received canons, but, if accepted, "will practically revolutionize, in the direction 

 of simplifying, the "whole system both of making and using artificial flies. Our 

 readers will hardly need our assurance that the first object has been thoroughly 



and ably fulfilled In regard to the second portion of. the book, which 



relates to fly-fishing, the result of Mr. Pennell's teaching is ' the substitution of 

 six typical flies three for salmon and grilse, and three for trout, grayling, &c. 

 for the whole of the artificial flies now used.' This is indeed a ' revolutionary 

 measure,' and one in which every fly-fisher is directly and personally interested ; 

 for who would not be glad to dispense if he could, once and for all, with the cum- 

 brous assortment of furs, silks, and feathers with which the orthodox practice 

 now loads his tackle-box, and the thousand- and-one patterns of flies enjoined by 

 tackle-makers and angling writers as necessary for each variety of fish, river, and 



season ? To the disciples of Mr. Pennell's school this will be all changed 



The prospect seems almost too tempting to be realized ; but it cannot be denied 

 that the author's theories and conclusions are the legitimate deductions from an 

 argument logically and even severely worked out ; and we can hardly conceive 

 that Mr. Pennell, whose ' fame is on many waters,' would peril his reputation by 

 putting forward in so deliberate a manner theories which he had not himself 

 thoroughly tested in practice. 



"Mr. Pennell is not only well known as a senior angler, but as one of the 

 straightest riders and straightest shots in England, and whatever he writes is 

 well worthy of the consideration of sportsmen." 



LAND AND WATER. " The book is adapted as a vade-mecum to all classes 

 of anglers." 



GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE. "Written by an angler of long and varied ex- 

 perience, the ' Modern Practical Angler" is certainly the best modern fishing 

 guide that has come under our notice. The work is full of practical informa- 

 tion." 



SCOTSMAN. "The book is clever and handsome, containing much that will 



interest old anglers and instruct new ones Mr. Pennell has fished in many 



places, in many ways, with many men ; he has an eye for natural scenery, and a 

 knowledge of natural history ; and he has proved himself the possessor of an 

 elegant and sprightly pen both in prose and verse." 



DAILY TELEGRAPH. " We have no need to certificate the author's thorough 

 knowledge of a sport which, as he justly observes, is becoming every day more a 



matter of difficulty and of fine art Mr. Pennell covers ably the whole 



field of angling pursuit." 



FIELD. " Mr. Pennell is so well and so favourably known as a fishing author, 

 that anything which comes from his pen is sure to deserve and secure serious con- 

 sideration from an angler's point of view. What Mr. Pennell's politics may be we 

 do not know, but in matters piscatorial he is undoubtedly an awful radical : he 

 insists on the most complete revolution in all things, and he is a philosophical 

 radical to boot, for he gives reasons for the faith that is in him .... we have 

 10 doubt that this, the latest addition to angling literature, will take a high place 

 in the estimation of the public." 



