PREFACE. 



IN printing the following pages it has been the 

 especial endeavour of the compilers to present 

 the instructive and practical element as vividly as 

 was consistent with the authors MS. notes of 

 which a considerable portion, containing original 

 and important matter, still remains. 



In a comparatively limited space every branch of 

 the " gentle art " has been touched upon, though by 

 no means exhaustively dealt with in this, the first 

 issue. 



The reputation of the author as an authority 

 upon this national recreation stands unprecedented, 

 and it is felt that a much larger volume would 

 scarcely do justice to the mass of manuscript, 

 wherein is chronicled the researches and experience 

 gained by a long life of patient study and intense 

 application. 



The compilers here express their gratification at 

 the amount of interest evinced by a considerable 

 portion of the piscatorial public, who, whilst the 

 work has been in preparation, have bespoken so 

 many copies, as to establish almost a complete 

 success for the present edition before its publication. 

 In subsequent issues it is intended to enlarge the 

 work. 



D. AND W H. FOSTER. 



Ashbourn, 1882. 



M312873 



