68 THE AET OF FISHING. 



pull against you the nearer you keep him to the 

 top of the water. 



As a farewell address to my readers I would 

 impress on all the brotherhood of the angle once 

 more the necessity of never losing sight of mercy in 

 following the then harmless amusement of angling 

 in order to a true and unmingled enjoyment of 

 the pursuit. A fish, unless it be the eel, is 

 soon and easily killed on being caught ; and then 

 its pain and misery are at an end. The live bait, 

 as I have endeavoured to show (from facts and 

 experience), need never be used. The captured 

 fish need suffer only a small and short infliction 

 of pain, if killed IMMEDIATELY ON BEING TAKEN. 



By a thorough knowledge and practice of the 

 foregoing rules, how much will your recreation be 

 enhanced ! With what satisfaction and pleasure 

 will you enter on your fishing day ! No self- 

 accusing thoughts at night of wanton cruelty, 

 shown to harmless fish, worms, and insects. The 

 recollection of your mercy in avoiding, by every 

 possible care, to inflict pain on your captured 

 victims, will give a zest to your anticipation of 

 another day's fishing, with its general accompani 

 ments of balmy air, refreshing breeze, to contem- 

 plate the works of God, in Nature's lovely scenes, 



