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I have no doubt that every angler who 

 reads this book will thank me for having 

 had it republished. I may be said to have 

 led you to the cool, limpid waters of the 

 source of the trout stream the spring, 

 hidden in the ancient woods, and whose 

 brim is adorned with the moss of cen- 

 turies. 



I have reproduced the elegant illustra- 

 tions which (I believe) adorned the first 

 edition. The earliest print from a wood 

 engraving of which any information can 

 be obtained, was found in an ancient Ger- 

 man convent ; it is a picture of St. Chris- 

 topher, and is dated 1423; in 1496 this 

 book was first " emprynted " ; I think it 

 quite possible that this old frontispiece 

 represented St. Peter : it is certainly quite 

 as good a likeness of him as I have ever 

 seen. The illustrations intended to instruct 



