ANCIENT ANGLING AUTHORS 203 



The British Angler \ by John Williamson, Gent, 

 published in 1740, affords one of the most disgraceful 

 examples of plagiarism which can be found even in 

 angling literature. In spite of this the author has 

 the impudence to state in his preface : 



As I had resolved therefore to give the Public a 

 new Treatise on this Subject, which I knew was very 

 much wanted, and not likely, as I could hear, to be 

 undertaken by any abler Hand, it was my Business 

 to consider what Methods I should take to avoid the 

 Imputation so generally thrown on others, and 

 compose a Work that should have in fact what it 

 promised, an Air of Novelty. 



The works chiefly stolen from are those of Walton 

 and Chetham. Whole chapters are taken verbatim, 

 except for the alteration of a word here and there, 

 from the latter author, and of course without the 

 slightest acknowledgment. I append a passage 

 from Chetham's Vade-Mecum> and another from the 

 British Angler to illustrate the extent of the 

 alteration made in the latter work : 



Next follow Ointments and Receipts, which I have 

 read and been informed of, by several Anglers, and 

 are practised for the better furtherance of this Sport ; 

 and some have such confidence, that they affirm 

 they'll not only allure, but even compel Fish to bite. 

 Part of the following Receipts I have Experienced, 

 and though I found them in some measure advan- 

 tageous to my Recreation, yet far from so high a 

 degree, as has been pretended to me : &c. (Chetham's 

 Vade-Mecum}. 



As to Ointments and Unguents, many ingenious 



