Fishing and Fishermen 



genuine members of the brotherhood 

 and the useful traits which the indul- 

 gence in the gentle art cultivates and 

 fosters. A recital of these, with a 

 description of the personal influence 

 of these peculiarities found in the 

 ranks of fishermen, and the influence 

 of these peculiarities on success or fail- 

 ure, are necessary to a thorough vin- 

 dication of those who worthily illus- 

 trate the virtues of our clan." 



The execution of the design thus 

 foreshadowed has until now been 

 evaded on account of the importance 

 and delicacy of the undertaking and a 

 distrust of my ability to deal ade- 

 quately with the subject. Though 

 these misgivings have not been over- 

 come, my perplexity, as I enter upon 

 the work so long delayed, is somewhat 

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