PREFACE. 111. 



what amount of success my readers and my 

 brother anglers are the only judges. 



It would be at once idle and unfair, on my 

 part, to pretend that all that is set down in this 

 book is the result of my own observation, know- 

 ledge, and experience ; for much of it I am 

 indebted to older heads than my own ; still, since 

 I first fished the Yorkshire waters, now more than 

 twenty years ago, I have made a point of recording 

 every matter of moment which I have noticed on 

 the rivers, or have heard from my fellow-fishermen, 

 arid in this book the results of those observations 

 are set forth. The chapter upon creeper-fishing 

 a branch of our beautiful art and recreation, which 

 has hitherto been neglected in the county may, I 

 trust, have some influence in inducing Yorkshire 

 anglers to take up this scientific and deadly method. 

 For the rest, if there is nothing absolutely new, 

 there is, I fervently hope, nothing worthless ; and, 

 having said this it only remains for me to acknow- 

 ledge my obligations to many kind friends in all 

 parts of the county, and even further afield, who 



