303 



even the fishes allotted thereto had never been seen within 

 scores of miles. 



I confess my diversion has been ample on such occa- 

 sions, especially when I have seen the pocket Mentor 

 pulled out, and read with such attention, and with such 

 emphasis, as strongly marked the chagrin that pervaded 

 the reader's mind. And then the suspicion, that the 

 townsiblks are all jealous of the strangers who come to 

 cast a line in their waters -, together with many an indig- 

 nant, or at least a significant, look at all who did not, right 

 or wrong, fall in with the author's assertions ! 



Before a gentleman leaves his home in search of sport, 

 he ought to inquire, among those who visit the town, or 

 county, he may be intent on journeying to, what the real 

 character of the waters may be ; for, if he blindly follows 

 the canty not to say the chicanery, with which some vc*- 

 lumes abound, he will generally find both his time and 

 his money very much mis-spent ! ! ! 



Withholding, therefore, from such a practice as I have 

 reprobated, I shall conclude my labours on this subject, 

 with recommending to the learner a careful perusal of the. 

 game laws, so far as they relate to fishing ; for which 

 purpose I have annexed them to this volume ; at the 

 .same time apologizing to him for any want of perspicuity, 

 or of sound information ; and trusting to his liberality for 

 6uch errors of the press as will, even under the greatest 

 vigilance, sometimes be found in works of the utmost 

 importance, and produced by the most able authors ! 



He who has not patience enough to overlook trifles, 

 will never have sufficient of that quality (which is excel- 

 lent on all occasions) to qualify him for an angler ! 



