IV PREFACE. 



I may be of some assistance by my writing, to 

 those I have had the pleasure of knowing at home, 

 as well as to many other brother fishermen. 



For my incompetency for the execution of my 

 desires, for the many errors in expression, and 

 haste with which the type has been allowed to 

 appear, I claim the leniency of my readers in their 

 criticism, and trust that as I have set about my 

 task with the utmost desire to exercise my feeble 

 powers, to the furtherance of the sport of North 

 Devonians, so they in kindly feeling, acknow- 

 ledging the intention of the author, will less con- 

 sider the rhetorical construction of sentences, than 

 the practical matter contained within the work. 



I may be allowed to explain that I commenced 

 this work many years ago, and used to write a few 

 sheets at a time, during a period I was prosecuting 

 severe studies in London. Want of opportunity 

 prevented my completing my design till I had 

 been some time in India, but my duties there 

 were of such an absorbing nature as to prevent 

 my giving up the time and attention necessary to 

 complete the work to my entire satisfaction. In- 

 deed I found, on reading over the manuscript, 



