20 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



and Trent, and in most other rivers, they be in season the 

 six hotter months. 



Now for the art of catching fish, that is to say, how to 

 make a man that was none to be an angler by a book ; 

 he that undertakes it, shall undertake a harder task than 

 Mr. Hales, a most valiant and excellent fencer, who, in a 

 printed book called "A Private School of Defence," under- 

 took to teach that art or science, and was laughed at for 

 his labour not but that many useful things might be learnt 

 by that book, but he was laughed at because that art was not 

 to be taught by words, but practice ; and so must angling. 

 And note also that in this Discourse I do not undertake to 

 say all that is known, or may be said of it, but I undertake 

 to acquaint the reader with many things that are not usually 

 known to every angler ; and I shall leave gleanings and 

 observations enough, to be made out of the experience of 

 all that love and practise this recreation, to which I shall 

 encourage them, For angling may be said to be so like 

 the mathematics, that it can never be fully learnt ; at least 

 not so fully, but that there will still be more new experi- 

 ments left for the trial of other men that succeed us. 



But I think all that love this game may here learn some- 

 thing that may be worth their money, if they be not poor 

 and needy men ; and in case they be, I then wish them to 

 forbear to buy it, for I write not to get money, but for plea- 

 sure, and this Discourse boasts of no more ; for I hate to 

 promise much and deceive the reader. 



And however it proves to him, yet I am sure I have found 

 a high content in the search and conference of what is here 

 offered to the reader's view and censure : I wish him as 

 much in the perusal of it, and so I might here take my 



