BEST'S 

 ART OF ANGLING 



PART I. 



CHAP. I. 



A Description of Fishes according to Natural His- 

 tory, with the best Methods of breeding, feeding, 

 Sfc. 



FISHES,, in natural history, are animals that 

 live in the water, as their proper place of 

 abode. Naturalists observe a world of wisdom 

 and design in the structure of fishes, and their 

 conformation to the element they reside in. 



Their bodies are clothed and guarded in the 

 best manner, with scales or shells, suitable to 

 their respective circumstances, the dangers they 

 are exposed to, and the motion and business they 

 are to perform. 



The center of gravity is placed in the fittest 

 part of the body for swimming, and their shape 

 most commodious for making way through the 

 water, and most agreeable to geometrical rules. 



They have several parts peculiar to themselves : 

 as fins, to balance and keep them upright ; an air- 

 bladder or swim, to enable them to rise or sink 

 to any height or depth of water at pleasure ; 

 gills or branchial) whereby they respire as land 



