Extracts from the Fisherman's Classic, Izaak Walton's "Complete 

 Angler," Published in London in 1653: 



For the sight of any shadow amazes the fish and spoils your sport. 

 of which you must take good care. 



For you are to know that a dead worm is but a dead bait, and like 

 to catch nothing, compared to a lively, quick, stirring worm. 



For a companion that is cheerful and free from swearing and 

 scurrilous discourse, is worth gold. I love such mirth as does not make 

 friends ashamed to look upon one another next morning. 



For angling may be said to be so like the mathematics that it can 

 never be fully learned ; at least not so fully but that there will still be 

 more new experiments left for the trial of other men that succeed us. 



As inward love breeds outward talk, 



The hound some praise, and some the hawk ; 



Some, better pleased with private sport, 



Use tennis, some a mistress court. 



But these delights I never wish, 



Nor envy, while I freely fish. 



Angler's Song. 



For Fishermen. 



Don't use too big flies or hooks. A big fish can take a little hook, 

 but a large hook is too big for the little ones. 



Swift's famous description of the art of fishing: "A stick and a 

 string, with a fly on one end and a fool at the other." 



Fish that are killed immediately, as soon as caught, keep better 

 than those that are allowed to flop about and die by inches. To kill a 

 fish give it a sharp blow between the eyes with a stick or the handle of 

 a knife. 



If your line is in a knot, 



Patience will untie it ; 

 Patience does most everything, 



If you will but try it. 



Selected. 



