i88 Recreations of a Sportsman 



after Dame Juliana, and evidently did not know 

 her work, at least he did not borrow from it, 

 and he was doubtless the first angler to write 

 in verse; he says: 



Of angling and the art thereof I sing. 



By the side of the Dennys is a copy of 

 Barker's Delight, a quaint little book on the 

 charms of angling that was often copied by Wal- 

 ton. Thomas Barker was the first angler to 

 write about salmon fishing from the standpoint 

 of the successful angler, and as he lived on the 

 Severn at Bracemeal he was always near the 

 game of his choice. The DeligJit was written 

 about 1600, and the second edition, issued in 

 1657, was published by Richard Marriot, who 

 issued Walton's works. He may have been a 

 teacher of angling such still live in England 

 and in his book he tells us : "I live in Henry 

 the 7th. Gifts, the next door to the Gate House 

 in Westminster," and offers to give information 

 about fishing " to any noble or gentle angler 

 who may desire it." Barker is the first angler 

 to describe the reel or " winch," and he gives 

 an illustration of it : " You must have your 

 winder within two feet of the bottom." Walton 

 later said " Some use a wheel." 



Barker was truly a delight giver. He was a 

 thorough fly-maker, a good angler: "the white 



