vi Preface. 



" I count it better pleasure to behold 



The goodly compasse of the lofty skie 

 And in the midst thereof like burning gold, 



The flaming chariot of the world's great eye ; 

 The wat'ry clouds that in the ayre uprolled 

 With sundry kinds of painted colours flie ; 

 And faire aurora lifting up her head 

 All blushing rise from old Tithonous' bed. 



" The lofty woods, the forests wide and long, 



Adorned with leaves and branches fresh and green, 

 In whose cool bow'rs the birds with chaunting song 



Do welcome with their quire the Summer's Queen. 

 ***** 



" All these, and many more of his creation 



That made the Heavens, the Angler oft doth see ; 

 And takes therein no little delectation 



To think how strange and wonderfull they bee, 

 Framing thereof an inward contemplation, 



To set his thoughts on other fancies free ; 

 And whilst he looks on these with joyfull eye 



His mind is wrapt above the starry skye." 



My design in compiling the following pages, 

 and embodying in them the long practical experi- 

 ence of my friends and myself, was chiefly to se- 

 cure to the lover of Angling a share in the advan- 

 tages which generally follow the adoption of any 

 system that has been proved successful. 



The pleasures of Angling not being confined to 

 any one grade of society, but being open to poor 

 and rich alike, I promise myself the satisfaction 

 of extending these advantages to a wide circle. 



The days of good old Isaac Walton are long 

 gone by, a new era has arisen, and with it a new 

 and more improved system is daily practised by 



