84 



cept, from the first cutting of the rod to the 

 crimping and dressing of the fish, is only so 

 much time thrown away save in the last 

 particulars, which yet belong more properly 

 to the department of Mrs. Glasse and Mrs. 

 Rundal. For creating a love of angling in 

 those who have seldom thrown a line, and 

 who pant, like the thirsting hart, for the 

 running waters, no book can for a moment 

 stand in competition with good old Izaak 

 Walton's and several more recent writers, who 

 have adopted a more methodical plan of con- 

 veying their instructions, are never read, 

 because they attempt to teach by dull falla- 

 cious rules that which can only be acquired 

 by practice. Had the author of the " Na- 

 tural History of Selborne" been an angler, 

 and published an edition of Walton enriched 

 with his own observations, he would have 

 left little to be desired. 



Oliver. Do you know any precise standard 

 for the length of a perfect rod ? 



Reed. Do I know any precise standard 



