G INSTRUCTION. 



the same accusation, and that there is hardly a fish, bird 

 or beast that they have not called by several different 

 names. Are not the contentions of Ortyx and Perdrix 

 known to all? Is it quite certain, when we catch an 

 Otsego Bass, whether we catch a Coregonus Otsego or a 

 Coregonus Albus, or even a Salmo Otsego ? Is it per- 

 fectly ascertained from a scientific point of view that we 

 catch anything ? Who does not know that a Tautog is a 

 Blackfish, or would be materially instructed by hearing 

 him called a Tautoga Americana? Scientific men vie 

 with one another in creating new names, the most use- 

 less things in Christendom ; while sportsmen are happy 

 to take them, the game, as they find them. The first are 

 guilty of faults of commission, the latter of omission. 

 The language of each is Greek to the other. 



The writer of these sketches, knowing just sufficient 

 Greek to be a sportsman, and yet able to translate with 

 the help of a dictionary, offers, from the want of one 

 more worthy, to conciliate all differences. His plan is 

 to translate all terms that are translatable, and to omit 

 altogether those that are not, trusting that they will 

 never be missed. His intention at first was to write a 

 noble work on natural history that would carry his name 

 in letters of gold, as a public reformer and benefactor, to 

 latest posterity ; but finding, on reviewing his stores of 

 information, that he knew but little on the subject, he 

 was compelled to relinquish the idea. Being therefore 

 nothing but a gentle angler, instead of instructing the 

 universe, he is content to amuse a small circle of lovers 

 of sporting anecdotes, and, provided he receives it, will 

 be content with their approval. As, however, one fool 



