4: PREFACE. 



Take sportsmen all in all, and there is not only a better 

 physical condition noticeable in their muscles, but they 

 bear a more universal humanity in their hearts than is to 

 be found with mere business men or even among the literary 

 or learned. A sympathy exists between them not often to 

 be found in other classes of the community. Their grasp of 

 welcome seems more hearty, and their expressions of interest 

 more sincere. Certainly I have received more cordial kind- 

 ness from them than from any other people whom I have 

 ever met. 



I was one of the first to press on the State and National 

 Governments the importance of establishing fishery commis- 

 sions, and being myself appointed on that of the State of 

 New York when it was created, in the year 1867, and hav- 

 ing remained on it ever since, I have necessarily kept up 

 with the times, and all improvements which have been 

 made either in the science of fish-culture or in the tools 

 and methods of fishing. 



Looking back, and still more I may say, looking forward 

 to what the future will bring forth, I have a right to claim 

 that in aiding the cultivation and protection of the objects 

 of the sportsman's pursuit, and the means of his pleasure, 

 in protesting against their unreasonable and improper 

 slaughter, and in describing the most legitimate and 

 scientific methods, and taking them, I have conferred 

 some advantage upon mankind as well as amused some idle 

 hours. THE AUTHOR. 



March, 1884. 



