REMARKS ON THE "GENTLE ART." 19 



much that would require years of experience to teach him. 

 New methods of fishing are taking the place of the old and 

 new kinds of tackle is being invented almost every day, and 

 unless one is satisfied with his "luck" and content to fish 

 in the same locality with which he has become fafm'liar, he 

 should not depend on observation and experience alone. The 

 purpose of this book is to teach you how to catch fish. 

 It is my aim to give most attention to the common fishes, 

 those that are well distributed throughout the country and 

 are considered of most importance, either because they offer 

 the most sport, or because of their value as food-fishes. The 

 black bass in particular, being the finest game fish of the 

 fresh waters, and being distributed over a very large part of 

 North America is a fish of the utmost importance. As a 

 game fish, the speckled trout comes next, being one of the 

 fighting kind and found only in the clear cold waters. Its 

 distribution is even wider than that of the black bass. Then 

 there is the savage muskellunge, the fresh water shark of the 

 North ; it is important because of its size and fighting pro- 

 clivities. Even the most common fishes of the central ana 

 eastern sections are of importance, because of their abundance 

 and the fact that they are found in the thickly settled portions 

 of the country and are therefore valued by those who cannot 

 go far from home to fish, and those who prefer the quiet bait- 

 fishing. Such fish are the carp, sucker, catfish and the var- 

 ious kinds of sunfish. 



Fishing will offer sport to the outdoor lovers long after 

 the game birds and animals have become so rare that they 

 no longer will be sought by sportsmen, if that time ever 

 comes. The conservation of the fish supply only needs the 

 support of the public, for if nature is given a chance she 

 will keep up the supply. Laws protecting the more valuable 

 fish for a part of each year, and prohibiting the use of un- 

 sportsmanlike methods of fishing should be encouraged and 

 supported by the public, instead of being broken as is too 



