PREFACE. ix 



Nor must we omit mention of the "American editor," 

 whose edition, printed at New York in 1847, though 

 deficient in graphic illustration, is in the way of annotation 

 more complete than any produced in this country up to 

 its date. The notes, however, being principally from 

 common sources, have not been of the use to us that the 

 merit of the edition would imply* 



The ' Complete Angler ' seems to have been an especial 

 favourite of booksellers, and has had the good fortune to 

 find no fewer than six foster-fathers among them. Indeed, 

 nearly all the editions which have appeared during the last 

 half century are more or less indebted to them. Mr. 

 Bagster (a practical angler) led the way in 1808, with an 

 improved edition of Sir John Hawkins, edited by himself ; 

 this he republished in 1815, with additions of his own, 

 and some by Sir Henry Ellis. Mr. Thomas Grosden, a 

 devoted angler, published, and we believe edited, the edition 

 of 1822, for which he also arranged the illustrations, and 

 designed patterns for the binding. Mr. Major followed in 

 1823, and between that and 1844 produced four editions, 

 of which the last is the best and most elegant. Mr. 

 Pickering was the projector of his magnificent edition, 

 published in 1835, and co-operated with Sir Harris Nicolas, 

 the editor, as well in the practical part (in which he was at 

 home), as in the graphic and bibliographic departments. 

 Mr. Kent Causton, in 1851, edited what would have been 

 a very satisfactory edition, had the engravings been better. 



