FISHING. 



PIKE AND OTHER COARSE FISH. 



INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 



I FEEL that some apology is due to what are, after all, perhaps, 

 the great body of fishermen, for the second part of the title of 

 the present volume. 



The term ' coarse fish ' has been adopted because it seems 

 to be that most generally used and understood, and, there- 

 fore, best calculated to convey readily a correct idea of the 

 contents of this essay. Even whilst employing the expression, 

 however, I must record my protest against it. What is there 

 coarse, for example, about the perch of gorgeous scaling, armed 

 cap-k-pie like a paladin of old, and glowing with half the 

 colours of the rainbow ? Or the ' arrowy dace,' almost as mettle- 

 some, and perhaps even more graceful and glittering than the 

 aristocratic trout ? 



A cold, sweet, silver life, wrapped in round waves, 

 Quickened with touches of transporting fear. . . . 



Again, when the term ' coarse fishing ' is used, have those who 

 employ it ever watched, with a sympathetic eye, the consum- 

 mate skill and dexterity which a ' cockney ' roach-fisher will 

 display in pursuit of his game, and the gossamer fineness of 

 every bit of the tackle he uses ? Depend upon it, in the luring 

 and landing of a two-pound roach on a single-hair line, there is 



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