TROLLING WITH DEAD GORGE-BAIT. I7S 



the similitude of their barbs to the tail of the dragon which 

 St. George has been represented in the act of transfixing for so 

 many years that one almost wishes the dragon might have a turn 

 now and then for variety. 



Although, however, according to Nobbes the merit of being , 

 the first authoritative exponent of the art of trolling, it is by no 

 means probable that his claim to be the actual inventor could 

 be sustained upon critical examination. 



This is also the opinion of Mr. Westwood, whose elegant 

 'Angling Bibliomania' is so well known and appreciated by all 

 lovers of the gentle art and literature. In a letter addressed to 

 me some years ago he says : — 



Nobbes was undoubtedly the first English writer that discoursed 

 at large, and in a substantive shape on the art of trolling, but that 

 his sobriquet of ' The Father of Trollers,' asserts in any respect his 

 invention of the modus operandi of the craft in England, is scarcely 

 borne out by evidence. The title means, I take it, what that of 

 'The Father of Anglers' means in Walton's case — what that of 

 ' The Father of Pike-fishers ' will mean in your own, sir, when 

 posterity agree, nem. con., thus to designate you — namely, that he 

 was the first authoritative professor of the sport. 



That Nobbes himself puts in no claim to inventor's honours, is 

 shown by his dedication, in which he ascribes all his skill as a 

 tioUer to the tuition of ' The Right Worshipful James Tryon, Esq., 

 of BuUwick, in Northamptonshire,' and to his brother, while in his 

 address ' To the Ingenious Reader,' he adds, ' I confess I have not 

 had that experience in the Art which many have, that have made 

 it their business for the space of several years, and I, but a late 



It is true that in a preceding passage, he adverts to the silence 

 of former writers on angling, ' I never could see,' quoth he, ' any 

 other (than Walton and Cox) concerning trolling, though, if there 

 be, it may be of an old standing.' 



Here, however, friend Nobbes overlooks one of his immediate 

 forerunners. Col. Robert Venables, whose 'Experienced Angler' 

 (1662) contains the following passage : — 



' The best way of angling is widi a trowl for a pike, which is 

 very delightful. . . . Let your line be silk, at least two yards nest 

 the hook, and the rest of strong shoemaker's thread, your hook 



