CHATTEE 11. 

 ANCIENT FISHING-TACKLE.' 



' QHOW me your tackle and I'll tell you your sport/ is 

 ^ a laconic sentence, in which there is a good deal of 

 truth. He whose fishing-hook and head are hoth stuffed 

 with subtleties and rare devices to ensure success, often 

 finds it, to his mortification, to bear no relation to his 

 apparatus or intentions. The heavy-armed hoplitic an- 

 gler, as he may be called, returns generally from his ex- 

 pedition laden only with disappointment ; whereas the 

 true angler, who goes forth light and unencumbered in 

 his accoutrements, secures his object, and returns heavy 

 laden with spoil. 



When Oppian enumerates 



Horseliair and hooks, the net and tapering reed, 



as the sum-total of implements used in his day, he men- 

 tions, ia fact, all that are essential for sport in any day;* 

 we pause, therefore, a few miuutes, to inquire ruto the 



* Cotton indeed gives a longer list ; but he, we must remem- 

 ber, is speaking of the materials used for fly-fishing only : 



Away to the brook, aR your tackle outlook. 



Here's a day that is worth a year's wishing ; 

 See that all things be right, for 'twould be a spite 



To want tools when a man goes a-fishing. 

 To make all the flies for the several skies 



That shall rise in despite of all weathers, 

 Yonr pouch must not fail to be cramm'd as a mail. 



With wax, crewels, silks, hair, fur, anA feathers. 



