THE LITERATURE OP PISHING. 67 



them to amuse, always something to instruct, and thoy 

 will always fetch their money again, as there is a great 

 demand for old and indeed all angling literature. If 

 any one in search of old angling books expends a day in 

 "drawing" second-hand book-shops and old stalls, he 

 will be surprised at the scarcity of the literature he is 

 in quest of. 



I have already said all I care to say of modern authors. 

 It is from these that young anglers will mainly learn all 

 that can be learnt of angling, i. e. from books. Izaak 

 Walton, in his "Epistle to the Eeader " (second edition), 

 thus cautions, — 



"Now for the art of catching fish, that is to say how to make a 

 man that was none to be an angler by a book ; he that undertakes it 

 shall undertake a harder task than Mr. Hales, that in a printed hook, 

 called The Private School of Defence, undertook to teach the art of 

 fencing, and was laughed at for his labour. Not but that many useful 

 things might be observed out of that book ; but that the art was not 

 to be taught by words ; nor is the art of angling." 



These remarks hold good now. Young anglers, and 

 old ones too, who are not above learning, if they wish 

 to become proficient in their art, would always do well to 

 " take lessons " from experienced hands. For all kinds of 

 bottom-fishing the professional Thames puntsmen and the 

 Nottingham fishermen are good instructors, while learners 

 must look further afield for tutors in fly-fishing for trout 

 and salmon. But after all, few anglers, or would-be 

 anglers, are so friendless but that they have some one who 

 would take as much pleasure in teaching and illustrating 

 the art by the water-side as they themselves would in 

 learning it. 



A word or two as to the illustrations and " cuts " of 

 ]? 2 



