8 TO THE READER. 



but that many useful things might be learned by that boolt, but he was 

 laughed at because that art was not to be taught by words, but practice : and 

 so must Angling. And note also, that ^ in this Discourse I do not undertake 

 to say all that is known, or may be said of it, but I undertake to acquaint 

 the Reader with many things that are not usually known to "every Angler ; 

 and I shall leave gleanings and observations enough to be made out of the 

 experience of all that love and practise this recreation, to which I shall 

 encourage thenj- For Angling may be said to be so like the Mathematics, 

 that it can never be fully learnt ; at least not so fully, but that there will 

 still be more new experiments left for the trial of other men that succeed 

 us. 



But I think all that love this game may here learn something that may 

 be worth their money, if they be not poor and needy men : and in case 

 they be, I then wish them to forbear to buy it ; for I write not to get money, 

 but for pleasure, and this Discourse boasts of no more, for I hate to promise 

 much, and deceive the Reader. 



And however it proves to him, yet I am sure I have found a high con- 

 tent in the search and conference of what is here offered to^ the Reader's 

 view and censure. I wish him as much in tlie perusal of it, and so I might 

 here take my leave ; but will stay a little and tell him, that whereas it is 

 said by many, that in fly-fishing for a Trout, the Angler must observe his 

 twelve several flies for the twelve months of the year, I say, he that follows 

 that rule, shall be as sure to catch fish, and be as wise, as he that makes 

 hay by the fair days in an Almanac, and no surer; for those very flies 

 that used to appear about, and on, the water in one month of the year, 

 may the following year come almost a month sooner or later, as the same 

 year proves colder or hotter : and yet, in the following Discourse, I have 

 set down the twelve flies that are in reputation with many anglers ; and 

 they may serve to give him some observations' concerning them. And 

 he may note, that there are in Wales, and other countries, peculiar flies, 

 proper to the particular place or country ; and doubtless, unless a man 

 makes a fly to counterfeit that very fly in that place, he is like to lose his 

 labour, or much of it ; but for the generality, three or four flies neat and 

 rightly made, and not too big, serve for a Trout in most rivers, all the 

 summer : and for winter fly-fishing it is as useful as an Almanac out of 

 date. And of these, because as no man is born an artist, *so no man is 

 bom an Angler, I thought fit to give thee this notice. 



When I have told the reader, that in this fifth* impression there are 

 many enlargements, gathered both by my own observation, and the com- 

 munication with friends, I shall stay him no longer than to wish him a 

 rainy evening to read this following Discourse ; and that if he be an honest 

 Angler, the east wind may never blow when he goes a-fishing. 



I. W 



VARIATIONS. 



1 And in this Discourse I do not, &c, — yl edit. 2 to his view. — Ihid. 



3 light.— /*/(/. 4 K'nlni.—yt and i^th edit. 



