Fishing may probably claim Origin

with the Expiration of the Poet's golden Age. As Mankind increased in number, and Nations were formed, the ART became general; nor was the simple character of the Fisherman finally unimportant. Upon the foundation of the mild Doctrines of the Christian Religion an astonishing and rapid propagation of it [took place] by a few illiterate Tentmakers and Fishermen through almost every part of the World*." From that period, in the earliest History of every Country, it may be gleaned, that FISHING supplied a large portion of nutritive Sustenance to the various Inhabitants, and, in some places, has progressively risen from a domestic Trade to a material branch of the public Revenue by Exportation. As a practical ART it has experienced little if any alteration for Centuries. Upon the Research of a late Antiquarian, Mr. JOSEPH STRUTT, into the Sports and Pastimes of the People of ENGLAND, not any particulars were met with "sufficiently deviating from the present method of taking Fish to claim a place in his Work." The following

* Lecture I. upon the Gospel of St. Matthew, by the late Bishop of London.

Extract forms one of the earliest notices upon the subject, which combines the Statute and common Law of the Realm at that period. "If any man fysshe in the lordes pooles or meyers, the lorde maye haue his accyon vpon the statute of Westmynster prim. [3 Ed. I. C. 20-1275.] And yf he fysshe in the rynning and seuerall waters, the lorde may haue his actyon at the com'en lawe, & in lykewyse the lordes tenaunt, if any man fysshe in his ferme holde, be it standynge watres and rynninge waters: and where he saythe de omnibus of commen fysshynges, that is lytell profyte to ye. lorde but to his tenautes, except he dwell nighe the sea, and wyll cause his seruant to fysshe there for hym, for yt. is the best com en water yt. any man can fisshe in. And some rynning waters be comen, as lytell brokes, and sytches, and in some rinnyng waters the lordes tenautes haue lybertie by custoe to fysshe with shouenettes, trodenettes, small pytches, and suche other*." In the late Edition of WALTON's Complete Angler, although the Work seems to be little more than a Treatise on Fish and Fishing, the Reader, whether he is a Proficient in Angling

* Boke of Surveying and Improumetes.

or not, will find abundant Entertainment in it. The Author, Mr. WALTON, was intimate with the Wits of King JAMES the First's time; of whom, and of many other remarkable Persons, there are, in this Edition, many curious Particulars.

The Preface to the Experienced Angler (another old and valuable Publication) by Col. VENABLES, 1662, claiming the Superiority of this Pursuit over other more expensive Diversions, deserves Notice.

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Hawking and Hunting have had their Excellencies celebrated with large encomiums by divers pens; and although I intend not any undervaluing to those noble Recreations, so much famed in all ages and by all degrees, yet I must needs affirm, that they fall not within the compass of every one's ability to pursue, being, as it were, only entailed on great Persons and vast Estates; for if meaner Fortunes seek to enjoy them, Acteon's Fable often proves a true Story, and those birds of prey not seldom quarry upon their masters: besides, those Recreations are more subject to choler and passion, by how much those creatures exceed a hook or line in worth; and indeed in those Exercises our pleasure depends much upon the will and humour of a

sullen Cur, or Kite (as I have heard their own passions phrase them) which also require much attendance, care, and skill, to keep serviceable to our ends. Further, these delights are often prejudicial to the Husbandman in his corn, grass, and fences; but in this pleasant and harmless Art of Angling, a Man hath none to quarrel with but himself, and we are usually so entirely our own friends as not to retain an irreconcileable hatred against ourselves, but can in short time easily compose the Enmity; and besides ourselves none are offended, none endamaged; and this Recreation falleth within the capacity of the lowest Fortune to compass, affording also profit as well as pleasure; in following of which Exercise a Man may employ his thoughts in the noblest studies, almost as freely as in his Closet; the minds of Anglers being usually more calm and composed than many others, especially Hunters and Falconers, who too frequently loose their delight in their passion, and too often bring home more of melancholy and discontent than satisfaction in their thoughts; but the Angler, when he hath the worst success, looseth but a hook or line, or perhaps (what

D

he never possessed) a Fish, and suppose he take nothing, yet he enjoyeth a delightful walk by pleasant rivers, in sweet pastures, amongst odoriferous flowers, which gratifie his senses and delight his mind; which contentments induce many (who affect not Angling) to choose those places of pleasure for their Summer's recreation and health. But peradventure some may alledge that this Art is mean, melancholy and insipid: I suppose the old Answer, de gustibus non est disputandum, will hold as firmly in Recreations as Palates; many have supposed Angling void of delight, having never tried it, yet have afterwards experimented it so full of content, that they have quitted all other Recreation (at least in its Season) to pursue it. The Cheapness of the Recreation abates not its pleasure, but with rational persons heightens it; and if it be delightful the charge of Melancholy falls upon that score, and if Example (which is the best proof) may sway any thing, I know no sort of Men less subject to Melancholy than Anglers; many have cast off other Recreations and embraced it, but I never knew any Angler wholly cast off (though occasions might interrupt) their Affections to