The Editors' first wish is to express their gratitude for being allowed to associate with the Library the name of an acknowledged leader of British Sport in the highest and best meaning of the word

Editors' introduction.

In writing this book I have received help on all hands, help that was freely given to me and was very welcome, because the scope of the book demanding a knowledge of local conditions and of scientific subjects far greater than any one man could be expected to possess.

Preface.

In that wonderful underwater world of which you and I know so little Time is simply Rhythm.

Prologue.

Five hundred years is a long time, but the waters still flow on and, though here and there a new channel has been cut and one ancient tree has surrendered its sceptre to another and its body to the stream it had long shaded, the rivers are much the same as when the men of England first practised the craft of fishing and knew the success and failure which is the part of it and the mystery which is almost the whole of its joy and fascination.

Chapter One - Milestones in angling literature.