Izaak Walton’s enduring book about fishing, fish, and the fisherman, is now over 350 years old.
Published first in 1653 as The Compleat Angler, or the Contemplative Man’s Recreation , it has provided assistance and comfort to three and a half centuries worth of fisherpersons. The language is heavy going for today’s readers, but the book has a particular Chaucerian charm and lilt if taken in small doses.
Kenneth Lavender of the Syracuse University Library, at
http://library.syr.edu/information/spcollections/bkomonth/april2002/, wrote,
“What has caused the enduring popularity of this leisurely book on fishing? When it was first published it offered a refreshing antidote to the excesses of the Puritan government then in power in England. Walton’s simple writing style and genial personality reminded readers of better times. This genuineness of spirit has drawn countless later readers whose daily lives are marked by machines, wars, deprivations, and the ‘rat race.’ It is not a guide on how to fish, but on how to enjoy fishing. Fishing is an art: ‘Oh, sir, doubt not that angling is an art. Is it not an art to deceive a trout with an artificial fly?’ But, even more to Walton, it is also the perfect reason for the true contemplation of nature….”At the Syracuse website you can see a portrait of Walton, reclining under a tree in what were his fishing togs, or maybe not (they look pretty uncomfortable), with rod and creel.
Readers of a later century would be similarly drawn to Kephart, Nessmuk, and their ilk, who also wrote for the “readers whose daily lives are marked by machines, wars, deprivations, and the ‘rat race.’ “
Here is Walton’s own summary of the 13 chapters of his book, which can be downloaded full-text from the Project Gutenberg website at http://www.gutenberg.org/:
“The first Chapter is spent in a vindication or commendation of the art of Angling.
“In the second are some observations of the nature of the Otter, and also some observations of the Chub or Cheven, with directions how and with what baits to fish for him.
“In chapt. 3. are some observations of Trouts, both of their nature, their kinds, and their breeding.
“In chap. 4. are some direction concerning baits for the Trout, with advise how to make the Fly, and keep the live baits.
“In chap. 5. are some direction how to fish for the Trout by night; and a question, Whether fish bear? and lastly, some direction how to fish for the Umber or Greyling.
“In chap. 6. are some observations concerning the Salmon, with direction how to fish for him.
“In chap. 7 are several observations concerning the Luce or Pike, with some directions how and with what baits to fish for him.
“In chap. 8. are several observations of the nature and breeding of Carps, with some observations how to angle for them.
“In chap. 9. are some observations concerning the Bream, the Tench, and Pearch, with some directions with what baits to fish for them.
“In chap. 10. are several observations of the nature and breeding of Eeles, with advice how to fish for them.
“In chap. 11 are some observations of the nature and breeding of Barbels, with some advice how, and with what baits to fish for them; as also for the Gudgion and Bleak.
“In chap. 12. are general directions how and with what baits to fish for the Russe or Pope, the Roch, the Dace, and other small fish, with directions how to keep Ant-flies and Gentles in winter, with some other observations not unfit to be known of Anglers.
“In chap. 13. are observations for the colouring of your Rod and Hair.”
Happy reading. I’m going to check out Walton’s observations for the colouring of my rod and hair.
