Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. Has this book a sufficient excuse for existence - or has it not? is a question which, even before that of Is it good or is it bad? reviewers and readers have a right to ask from each new candidate for our overcrowded shelves.<br><br>The excuse in the present instance is briefly this: -<br><br>Excepting two brochures, one of Nobbes, temp. 1682, and another by Salter of 1820, and a modern compilation entitled 'Otter's Guide to Spinning, &c.,' pp. 44, no English work has ever been devoted exclusively to Pike-fishing: the authors who have touched upon the subject have contented themselves with a few passing chapters, and none have investigated it with the attention and research lavished, almost ad nauseam, upon the sister arts of Salmon and Trout fishing.
