The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-09-10
NEW ROOIKR.

THE AMERICAN ANGLBR's Book, embracing the
Natural History of Sporting Fish, and the Art
of taking them, with Instructions in tly-tish-
ing, Fly making, and od-making, and Direc-
tions for Fish Breeding. To which Is appended,
Dies PscatoriT, describing noted Fishing
Places and the pleasure Of Solitary Fly-hshing.
Illustrated with eighty engravings on wood.
By Thad. Norris. Philadelphia: published by
T.. II. Butler & Co. London Sampson, Low
& Co. 1864.
We have before us an entirely new work with
the above title, issued by the we'll known pub
fishers whose imprint it bears, and in the usual
exquisite taste for which the house is so cele-
brated.
1t is difficult to do full justice to this work in
the space allotted TO new books in a daily journal.
There is SO much which should be noticed, and
the author has brought to his subject such a
thoroughly practical knowledge of the details,
that it is hard to particularze the valuable pOr-
tions of the work.
After a short address to the reader, the author
begins in his first chapter, by telling us Of the
| quiet pleasures of angling, and OF its soothing
| Influences, and gives some amusing sketches OF
the difit rent styles of anglers he has met with.
He then treats of Fishes, their order in creation,
habits manner Of propagation, their external
and internal organization, their beauty, wonder
full instinct and migrations, and in the chap
ters devoted to different genera and species,
he describes every fish that furnishes sport to the
angler, from the lordly salmon to the humble
ard homely catfish. He tells us what tackle
| should be used, and when, how, and where 70
| angle for them, and even how to COOK and eat
| them.
This book is no compilation from other works,
but is thoroughly original in all its details Every
branch of the science" which the author handles
| in so practical way, is familiar to him. lie
takes the tyIo to the pebbly stream or the CLASSY
lake, and shows him how to throw the artificial
fly for the bold bass the fairy trout, aud the silver
sided salmon. He shows him all the myste-
ries Of knots, loops, &c, and how to splice his
broken rod or line. He takes him into his work
shop, shows him his bench, his tools, and lathe,
and gives him lessons in roI-making, and, sitting
costly down, and shutting out the busy world,
gossipingly explains the uses of furS and tea-
| theirs, and drawing diagrams for his pupil, in
ducts him into the art of tying trout and salmon
| flies. This is followed by description of the
salmon rivers of New Brunswick, Canada, and
Labrador and an article on artificial fsh-breed-
| ing.
After the serious business portion of the book
is completed, tho author in his "Dies Piscatorie"
(days of fishing), which he has substituted for
| appendix, gives us the experiences of party of
| quiet anglers related on the banks OF the bright
| noisy mountain stream, while discussing their
trout and claret at their MONDAY roast. Here Mr..
| NestOr describes the fishing places he has visited
and his adventures by flood and field, and "strange
tales are told and jokes are gien and taken"
ThCse pleasant and familiar dialogues which
| he denominates " Mornings" are succeeded by
| ueHBnIul CHaptSi Oi y -'iiub hio.S'
| This we consider most charming description,
| and every one who loves to ramble alone through
| forest or by stream we are sure will read 1t, as
we have done, with unalloyed pleasure. In this,
AS well as in the preceding chapters, there is an
evident manliness, mingled with the modesty of
one unaccustomed to write for publication, as
well as keen appreciation of the ridiculous, and
| quiet vein of humOr. This is perceptible, how
ever, through the whole book.
The work is printed on beautiful paper, with
clear type, and we have seldom seen more eN-
quisite display of wood engraVngs than is con-
tanned in this volume.
We have no doubt il will prove as popular
with the general reader as with the angler.