West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-11-08

Plutarch informs us that no less cele
brated lady than Cleopatra was votary
OF the angle and that she and Anthem,
spent no inconsiderable portion of thei
time In fishing matches. So keen At las
did their rivalry become that recourse wa.
had TO artifce in order to insure victory, al
least by the mean spirited Antony. Vexed
at the superiority Of the Queen i'm the art.
he instructed divers to take live fish and
place them ON his hook. They effected
this so cleverly that he pulled up fish after
hsh, and completely turned the tables ON
mistress. She pretended to congratulate his
him on his good fortune and to admire his
dexterity but, by some means, had gained
knowledgs of the trick he had practised and
determined to have Ler revenge Another
match was arranged, and in presence of a
large company of friends specially invited
to witness it the fishing commenced.
Antony soon had bite, struck, and pulled
up large sailed fish, to his great disgust
and the intense amusement of all present
The murder was out; Antony's trick was
exploded; for on this occasion a diver,
specially instructed by the Queen, had
anticipated the one employed by Antony,
and had fixed the salt fish on his hook
But though England cannot claim the
first lady angler, il can claim a lady
as the author of the first book ever printed
on angling: for within the years of Caxton
issuing from his press at Westminster the
"Dictos and Sayinges of the Philosophers, &"
In l477 Wynken de Worde published the
famous "Books of st. Alban's," wherein
Dame Juliana Berners the good and ac-
complished Prioress of Sopwell, discourses
on ''the dysporte Of tysshyng" She was
probably lady angler herself, as the very
full instructions she gives in reference to
the art indicate that she must have had
practicl experience of it but, however this
may be, she strongly commends the pas
time ito all that be virtuous, gentle and
freeborn." That angling was pursuit fol-
lowed by ladies after her time, and yet a
considerable number Of years ago, may be
gathered from book on fishing published
in 1875, under the title of the accom-
plished Lady's Delight" Edmund Waller.
the most charming song writer in the Eng
lish language, and forever to be remem-
bered as the author of the ode, son a
Lady's Girdle," and himself, as Izaak
Walton tells us, "a lover of the angle, ~
sang in praise Of lady anglers two centuries
ago. But whether lady anglers in past
times were few or many, skillful or unsbill-
Iul, enthusiastic or the contrary, certain il
Is that now they muster strongly. Many
OF them are very successful performers,
and the majority as keen sportswomen as
can well be imagined; indeed, when a
lady takes thoroughly to angling she gen
orally becomes as ardently devoted to it az
the most inveterate Waltonian of the other
sex. Lady salmon fishers are now to be
found on most of the English, Scotch and
Irish salmon rivers, lochs and lakes, and
Norway is visited by them while in Amer
lea they whip freely the we'll stocked
waters OF various districts. Our trout
streams in all directions receive their atten.
ton they try conclusions with the tenants
OF the pike preserves, and the humber
denizens of our fresh waters have to sue
cumb to their skill and perseverance. True
that lady anglers have difficulties to con-
tend with which men make but light of,
but these are overcome by various devices,
or lessened by their having some one of the
other sex in attendance upon them. Salmon
fishing is very hard work with the heavy
double handed rods generally used, but for
ladies lighter ones are specially made, and
the weekly records Of good fish taken in
various waters show that with such tackle
they get quite their share.