The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-11-25
Lady Anglers.

Plutarch informs us that no less cclc-
bratcd lady than Cleopatra was votary
of the angle and that she and Anthony
spent no inconsidcrable portion of their
time in fishing matches. So keen at last
did their rivalry become that recourse was
had to artificc in order to insure victory, ut
least by the mean spirited Antony. Vcxcd
Mt the superiority of the Queen in the art,
he instructed divers to take live fish and
place them on his hook. They effected
this so clcverly that he pulled up fish after
fish, and completely turned the tables on
mistress. She pretended to congratulate his
him on his good fortune and TO admire his
dcXterity but, by some means, had gained
knowlcdgs of the trick he had practiscd and
determined to have hcr revenge Another
match was arranged, and in presence of Il
large company of friends specially invited
to witness it the fishing commenced.
Antony soon had Il bite, struck, and pulled
up large saltcd 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 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 tho
first lady angler, it can claim n lady
us 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 1477 Wynkcn dc Wordc published the
famous "Books of ST. Alban's," wherein
Dame Juliana Bcrncrs, the good and ac-
complshed Prioress of Sopwcll, discourscs
On "the dysportc Of tyssllyng." She was
probably n lady angler herself, as the very
full ins' "uctions she gives in reference to
the art indicate that she must have had
practicl experience Of it; but, however this
may be, she strongly commcnds the pas
time ''to all that DC virtuous, gentle and
frccborn." That angling was Il pursuit fol-
lowed by ladies after her time, and yet IL
considerable number Of years ago, may be
gathered from Il book OH fishing published
in 1916, under the title Of the "Act ~
plishcd Lady's Delight" Edmund Waller,
the most charming song writer III the Eng
lish language, and forever to be rcmcm-
bcrcd as the author Of the ode, con Il
Lady's Girdlc," and himself, rs lznall
Walton tells us, "a lover Of tho Gnslc, :"
sang i'll praise of lady anglers Two centuries
ago. But whether lady anglers in past
times were few or many, skilful or unskill-
ful, enthusiastic or the contrary, certain it
is that now they muster strongly. Many
Of them arc very successful performers
and the majority us keen sportswomcn as
can well be imagined; indeed, when II
lady takes thoroughly to angling she gen
orally becomes us ardcntly devoted TO il MS
tho most invctcratc WaltOnian of the other
sex. Lady salmon fishers arc 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
ica they whip freely the well stocked
waters Of various districts Our trout
streams in all directions receive their attcn =.
ton they try conclusions with the tenants
of tho pike preserves, and the humber
dcnizens 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 lcsscncd by their having some one of the
other sex in attendance upon them. Salmon
fishing is very hard work with the heavy
double-handcd rods generally used, but for
ladies lighter ones arc specially made, aud
the weekly records of good fish taken in
various waters show that with such tackle
they get quite their share.