Walton, Barker and Cotton
This work was followed by a number of other angling books but the crowning glory of all angling literature is that sweet, simple idyl " The C'ompleat Angler," written by Izaak Walton, in his 6oth year, and first published in London in 1653. It was unfortunate, however, that Father Izaak was not much of a fly fisher himself but got much of his information on the subject from Thomas Barker who wrote a small book entitled " Barker's Delight or the Art of Angling."
Barker, by the way, did not have Walton's quaint and appealing viewpoint nor his writing ability but he was, I imagine, a more finished and practical angler. Besides assisting Walton with his fly fishing problems, he has the distinction of being the first angling writer to write a practical treatise on tying flies; to distinguish between hackles, palmers and winged flies; to describe fly fishing for salmon; to mention a reel and gaff, and to point out the possibilities of getting big fish at night. Says Walton: "I find that Mr. Thomas Barker (A Gentleman who has spent much
