The Compleat Fisherman. Being a Large and Particular Account of all the Several Ways of Fishing now Practiced in Europe, with Abundance of Curious Secrets and Niceties in the Art of Fishing…

12mo, period full calf, spine gilt, early rebacking with spine leather laid down, folding copper-engraved frontispiece, [6], 234 pp. Binding rubbed, and with a little wear, hinges are cracked, but still firm, lacking front free endpaper, pencil notation on pastedown, frontispiece creased and a little foxed, some light foxing and soiling; otherwise very good. This is a rather scarce fishing title that has come up at auction only a couple of times in the past 20 years. The frontispiece illustrates the different types of fishing, including net, pole, spear and trident. The author indicates that while there have been attempts to teach the art of fishing, knowledge of the art seems to have been one that is only available in individual experience. He promises to provide a 'short and sweet' instruction on the subject for the reader. Saunders covers the types of equipment, bait, types of fish, and location to do it right.