The Angler's Sure Guide: or, Angling Improved, and Methodically Digested

R.[obert] H.[OWLETT]. 

The Angler's Sure Guide: or, Angling Improved, and Methodically Digested; shewing, I. When, and how to gather and provide the best materials for fishing tackle. II. The most proper baits to delude and take all sorts of fresh-water-fish. III. How to make, order, preserve and use such tackle and baits. IV. The names, natures, etc. and medicinal virtues of those fish. V. Their haunts, spawning-times and seasons. VI. The worst and best seasons and times to angle for them. VII. The best and aptest ways of taking them by angling, etc. VIII. The various and choicest ways of dressing 'em. IX. How to make, store, order and preserve fishponds, stews, and fish. X. Wherein the angler is punishable by law, if he invade another's right by angling. XI. How the Angler may lawfully defend himself, if wrongfully disturbed in his Angling. XII. Some Presidents [sic.] of Licenses to angle in another's Fishery. Together with many other useful and pleasant Varieties, suitable to the Recreation of Angling... By R.H., Esq, near 40 Years a Practitioner in this Art. 

London: Printed by J.H. for G. Conyers at the Ring, and T. Ballard at the Rising Sun, in Little-Brittain. 1706. Octavo (6 7/8 x 4 3/8 inches; 173 x 110mm). Pp. [i-]vii,[i publisher's ads.], 1-296.  2 engraved plates (one of 12 different species of fish, and a second of an angling scene.) (Contents toned and spotted, first three leaves loosely inserted).

Contemporary panelled sheep (binding worn with covers and endpapers detached, spine and extremities rubbed, corners of boards rounded - this said, this should be a book that can be easily restored, retaining most of the original materials). 

A quite rare, and relatively early angling book written by a near contemporary of Izaac Walton: the author really does cover everything he can think of - buying/making tackle; details about the fish; when, where and how to catch them; how to prepare and cook them; and finishing off with the law and how it affects the angler.  Westwood & Satchell p110; Thacher pp.271-272; Heckscher 1059