225 x 100 mm, 32 pages, illustrated with photographs, fine art deco graphic design repeated on the front and back covers, the corners are worn and there is some rippling due to water on the text pages, railway map of South Africa, overall a good copy of a scare booklet.
The text discusses the principle sea-angling area in South Africa and catered to the tourist boom of the 1903's. Between 1926 and 1939 many long-distance luxury trains met Union Castle and other liners to transport wealthy tourists to various inland scenic, cultural and wildlife attractions in southern Africa. Sea angling in 1930 was an activity which attracted wealthy tourists a market the SAR&H cultivated. This booklet promoting South African sea angling in 1930 was aimed squarely at the well-heeled British and American visitor arriving by liner at Cape Town or Durban.
The text continues enthusiastically:
'“Peace be at your labour, honest fishermen.” Shakespeare (Pericles).
'The number of fishing enthusiasts visiting this country in search of “records” to add to their lists, is increasing yearly. This is hardly a matter for wonder, when one considers the exceptional opportunities that are offered, together with the ideal conditions under which such a quest may be undertaken.
'Among the thousands of men and women who follow this most fascinating of sports, it is given to only a small percentage to be dubbed “expert.” Nevertheless, so varied is the quality of the fishing, so continuous the opportunities, and so diverse the methods, that the veritable tyro can be assured of attaining a satisfactory measure of success. 'These factors are, no doubt, mainly responsible for the influx above referred to.'
The artist of the cover design, H.C.L. (H.C. Lindsell) is not well documented but The initials "H.C.L." occur on a number of South African illustrations and vignettes from the 1920s–1930s. Most of the artists working for government publications, tourist guides, railways publicity material, and local publishers are seldom recorded in standard art reference works. South African Railways & Harbours publications in particular employed several illustrators whose careers are now obscure.
- Size: 225 x 100 mm
