GAME FISHING IN THE NORTH COUNTRY: AN HISTORICAL MISCELLANY. By John Austin.

2023 1st edition. 8vo (172 x 242mm). Pp300. Colour and b/w photographs, colour and b/w illustrations, bibliography. Tan boards, spine titled in gilt.

North country angling historian, John Austin, shares his treasure trove of information on angling characters, river watchers, pisciculturalists, tackle inventors and dealers, fly-tiers and their fly patterns, angling writers and much more. Austin presents a great deal of previously unpublished information on many well-known names, from Arthur Ransome to John Kirkbride, from the Blades family to Max Walbran, and many, many more. Lots of good photographs and illustrations. Chapters include: The angler's quarry, salmon, bull-trout and sea-trout, trout, grayling, charr, vendace and schelly; North Country angling methods; The pisciculturists; Flies - their designers and manuscript lists; Fishing tackle inventors, makers and dealers; Celebrated and noted anglers; Associations and clubs and their river-watchers; Angling authors; Postscript - lamentable events or some unfortunate endlings". I consider this book to be the most important book on angling in the North Country to be produced so far this century and I would recommend anyone interested in the long history of North Country game fishing to buy a copy". (Keith Harwood).