THE SPORTSMAN'S COMPANION. Compiled by Eric Begbie.

1981 1st edition. 8vo (158 x 240mm). Ppx,262. B/w photographs, illustrations by Pamela Hardwick, Donald Green, Sam Grice and Nicky Lunn. Purple, speckled boards, spine titled in gilt.

A collection of articles on many aspects of fishing and field sports. Articles include: Fishing for salmon; To catch a pike; Keepers and poachers; Grouse shooting; Woodcock shooting; High pheasants; The keeper's year; Evolution of the modern shotgun; The modern trout fishery; Take a break; The syndicate; shooting woodpigeon; The creck; Ramrod and powder flask; North American waterfowl hunting; Shooting in Sind; 'Pull!'; The salmon fisherman; The fine art of coarse fishing; In pursuit of the carp; An affectionate introduction to sea angling; Bring the catch home safe; When darkness falls; Basic principles of gundog training; You can take a dog to water; Gundog field trials; The abominable dog; Flies dressed to kill; Cartridge loading; The shooter's wardrobe; Pick a pattern. The final articles are fictional short stories: Music from a haunted river, Ewan Clarkson; The Annual General Meeting, Bruce Sandison; Belated Evidence, Gerald Hammond; Slim's Chance, Mike Barnes; The claybusters; Joker's Wild. The numerous contributors include: Tim Boone, John Bailey, Andy Spreadbury, Digger Derrington, Colin Jones, Eric Begbie, Sam Grice, Alexander Roosmalecocq, Izaak Walton, Peter Hawker, L.H. de Visme Shaw, Sir Ralph Payne-Galwey, Trevor Macdonald, Pat Whatley, Iain MacKenzie, Charles Miller, Arthur Shepherd, Mike Maier, Edith Grant, James Wright.