INTRODUCTORY. 



' * * * 



CHARLES HALLOCK'S literary career, covering a period of sixty years beginning 

 with the editorship of a college paper, "The Scorpion," at Amherst, in 1852 has 

 been remarkable for wide range, and thorough mastery of each subject. Although 

 angling has always been his favorite recreation his active participation in other 

 manly outdoor sports is indicated by the title, "Dean of American Sportsmen/' con- 

 ferred by prominent brothers of the guild in recognition of his ability as a practical 

 exponent of healthful pastimes, and as an author an acknowledged authority in 

 this branch of literature. Turning to the brief autobiography in this volume - 

 a classic in its special line the reader will find some of the salient features of a 

 life work great in achievement, varied in scope from scientific research to current 

 comment on the topics of the day ; from sojourning in the Sunny South to pioneer 

 jaunts in the wild West and to far-off Alaska yet interspersed always with pursuit 

 of the pastimes he loved, with red and gun. 



His recreations like those of "Christopher North" furnished material for 

 delightful sketches, standard works, scientific essays. His companions were men 

 of action the hardy voyageurs, at home in primitive craft on \vi!d waters, or on 

 foot along wild trails; ardent anglers seeking adventurous sport on salmon rivers 

 and trout streams far from routes of ordinary tourists ; scholars and scientists 

 delving deep in the study of animated nature. 



That Charles Hallock is and has long been a recognized force, an accepted 

 authority in matters pertaining to fish and fishing, science and travel, is evidenced 

 by the fact that he is an active or honorary member of no less than fifty-seven 

 clubs and associations, many of these being organizations of national and some of 

 international scope. His copyrighted books are seventeen in number, and his various 

 articles in the magazines, sportsmen's journals and daily press would, if collected 

 in library form, fill fifty volumes of absorbing interest. The condensed summary, 

 given elsewhere in this work, records the remarkable fact that outside of newspaper 

 work his occupations and important experiments reached a total of sixty-seven, 

 while his hairbreadth escapes numbered twenty-eight. 



As an editor, particularly in his favorite field, he possessed the qualifications to 

 acquire the full measure of success. His literary style was here shown in its 

 versatile character, its vigor, and perfect command of the English language. A 

 valuable adjunct was his world-wide acquaintance with men of mark in sportsman- 

 ship and the world of letters. He probably knew personally a larger percentage oi 

 his prominent contributors than any predecessor in the realm of sportsmen's 



