PREFATORY NOTE. 



(From the Fishing Gazette, July 23, 1898.) 



THE LATE ME. HAEEY McCLELLAND. 



("ATHENIAN," OF THE Fishing Gazette). 



As promised in a footnote to the graceful little 

 tribute to his memory,, which I published last 

 week, from "Val Conson," I now give a 

 portrait* of "Athenian," whose articles on 

 "Trout Fly Dressing" have been appearing in 

 the Fishing Gazette at intervals diiring the past 

 fifteen months or so. The series was so nearly 

 complete that he had written part of the last 

 article, with a sadly double meaning in its title, 

 viz., " Parting Observations and Hints." 



Having been struck with the novelty, sound- 

 ness, and originality of letters on fly dressing 

 which appeared in these columns from "Athenian," 

 I, two or three years ago, invited him to do a 

 series of illustrated articles on the subject, and 

 he took the matter up with great enthusiasm. 

 I never had the pleasure to meet " Athenian," 

 but live in hopes of meeting him and many other 

 keen anglers on the banks of good streams in the 

 next world. But I had a long and pleasant cor- 

 respondence with " Athenian," and always found 

 him most courteous, and ready to fall in with 



* The portrait forms the frontispiece of this little volume, 



* M842049 



