130 FLY FISHING FOR TROUT. 



ing. Neither were pioneers, for both described 

 what they did not invent ; but both, by practice 

 and writing, made an unanswerable case for 

 the system they advocated. With Halford was 

 associated a band of enthusiasts who devoted 

 themselves to perfecting the art and spreading 

 the creed. Among them they systematised the 

 practice; they dealt with and solved technical 

 difficulties; they developed rod, line, hooks and 

 flies to their present excellence; and all that 

 they acquired or invented was told to the world 

 in sober and convincing English. Never was a 

 reform worked out with greater ability or 

 presented with greater lucidity. 



Halford's first book, Floating Flies and How 

 To Dress Them, was published in 1886, followed 

 three years later by Dry-Fly Fishing in Theory 

 and Practice. He wrote five others, the last in 

 1913, shortly before his death. Two of the 

 seven deal with special subjects, fishery manage- 

 ment and entomology, and of the five that deal 

 generally with fishing and fly dressing the first 

 two are by far the best. His later books are 

 less good. 



Halford's place in the history of fishing is 

 well marked. He is the historian of a far- 

 reaching change, and as such it is probable that 

 he will always be read. He was well-fitted for 

 the task. He possessed a balanced tempera- 

 ment and a reasonable mind. He took nothing 

 for granted, and proceeded by observation and 

 experiment. He is the master too of a style 



