vi PREFACE 



of a sense other than that of the eyes : in others I 

 have been informed of its existence and mischievous 

 effects on fish Hfe and fishing by both angHng and 

 non-angHng correspondents, who have asked me to 

 draw attention to the state of their streams. 



I am convinced from conversations I have had 

 with people, who speak with full knowledge and 

 experience, that the condition of some of our 

 streams is a menace, not only to fish but to human 

 life. From an angling, from an aesthetic, but most 

 of all from a sanitary point of view it is right that 

 we should preserve our streams from pollution 

 other than what is absolutely unavoidable. My 

 strong belief in this matter will, I hope, be re- 

 garded as a good excuse for repeatedly referring to 

 pollution in this little book. 



To turn to a more pleasant subject, I should like 

 to say that I have not in the least degree changed 

 my opinion that a multiplicity of different kinds of 

 flies and patterns is unnecessary, so far, at any 

 rate, as the dry fly method of angling is concerned. 

 But I have found that views as to the necessity of 

 certain flies and patterns for certain streams are 

 held so firmly by many " local anglers," in regard 

 to wet fly fishing, that I have felt it only right and 

 fair to give lists of favourite flies and patterns for a 

 great number of waters in various parts of the 

 south country. For dry fly work the blue or olive 

 dun in its various forms and shades seems to hold 

 the field as the best of all lures for the troutine 

 season as a whole. It has, indeed, no serious rival 

 out of the brief May-fly season. 



G. A. B. D. 



