CHAPTER III 



OBJECTIONS ANSWERED 



THOUGH the advantages of the dry-fly have 

 been known to many for a considerable 

 number of years, the science and the art 

 of dry-fly fishing make progress at a pace which 

 seems amazingly slow to those who have discovered 

 how infinitely superior at certain times the lure is 

 to all others. 



Its merits have not been jealously kept secret. 

 Anglers do not conceal their discoveries from their 

 fellows, or refrain from discussing with them their 

 experiences and theories. On the contrary, the 

 glories of the sport have been frequently extolled 

 and gracefully described. The reason for the slow 

 advance lies elsewhere. The general conservatism 

 of anglers will undoubtedly have had some retarding 

 effect ; but it is certainly not alone responsible. 



The fact is that some of those, who have done 

 their best to make the virtues of the floating fly 

 widely known, have not succeeded, because they 

 have contrived to surround the whole subject with 

 an atmosphere of mystery, and have appeared to 

 look down upon the unconverted. Moreover, they 

 give the impression that the lure is of limited appli- 

 cation, instead of which there is none which enjoys 

 a longer effective season, or can be profitably 



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