SOME CONTROVERSIES 133 



Angling (sixth edition), was weighing the merits 

 of four of his rods, which varied in length from 

 eleven feet seven inches to twelve feet eight inches, 

 and in weight from thirteen ounces four drams to 

 fourteen ounces six drams. Not, of course, that 

 light rods were unknown here till the American 

 type was discovered. I have a little greenheart 

 of nine feet six inches which is essentially a light 

 rod and is perhaps forty years old. But it is not 

 split cane. 



While the general topic of fishing controversies 

 is in mind, there is one which cannot well be dis- 

 missed as of small account, and that is the debate 

 which arose a few years ago over the question 

 of reintroducing the wet fly to the chalk streams, 

 which had become more or less consecrated to the 

 dry fly. The debate is, indeed, scarcely concluded 

 yet, and I have no doubt that there are still plenty 

 of dry-fly men who would bend a severe eye upon 

 the minor tactician, as Mr. Skues's classic book 

 leads one to call him. As I have frankly been a 

 minor tactician myself ever since I read an article 

 in the Field entitled " The Wet-fly Oil Tip,"and even 

 before that used to fumble after chalk stream trout 

 according to my poor lights with wet flies if it 

 seemed necessary, I suppose my consideration of 

 the subject must be set down as a piece of special 

 pleading. But it seems to me that we have a strong 



