THE PREFACE. 



I HAVE, all my life, been enthusiastically attached to the 

 sport of fly fishing ; and circumstances have permitted me 

 to indulge that passion to a much greater extent, and over 

 a wider field, than either time or opportunity would pro- 

 bably have allowed to most fishermen. For a number 

 of years I have kept a diary of my fishing, from which 

 this small volume is chiefly compiled. 



The flies mentioned in this book are not called by their 

 scientific names, as I write only as a fisherman, and for 

 fishermen ; and if I have stated anything that is opposed 

 to the opinions of the entomologist, the above must be my 

 apology. Whenever I have made a strong assertion on 

 any subject which is a matter of dispute with fishermen, 

 or rather with writers on fishing, for among practical 

 fishermen I believe there to be very few really important 

 differences of opinion, I have always attempted to point 

 out the way by which the value of my opinion may be 

 tested by the reader. 



On one point I trust I may, without presumption, be 

 sanguine ; and that is, that the artificial flies given in this 

 book will, if properly dressed and compared with the 



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