Preface. 



ways it has been, as it still is, when the warm weather 

 next comes I will surely do this thing. Still it may be 

 that I shall never, until too late, find opportunity for 

 this investigation, so I mention the matter here in the 

 hope that some other, more fortunately circumstanced, 

 may act on the suggestion, and by so doing earn, as he 

 will merit, the thanks of the entire angling fraternity. 



Thus it was that the winter of 1900 was upon me 

 and nothing towards the revision of this book had been 

 done. Many experiments and investigations had been 

 made, but that nearest my heart still seemed as far 

 from inception as when the idea first entered my mind. 

 So it appeared better to wait no longer on the uncertain- 

 ties of the future, and this new edition is the result. 



The book has been carefully reconsidered from be- 

 ginning to end. It has been rewritten wherever rewrit- 

 ing seemed desirable, and much new matter has been 

 added and old matter cut out. 



The labor spent in its preparation, in its composition, 

 and in its journey through the press, was from first to 

 last a labor of love, and so it would seem to have been 

 accepted. The uniform consideration and many valued 

 attentions shown me when on strange waters, and in- 

 deed elsewhere, from those who knew me only as its 

 author, have been a source of gratification difficult to 

 exaggerate. Should this revised edition further cement 

 these kindly relations, I shall be more than content. 



HENRY P. WELLS. 



NEW YORK, April 1, 1901. 



