CHAPTER V 

 WALTON'S WAY 



11 More than half the intense enjoyment of fly-fishing is derived 

 from the beautiful surroundings." CHARLES F. OR vis. 



A CLAUSE in a recent tariff bill prohibited the im- 

 portation of some of the favorite artificial flies of the 

 Angler and likewise prohibited the importation of the 

 materials used in making these flies, particularly 

 feathers and skins of the valuable song birds whose 

 insect-eating prevents the destruction of the trees and 

 other foliage absolutely necessary to the preservation 

 of the planet upon which man lives. 



This clause was fathered by the wise and welcome 

 bird-protecting institutions known as the Audubon 

 Societies, and was intended to stop the infamous traffic 

 in wild birds for millinery purposes, which, if not 

 reformed, means the utter extermination of the 

 world's feathered friends. 



The feathers and skins imported annually for arti- 

 ficial flies were to come under the same prohibition as 

 millinery feathers. 



England has a law prohibiting the importation of 

 certain plumage, but specific exception is made for the 

 materials used in fly-making. 



There was a foolish opposition to this clause on the 

 part of a few professional fly tiers, some of the fly 

 3 33 



