PEEFACE. Xlll 



the true sense of my own special terms, which, unfortunately, have been 

 sadly diverted in recent literature from their original meaning. So wide 

 and opposite have been the ideas conveyed, that Anglers above the 

 average have been hindered from doing justice to themselves by inability 

 to understand them. This being the case, it may be gently hinted that 

 the drawing of false conclusions from just principles has been no less 

 injurious to the unenlightened than the untold evil of drawing just 

 conclusions from false principles. 



Not the least important measure in connection with my own 

 improvements in " tackle," is that which refers to the Patent Lever 

 Winch. This article, I can promise, will make a vast difference in 

 anyone's annual fishing record. But I should wish to state that I derive 

 no pecuniary gain from praising it, or, in fact, from the sale of any tackle 

 associated with my name. 



As many of our standard flies are not generally known, and as the 

 dresser frequently goes wrong, both as to their colour and material, a long 

 list of them is given in Chapter IV., and each pattern is precisely described 

 for the dresser's guidance. In order that the collection may be readily 

 consulted, the flies are alphabetically arranged. With a few exceptions, 

 the name of the inventor is published, together with the rivers wherein I 

 have known each fly to kill the most fish. And it is presumed that this 

 list, including, as it does, not only "general," but "special," standards, 

 will prove useful to the whole body of Salmon-fishermen. 



Being naturally desirous of enlisting on behalf of my views and 

 methods every circumstance that can lend them weight, I freely own to 

 the confidence inspired by the honour done me in making me a Juror at 

 the Fisheries Exhibition of 1883, and by the unstinted appreciation 

 accorded to a small case of Salmon-flies exhibited by me there. The 

 same case of flies won me the first prize both at Berlin and Norwich, at 

 which places I was not disqualified by office from exhibiting as a com- 

 petitor. Nor can I leave unrecorded the appreciation of Fishermen 



