Introduction 



from those who have helped to make 

 this book possible. First, I must speak 

 of the kindness of Field and Stream in 

 allowing me to use certain parts of ar- 

 ticles written for that magazine; due 

 acknowledgments have already been 

 made to Mr. Halford. I should be 

 lacking in all the ordinary instincts of 

 courtesy if I did not mention my friend, 

 Mr. George M. L. LaBranche, in the 

 author's opinion one of the very best 

 of all-around American anglers, and 

 the most expert of American dry-fly 

 fishermen. I have been on the streams 

 with him, and when watching his work 

 have seen by far the most skilful hand- 

 ling of the fly that has ever come under 

 my observation in an experience of 

 thirty-eight years as an enthusiastic 

 fly -fisherman. His knowledge of dry- 

 fly methods and of the habits of the 

 trout is profound. For about fifteen 

 [xiv] 



