A LETTER TO THE AUTHOR 
My pear B. B., 
You pay me a signal compliment in 
implying that I am in some degree responsible 
for the fact that you set about the writing of this 
book, for having had the privilege of reading it 
in the proof sheets, I find it a worthy book, and 
one that appeals strongly to all the wandering 
angler that isin me. Indeed there is much of it 
that does more than appeal to me. When, for 
instance, you were catching “ daddy-ruffes” at 
Market Drayton or, a little later, pursuing some- 
what bigger ambitions on or in the Severn at 
Cound, I was not many miles away from you 
engaged in extremely similar efforts. You appear 
to have had more trout in your early adventures 
than I (for the further one got down the Severn, 
even in those far-off days, the greater rarity did 
a trout become), and there you had the advantage 
of me. But I am pretty sure that I never let my 
feelings so far run away with me as to cause me 
to forget the baiting of my hook, and that is 
where I seem to have had the advantage of you. 
vii be 
