130 FLY FISHING FOR TROUT. 



ing. Neither were pioneers, for both described 

 what they did not invent ; but both, by practice 

 and writing, made an unanswerable case for 

 the system they advocated. With Halford was 

 associated a band of enthusiasts who devoted 

 themselves to perfecting the art and spreading 

 the creed. Among them they systematised the 

 practice; they dealt with and solved technical 

 difficulties; they developed rod, line, hooks and 

 flies to their present excellence; and all that 

 they acquired or invented was told to the world 

 in sober and convincing English. Never was a 

 reform worked out with greater ability or 

 presented with greater lucidity. 



Halford' s first book, Floating Flies and How 

 To Dress Them, was published in 1886, followed 

 three years later by Dry-Fly Fishing in Theory 

 and Practice. He wrote five others, the last in 

 1913, shortly before his death. Two of the 

 seven deal with special subjects, fishery manage- 

 ment and entomology, and of the five that deal 

 generally with fishing and fly dressing the first 

 two are by far the best. His later books are 

 less good. 



Halford' s place in the history of fishing is 

 well marked. He is the historian of a far- 

 reaching change, and as such it is probable that 

 he will always be read. He was well-fitted for 

 the task. He possessed a balanced tempera- 

 ment and a reasonable mind. He took nothing 

 for granted, and proceeded by observation and 

 experiment. He is the master too of a style 



