138 TROUT FISHING 



the pursuit of the truth is fascinating ; 

 and in sport, whilst not always in philo- 

 sophy, discovery of the truth is an un- 

 mitigated delight. 



That being so, a disclosure of secrets 

 wrested from Nature on streams and lakes 

 might be considered not an unqualified 

 boon ; yet I am not without defence in 

 deeming it unnecessary to withhold The 

 Book of Flies which is inset at the begin- 

 ning of this volume. AVhile proving, I 

 shall trust, helpful in no inconsiderable 

 measure, it will not lead to depletion of 

 the lakes and streams. Thousands of 

 anglers might become much more expert 

 than they are without making any per- 

 ceptible reduction in the stock of fish 

 those waters hold. 



With a defter eloquence than could 

 be spun from words, the Book sets forth 

 one's own experience and a very large 

 mass of carefully sifted traditions ; but 

 an explanatory word may here be added 

 to what is said in the Preface. While 

 the pictures of the lake flies are in most 



