OLD JOHN, TIM, & OTHERS 179 



one is alone in a heresy, which at present 

 is apparently the case, how is the truth to 

 be arrived at unless the facts on both 

 sides are revealed ? I have no vanity in 

 the brief record which has just been 

 penned. Indeed, it seems scarcely less 

 out of place than the language on the 



part of Lord G which led to the 



discussion ; and it can be justified, if at aU, 

 only on the consideration that when one 

 has a theory on our fascinating subject it 

 is well, if possible, frankly to support it 

 by statistics. AU I mean to suggest is 

 the possibility that even in sport, an 

 activity of the daylight and the open air 

 the human mind is liable to become the 

 victim of a phrase. 



In an early chapter I have briefly set 

 forth one of the reasons for believing that 

 trout often feed upon drenched flies. At 

 other times, it is certain, fluttering flies 

 have their seemingly exclusive attention. 

 Then it is that the dry-fly man finds 

 his opportunity, and I should be the last 

 to deny that it is very inspiring. To 



