i6o THE DRY-FLY MAN'S HANDBOOK 



in one of the three divisions of the United King- 

 dom, and I am thus able to carry out the ambitious 

 project of my title page of making this a complete 

 manual. 



At the outset I must ask my readers to note that 

 I am giving the opinions of my friends in their own 

 words and without comment. It is, however, neces- 

 sary that I should place on record the statement that 

 I do not necessarily agree with the dicta of these 

 gentlemen as to rods, tackle, flies, etc., but I think it 

 right that their opinions as undoubted experts should 

 be set forth in accordance with their own ideas. It is 

 manifestly impossible for me to express my gratitude 

 for the able manner in which they have all presented 

 their views and for the great kindness towards me 

 personally evinced by their undertaking the arduous 

 task of writing these articles for this book. 



The three friends whom I desire to introduce to 

 any of my readers who are not yet acquainted either 

 with the men or their efficient work are : — 



(i) Mr. Hugh T. Sheringham, the Angling Editor of 

 the first sporting periodical in the world — "The Field" 

 — who has devoted some part of his leisure time to 

 studying dry-fly on Blagdon Lake. 



(2) Mr. A. C. Poole, who having for some years 

 spent a few weeks each autumn among the Harris 

 sea-trout lochs, was from the first struck by the possi- 

 bility of getting great sport with the dry-fly. After a 

 number of trials he systematized the work, and has 

 succeeded in killing some of the largest sea-trout 



