Fly-Rods and Fly-Tackle

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. Eight or nine years ago my publishers informed me that this book would soon be out of print, and proposed a new edition. I replied that I desired to revise and partly, at least, to rewrite it, before doing which I wished to begin and conclude certain experiments, the deductions from which I believed would add materially to the value of the book. Though these experiments were many in number, that which I regarded as of first importance was the further investigation of how lines, leaders, and flies appeared to trout under the varying conditions of light and water which confront the angler when rod in hand. It is not my nature to be content with one experiment when another and a more conclu sive method of investigation suggests itself. My plan was to procure a diver's outfit, together with the nec essary skilled assistance, and at various depths beneath the surface of the water, and over light and dark col ored bottoms, and in sunshine and shadow, myself im personate a fish while a friend angled for me, as it were. Thus, and with aid of telephonic communication and a stenographer, I hoped in two or three weeks' time to make quite an impression on the problem.