It is incumbent upon any one who writes a new
book about fishing to open with an apology. He
cannot put forward the novelty and freshness of
the subject. When so much has already been
written, a man hesitates before presenting his
work to the public. I am profoundly conscious
that a great deal that is said in the following
pages about trout-fishing is stale. Yet I believe
that fishing is a subject that is not and, indeed,
cannot be exhausted. Like travel, hunting,
drinking, love, and other simple and primitive
human passions, it is of eternal interest.
books about fishing have been designed to impart
instruction. I am too modest about my own
skill to suppose that any one, except a mere
beginner, can learn much from my teaching.
Yet it is gratifying, as the years go on, to find
that one improves in the art of throwing a fly
and catches fish which used to defy one. That
has been my experience, and I trust that others
may share it.
We cannot all hope to become
what are called beautiful fishermen. I myself
gave up that ambition many years ago; but
every one can attain a certain manual dexterity, and,
by exercising his wits as well, will learn how to