Apology
Our object in writing this brief and necessarily incomplete historical sketch of angling and fly fishing of olden days is to trace the evolution of our subject mainly and also to impress upon the young angler, whether he be young in years or young in experience, that in taking up scientific angling he at once becomes one of a great brotherhood and practices an art that is of ancient and honorable lineage — the only pastime, incidentally, that has produced a literary classic. Men
of science, art, letters, statecraft and holy callings, from times immemorial, have hearkened to the call of the waters; have been thrilled by the swirling of lusty fishes and consoled by the song of the south wind and have been made " merie in Spyryte " and consequently better men thereby.
