famous piscatory university of Scotland. The term was mainly occupied in inquiry, observation, and practice in conversations, consultations, and friendly disputations with the great masters and practical teachers of the North. I merely mention this to show, that although I am a self-elected teacher, I have tried hard not to deserve being called an idle, or an ignorant one. I shall state briefly the results of my studies.

The FIRST part of this book will be found to consist of a code of rules for the practice of

pure fly-fishing for salmon. I presume the

student to be already proficient in the art of fly-fishing for trout, and taking him at that point of progress, I place in his hands the salmon-rod. I tell him of what materials it is to be made; of what size and shape it is to be; and I describe the winch and lines best suited for it. I tell him then how to use it, whether for casting the fly, humouring the fly on the water, or striking, hooking, or playing a salmon. I show him how a salmon river is to be fished, and where and when to the best advantage.

Having done all this with elaborate minuteness, I proceed to describe the flies the salmon-fisher must use. To render the description more intelligible, fifteen model flies have been engraved and coloured. Thirteen are after patterns made by Mr. Blacker, of 54, Dean-Street, Soho, which I have myself successfully tested; and two are after favourite patterns kindly sent me, by a gentleman connected with the Foreign Office, and an excellent salmon fisher. These models will furnish a correct idea of what salmon-flies ought to be, generally speaking, in colour, shape, and size.

The list of flies described is the largest, and I think I may say the best, ever published. It embraces general flies of my own selection, and local flies, the patterns of which I have had from the best recognized authorities. For the Tweed, Mr. Forrest, of Kelso, has dressed for me the best standard flies; for the rivers of Sutherlandshire, and for nearly all the rivers of Scotland, Mr. Dunbar, of Loch-Inver, has made me the best patterns, and described the rivers for which they are suited, and the fit season for using them;

and Mr. Flinn, of Worcester, has dressed for me the local flies for Wales. The flies for the rivers of the south of Ireland, are after patterns by W. K. Rogers, Esq., of Cork, one of the most accomplished salmon anglers of my acquaintance; and those for the north of Ireland, are made by Mr. Blacker.

I have taken care to mention the materials that enter into the composition of salmon-flies, and given recipes for the dyeing of wools, furs, silk, and feathers of all those various colours required by the fly-dresser. I have had a plate of salmon-hooks engraved, to show their shapes and sizes, from the largest to the smallest, and have named the best maker of them.

THE SECOND part of the volume is occupied with the natural history of the Salmon, including a minute detail of its habits, with coloured plates, representing the growth of Salmon-fry, and with

chapter on the surest means of breeding that fish artificially. I can recommend, without the slightest assumption of vanity, this part of the book to the attention of the naturalist, as well as to the

study of the intelligent angler. It embraces by far the fullest and truest history of the Salmo salar as yet extant. It is the work, substantially, of Mr. Andrew Young of Invershin; in my opinion, the greatest living authority on the subject. The circumstances under which I have obtained from him the facts adduced are stated elsewhere; but I am responsible for the manner in which they are narrated, for a few trifling addenda to them, and for some arguments and deductions that naturally flowed from them.

Lest it may be supposed that I have formed an exclusively high opinion of the acquirements and abilities of my friendly coadjutor, I have permission to make known the estimation in which he is held by one of the foremost noblemen in the kingdom. In reply to a letter soliciting at the hands of his Grace the Duke of Sutherland the honour of inscribing this little work to him, his Grace, with characteristic kindness, wrote to me as follows:

PREFACE.

xi

"SIR,

"Dunrobin, October 6. 1849.

"I HAVE to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, and to thank you for the obliging compliment you offer.

"I wish I were better entitled to it, by entering personally into the details which make the pursuits of the Angler so delightful to him, as I know to be the case in the instance of many of my friends and family, and have full reason to know is more generally so to others.

"I am persuaded that the work you propose will be highly interesting, as the subject is not confined to the sport; and the natural history, written by an intelligent observer, after much experience, and observation of the Salmon, cannot fail to deserve attention, and to be attractive for all readers.

"I am glad that Mr. A. Young's merits should be appreciated properly. I think highly of him, and hope that a change of arrangements, which I intend in regard to the future affairs of the Fishings, may secure the continuance of his care