1996-Vol22-No4web.Pdf

4 % tb.

m. 5 ..' -,$' . I. . . r' * . pa" ."' *,flT

--.. . .?- 'q .. :,i ;

N A DIRT ROAD in Maine one August noon, magnificent bull moose feeding in the pond. We pad- my husband and I were trying to find a particu- dled all around them. It had taken several frustrating 0larly remote pond, and it was eluding us. The hours to get there and to find them, but it had been pond was clearly marked on the Gazetteer, but we were worth it. discovering a lot of side roads that weren't. This pond, And I caught some salmon on the trip, too. we were told, was sure to harbor moose. Moose was the reason I was in Maine- moose and landlocked salmon. Two F EAT u R E s in this Fall issue deal with access. In About to give up, we saw a pick-up truck coming the "Getting There," Curator Jon Mathewson reviews ways other direction and flagged it down. It was a Mainer on we have historically made our treks to river and stream. vacation; he thought he knew where we wanted to go. Photos that evidence how tough it used to be and ad- He said he had all the time in the world and would be vertisements that beckon the buyer to easier methods happy to show us the way. He turned his truck around, grace these pages. Easier access, of course, meant more and we followed him. anglers, a problem addressed in "Preservation and It soon became clear that he couldn't find the right Posting." This excerpt from Ed Van Put's soon-to-be- road either. But he offered to take us to the pond where published history, The Beaverkill, deals with the geo- he'd just been fishing. He took a look at our VW Golf, graphically universal tension between conservation of made a quick assessment, and decided we could do it. the resource and the public's right to fish. We got back in the car and followed. And in his third contribution to The American Fly We followed a long way, for a long time. The roads Fisher, Frederick Buller takes on the mystery of "The got worse, more remote, and our clearance was becom- Macedonian Fly." With Elian's description of an artifi- ing extremely questionable. My city survival instincts cial fly, Buller ventures a guess as to not only what the were beginning to kick in, and I wondered what we tied fly would look like, but what insect it was meant to thought we were doing, following a complete stranger represent. into the middle of nowhere. It could be weeks before Thanks to those of you who have written to let us our bodies were found. The fact that we'd flagged him know you have a complete run of The American Fly down wasn't alleviating my anxiety. Fisher. We are happy to know who and where you are. Finally, without warning, he stopped. He got out of If anyone else can add his or her name to the list, drop the car and showed us his secret carry to the pond, in- me a line. As to potential advertising in this journal, visible from the "road," marked only by the smallest of your reactions have been mixed-some of you are cairns. By sharing this access with us, he'd saved us sig- adamantly against it, others understand that it could be nificant paddle time. We thanked him, Tim offered of great financial benefit to the Museum. We'll keep him some flies, and we carried our canoe down and ate you posted, so to speak. lunch. KATHLEENACHOR And there they were. Two calves, two cows, and a EDITOR THEAMERICAN MUSEUM OF FLYFISHING Preserving the Heritage of Fly Fishing TRUSTEES Journal of dthe American Museum of Fly Fishing E. M. Bakwin Martin D. Kline -- Michael Bakwin Me1 Kreiger FALL 1996 VOLUME 22 NUMBER 4 William M. Barrett Nick Lyons Donn H. Byrne, Sr. Walter Matia James H. Carey Janet Mavec Roy D. Chapin, Jr. James L. Melcher The Macedonian Fly...... 2 Michael D. Copeland 0. Miles Pollard Frederick Buller Peter Corbin Susan A. Popkin Thomas N. Davidson Pamela B. Richards Charles R. Eichel Tom Rosenbauer Getting There ...... 10 Charles Ferree Robert G. Scott Jon Mathewson Audun Fredriksen James Spendiff Arthur T. Frey Arthur Stern The Beaverkill: Preservation and Posting. 16 Reed Freyermuth John Swan ...... Gardner L. Grant James Taylor Ed Van Put Curtis Hill Richard G. Tisch James Hunter David H. Walsh Gallery: Dr. Arthur Kaemmer Richard J. Warren Woods King I11 James C. Woods The Woolner Collection ...... 24 Earl S. Worsham Notes & Comment: TRUSTEES EMERITI On the Question of Dapping ...... 25 G. Dick Finlay Leon Martuch W. Michael Fitzgerald Keith C. Russell Paul Schullery Robert N. Johnson Paul Schullery David B. Ledlie Stephen Sloan Museum News...... 26 OFFICERS President Richard G. Tisch Contributors...... 28 Vice Presidents Arthur Stern Pamela B. Richards o N THE c ov E R:AS modes of transportation expanded, so did the ways Treasurer James H. Carey that anglers could reach their favorite waters. This photo is from an album Secretary Charles R. Eichel offishing trips made by George Parker Holden between 1916 and 1919. Mu- seum collection. STAFF Executive Director Craig Gilborn Executive Assistant Virginia Hulett Curator Jon C. Mathewson

Director of Development Eric Brown The Amencnn Fly Fisher is published Research/Publicity Joe A. Pisarro four times a year by the Museum at P.O. Box 42, Manchester, Vermont oj254. Publication dates are winter, spring, summer, and fall. Membership dues include the cost of the journal ($25) and are tax deductilde as provided for by law. Membership rates are listed in the back of each issue. Editor Kathleen Achor AU letters, manuscripts, photographs, and materials intended for publication in the iournal should be sent to Design eS Production Randall Rives Perkins the Museum. The Museum and journal are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, drawings, photographic Copy Editor Sarah May Clarkson material, or memorahilia. The Museum cannot accept reqponsibility for statements and interpretations that are Consulting Editor Margot Page wholly the author's. Unsolicited n~anuscriptscannot be returned unless postage is provided. Contributions to The Amencan Fly Frsher are to be considered gratuitous and the property of the Museum l~nlessotherw~se requested Contributing Editor Paul Schullery by the contributor. Articles appearing in this journal are abstracted and indexed in Historical Abstracts and Amenca: History and Lifi. Copyright D 1996, the American Museum of Fly Fishing, Manchester, Vermont 05254. Original material appearing may not he reprinted without prior permission. Second Class Permit postage paid at Manchester Vermont 01254 and additional offices (USPS oj7qio). The American Fly Fisher (ISSN 0x84-jj62) POSTMASTER:Send address changes to The Arnerrcmt Fly Fisher; P.O. Rox 42, Manchester, Vermont ogzjq. The Macedonian Fly

by Frederick Buller

MANY FLY FISHERMEN are familiar tles, and which in colour are like wax. it imitates the colour of a wasp, and it with Elian's account, translated from De Their rod is six feet long, and their line is hums like a bee. The natives call it the of the same length. Then they throw their Hippouros. Animalium Natura, of the Macedonian snare, and the fish attracted and mad- As these flies seek their food over the fly This second-century description of a dened by the colour, comes up thinking, river, they do not escape the observation natural fly and its dressing is believed to from the pretty sight, to get a dainty of the fish swimming below. When the be the first written mention of an artifi- mouthful; when, however, it opens its fish observes a fly hovering above, it cial fly. jaws, it is caught by the hook and enjoys a swims quietly up, fearing to agitate the bitter repast, a capti~e.~ water, lest it should scare away its prey; Frederick Buller examines this historic then coming up by its shadow, it opens its passage on the Macedonian fly and asks The simplicity of the dressing should jaws and gulps down the fly, like a wolf two questions: 1) What was the natural not be confused with primitiveness or carrying off sheep from the flock, or an fly? and 2) What did the artificial fly look crudeness because the dressing would eagle a goose from the farmyard; having have matched the daintiness of the done this, it withdraws under the rippling like and how was it dressed? The resulting water.3 research is a fresh, insightful, and enter- hooks on which the flies were tied (as I taining look at one of the most important hope to demonstrate). William Radcliffe was not only mind- early records of our sport. ful of the originality of Elian's text, but JIMBROWN also of the skill of the ancient fly tyers: AUTHOR,A Treasury of Reels Although Elian does not mention It is undoubtedly the first and only ex- the sought-after fish by name, it is pret- press mention of a specially made-up Ar- ty obvious-from the location of the tificial Fly . . . LIAN (170-230 A.D.) was a Ro- river in Macedonia (presumably in its And not only is he the first, but also man citizen who wrote a mas- middle or upper reaches) and the de- (with possibly one exception) the only terpiece on natural history in scription of fish with "speckled skins"- author during fourteen hundred years, Greek. Better known by its Latin title De that he is referring to brown trout. who makes any reference to any such fly. Animalium Natura, parts of it were From Elian until the Treatyse of Fysskynge translated into English by Osmund I have heard of a Macedonian way of wytk an Angle [1496] we find no mention Lambert in Angling Literature in Eng- catching fish, and it is this: between of, or allusion to, the Artificial Fly. . . But I suggest and believe that this pas- land (1881) and more extensively by Berea and Thessalonica runs a river called the Astrzos, and in it there are fish sage is intended, not as a description of a William Radcliffe in Fishing From the with speckled skins; what the natives of new invention, or of a striking departure Earliest Times (1921). Elian is famous the country call them, you had better ask from old methods of Angling. It merely for being the "first author of all ages and the Macedonians. instances the Macedonian's adaptability of all countries specifically to mention These fish feed on a fly which is pecu- to his environment and his imitative skill and roughly describe an Artificial Fly."l liar to the country, and which hovers over in dressing from his wools and feathers a The dressing of that "Artificial Fly" the river. It is not like flies found else- fly to resemble as closely as possible the was simple enough. where, nor does it resemble a wasp in ap- natural fly on which the fish were feeding, pearance, nor in shape would one justly a practice very common among anglers of They fasten red (crimson red) wool describe it as a midge or a bee, yet it has the present day4 round a hook, and fit on to the wool two something of each of these. In boldness it feathers which grow under a cock's wat- is like a fly, in size you might call it a bee, Radcliffe observed that Elian, in an-

2 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER This small silver bowl with its bas-relief sea fishing scene from the Delta region of Egypt (from about loo B.c.) is categorized as Ptolemaic (Hellenistic Egyptian) and as such helps w to appreciate how Greek cultural influences were carried into Africa (and Asia) by the invading Macedonian armies. Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum.

other part of his book, described how That fishing tackle and indeed fly- much copper and lead, and cords." Now sea fish could be caught on lures made fishing tackle, even two thousand years follow the important words - "and feath- with hooks (presumably large) wrapped ago, were well developed in the eastern ers, chiefly white, or black, or various. in wool of Laconian red (from the an- Mediterranean countries (or at least in They use two wools, red and blue."7 cient Doric state of Laconia) to which is Greece and Macedonia) is evident from attached a sea mew's (gull's) feather.5 the next paragraph in Radcliffe's sum- The art of feathering for mackerel, mary of part of his translation of cod, whiting, or other fish is very old Elian's work. Elian's reference (c. 200 A.D.) to a indeed, which is apparent from Rad- river in Macedonia called the Astrzos cliffe's summary of Elian's note on the The list of those necessary for fishing with was suddenly brought back to me when subject of catching pilamyds or young hooks, or Angling, recounts "natural I read about a twentieth-century discov- tunny fish: "One of the crew sitting at horsehair, white, and black, and flame- ery of a cache of hooks in Macedonia the stern lets down on either side of the coloured, and half-grey; but of the dyed that had lain for some two thousand ship lines with hooks. On each hook he hair, they select only those that are grey, years within a tomb in the ancient city ties a bait [or rather a lure] wrapped in or of true sea-purple, for the rest, they of Amphipolis. A different Macedonian say, are pretty poor. They use, too, the wool of Laconian red, and to each hook river was named-this time the Struma straight bristles of swine, and thread, and attaches the feather of a sea mew."6 (in Greek the Strimon or Strymon), just

FALL 1996 3 seventy-five miles east of the Astrzeos. 1916 map of the area, then glance at a reply from Paul Cornish of the depart- The storv of finding" the ancient current map to see how much shifting ment of exhibits and firearms. hooks was revealed to me when, on the has occurred), a large expanse of recommendation of Ronald Coleby, an marshland full of lakes and pools had Thank you for the photocopy of the arti- come into being. This provided much- cle relating to the ancient bronze fish- antiquarian book dealer, I read a rather hook reputed to be in our collection. Un- curious little book called Rod, Pole & needed fresh meat when some of the fortunately I have still not been able to lo- Perch (1928). Its author, L.C.R. Cam- wildfowl frequenting the wetlands were cate this item in our collections. The mu- eron, combined the subjects of otter shot during morning and evening seum left South Kensington in 1935 and, hunting and angling in the same work. flights. The lakes also contained large given the vagaries of record keeping be- The discovery of the hooks depended populations of carp, whose meat tween then and relatively modern times, on the freak landing of an artillery shell couldn't be added to the soldier's diet there would be ample opportunity for on an ancient tomb. It happened this because every consignment of fishing such an item to disappear from view. The way. tackle needed to catch them had been only sure way of discovering whether we Following the disastrous attempt of lost on transports torpedoed en route. ever possessed it would be by an impossi- bly long search through the manuscript the British army to advance on Con- Cameron wrote: accessions of the period 1917-1935.l~ stantinople against the Turks along the The front-line trenches occupied a cause- Gallipoli Peninsula during World War I, way, bordered by the tombs of the ancient Next I will seek through the good the remnants of its Expeditionary Force inhabitants of Amphipolis, which dates offices of the War Office to get in touch were evacuated in October 1915. Some from 400 B.C. and was successively occu- with the descendants of Dr. Eric Gard- of these subsequently disembarked at pied by Greeks, Macedonians, and Ro- ner to see if any correspondence relating the Greek port of Sal~nika.~ mans. One day an enemy shell burst on to the hooks has survived. One thing is This movement marked the entry of one of these tombs, and when Dr. Gard- certain. If two-thousand-year-old hooks British troops into the Balkan theater of ner and other officers examined the ruin were used to catch sufficient numbers war where they soon faced German and out of curiosity they found the bones of a of wild carp to feed the troops of the man dating from c. zoo B.C. holding in Bulgarian armies that were moving his hands a quantity of bronze fish-hooks. 80th Brigade 27th Division, the hooks down the Strumitza (or Strymon) Val- These ranged in size from about a No. 11 (probably sizes 4 or 5, the sizes a mod- ley in Macedonia in an attempt to effect of our modern scale to No. 4 or No. 5. ern carp fisherman would use) must a junction with their Turkish allies. They were barbed and the ends of the have been superbly made and of prodi- During an artillery exchange in the area shanks flattened [spade-end hooks] with gious strength. of Amphipolis, an enemy shell fell on a lines cut on the shanks below the flat- Doubtless the flies that the Macedo- tomb that was more than two thousand tened ends, to hold the whipping more nians used to catch the fish with "speck- years old. This unremarkable event had securely. led skins" would have been dressed on a remarkable result when it provided They were distributed among some of the smallest and most delicate of the the means by which the troops (sadly the officers and sergeants of the Expedi- tionary Force, who with them caught hooks found. If I could locate one of lacking protein in their diet after so thousands of carp, the biggest weighing these ancient hooks, I could, with the many consignments of meat had been 14 lb.; which formed a welcome change in dressing described by Elian, get some- condemned) could be properly fed on a the diet of the troops. One of these hooks body to authentically reproduce the ear- diet of fresh fish. Cameron got his story was preserved and brought back to Eng- liest known artificial trout fly, the Hip- personally from Dr. Eric Gardner, who land, and is now in the R.A.M.C. section pouros. was serving with the Royal Army Med- of the Imperial War Museum at South ical Corps (or R.A.M.C.) in Macedo- Kensington [London].lo nia.9 Gardner's unit was on the right of the River Struma, facing the Bulgarian In November 1995 I wrote a letter to army, some fifty miles east-northeast of the keeper of the R.A.M.C. section of the Imperial War Museum to see if the Salonlka. Whether or not I eventually succeed Because of the shifting bed of the hook, brought back to England and in locating one of the original bronze presumably placed in a collection, had River Struma (one only has to look at a hooks that would enable one of my been kept safe. I received the following fly-tying friends to tie a Hippouros fly

4 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER An Etruscan panel from Orvieto, c. 300 B.C. Courtesy of The Fishing Gazette.

begs the question: What real fly was it wrote, "And not only the flies but su- was surprisingly (but pleasingly) posi- meant to imitate? Remember that perflies [as big as a bee?]; Beastly tive: Elian described it as resembling a yellow-bellied things [the color of a wasp, or a midge, or a bee, yet having wasp?] that if you hit them with your As you suggest, it is difficult to be cate- something of each of these in that it fly-whisk, just scuttle contemptuously gorical about the identity of the fly in the was as bold as a fly, as big as a bee, and to another spot [bold?]and can only be descriptions. However, the descriptions colored llke a wasp. induced to leave by being pulled off seem to me to be reminiscent of a horse- This description was an entomologi- with the fingersl'l2 fly. Horseflies produce a deep droning cal puzzle until I read G. Ward Price's Because Elian's and Price's descrip- sound when in flight. They are very per- sistent when trying to take a blood meal The Story of the Salonika Army (1918). tions are so close, I sought the opinion and produce quite a painful bite. Some Therein Price describes the discomfort of Stephen Brooks in the department of species have markings similar to bees and and illness caused by flies, midges, and entomology at the Natural History Mu- are also of a similar si2e.u mosquitoes in the valley of the River seum in London to see if he could make Struma. I think that he might well have an informed guess as to the identity of Brooks then tentatively suggested been describing the Hippouros when he the insect in question. Brooks's reply that there could be a link between the

FALL 1996 5 The Hippouros Fly, Candidate

horsefly that he was proposing and the Greek name Hippouros. Because "hip- DO" is derived from the Greek word for horse, might not the name hippouros, therefore, be a reference to their habit of feeding on horses? The Oxford English Dictionary confirms the origin and meaning of hippo and gives examples of combining word forms, such as hip- pophile (a horse lover) and hippopota- mus (a river horse). When I asked Brooks if he could sup- ply an illustration of a species of horse- fly that in addition to being native to Therioplectes tricolor Kirchbergi, female. Courtesy of Dr. Milan Macedonia would also fit Elian's de- Chvdla, Department of Entomology, Charles University, Prague, scription, he suggested that I contact Czech Republic. John Chainey, a colleague in the depart- ment of entomology, who is the muse- um's specialist on horseflies. This I did, and in due course Chainey replied. He DRESSING was very encouraging, but pointed out that there were problems about the Hook: Size 6 or 8 spade-end identification that needed to be ad- Body: Laconian (crimson red) wool dressed. First, Elian makes no mention of the Hippouros being a pest in any Wings: Two; wax-colored (dun colored?) way, which one would expect if it was a made from the feathers taken from man-biting species. However, some ta- under a cock's wattle banid species do not bite man. Second, only males of some species gather in hovering swarms; otherwise, the flight of tabanids is fast and direct. Third, Elian's statement, "peculiar to the country. . . it is not like flies found else- where," implies that if the Hippouros was a tabanid, then it must have been haps worthy of consideration is the very Although there are no records from unusual in appearance and localized in distinctive Therioplectes tricolor Zeller. mainland Greece, it would not be unex- distribution. This is a large insect (zo-z5mm in length) pected in the Thessalonica area. It appears On the positive side, Chainey had with a band of pale yellowish hairs that to be scarce through most of its range but this to say: crosses the apex of the thorax and base of is occasionally found in abundance. There the abdomen, the tip of the abdomen is very little information on the habits of I have come to the conclusion that if the conspicuously covered with bright rufous this species, though the females are Hippouros was a horsefly (Tabanidae), hairs and wings that could be described as known to attack horses and cattle but not then it must have been an unusual one. wax coloured. It is found in the Caucasus, man. The larvae have been found in forest As a result, I have taken a highly specula- Turkey, the Greek island of Samos, Ruma- streams. (Author's italics.)'4 tive course and suggested a possible con- nia, and Bulgaria, with one record from tender. One tabanid species that is per- Sicily. Chainey enclosed a photograph of

6 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER Number 1: The Horsefly

twentieth-century versions of the Hip- pouros fly with the materials specified in Blian's ancient dressing. Dr. Chvila, intrigued by all the prob- lems of identification, wondered wheth- er the original word in Latin-translat- ed as hovering-had a special and spe- cific determining quality. My only possible explanation ("In bold- ness it is like a fly, in size . . . a bee, it imi- tates the colour of a wasp, and it hums like a bee") is some species of large hover-fly (family Syrphidae). The members of this family like to hov- T H I s FLY WA s D R E s s E D by David Beazley of Chesham in er on a spot in sun-shine, over ground, Buckinghamshire, one-time curator of the Flyfishers' Club, vegetation or even water. They often hov- London. I asked him to tie his interpretation of Blian's fly. He er on one spot over the ghttering surface told me that his first challenge was to think of how it might be of water, "humming like a bee," imitating the "colour of a wasp"-many syrphids tied with no tools other than a knife- and certainly no vise. are of bright, warning yellow-black col- His first effort was to see if it could be tied using only wool, oration of a wasp, especially the large (as but he found there was no way of keeping the dressing, partic- large as the larger tabanids) Volucella species, some have even a reddish ab- ularly the wings, tight. domen imitating a bumble-bee (quite like The fly was tied in his fingers, using a length of white tying a tabanid of the genus Therioplectes). But thread, a short length of red wool, and two waxy cock hackles. the hover-fly could be caught by a fish while it hovers over one spot. The flies Whether it would be recognizable to Blian is anyone's guess. mentioned by Price might well be syr- phids as well "beastly yellow bellied things that if you hit them with your fly-whisk, just scuttle contemptuously to another spot"-typical behaviour of a hovering syrphid fly?5 Now thoroughly warmed to the pro- ject, which he likened to a detective Therioplectes tricolor Zeller and sug- two other closely related tabanids (pre- novel, Dr. Chvila added this postscript gested that I write to Dr. Milan Chvila viously named by Chainey as alterna- to his letter: "There is a discrepancy be- of the entomological department at tives) because they are native to Greece: tween the colour of the artificial fly Charles University in Prague for per- Therioplectes gigas Herbst or Therio- ('they fasten crimson wool') and the mission to use it. I subsequently did so plectes tunic atus Szilady, rather than Macedonian fly ('it imitates the colour and included with my letter some back- Therioplectes tricolor Zeller. of a wasp.')."16 He thought that there ground notes so that he would under- Subsequently, a photograph of Theri- were two possible explanations. Either stand why I needed the photograph. oplectes tricolor Kirchbergi provided by Blian did not differentiate between Dr. Chvda's reply was extremely Dr. Chvila was used (because it was the wasps and bumblebees (the latter some- helpful. If the Hippouros fly was meant only one available) by my friend David times have bright red abdomens) or to imitate a horsefly, Dr. Chvila favored Beazley as a model to tie the first of two that the early fly tyers had already

FALL 1996 7 The Hippouros Fly, Candidate

learned that bright colors could be more attractive to fish than the natural colors. I sent a draft of my findings to Ken- neth Robson, editor of The Flyfishers' Journal and author of Robson's Guide (on stillwater trout flies). This draft had not yet taken account of Dr. Chvbla's choice of hover-flies or drone-flies (Syr- phidae) as being likely contenders for the original model for the Hippouros fly. However, I received a reply volun- Because Dr. Chvdla was unable to supply a colorphotograph of a teering his own (but identical) response Volucella species, Peter Gathercole kindly offered a photograph of to the riddle. a dronefly that was identijied as Episyrphus balteatus De geer What about drone-flies (Syrphidae)? by John Chainey, who wrote, "This is a very common immigrant Most members of this family are terrestri- (i.e., not resident) species to Britain. The Syrphidae is a very al but some have a partly aquatic life. Lar- large family in Europe with over zoo species recorded in Britain vae live in mud of shallow water and re- alone. The hoveringflight and beelike appearance of some of joice in the malodorous name of rat-tailed maggot. The females return to these could imply thatElian was referring to a species of the water to lay their eggs and they may syrphid, though they are not associated with horses" (personal attract the attention of trout. They resem- correspondence,5 August 1996). ble bees and wasps by virtue of the yellow and black bands on the body and have only two wings like all diptera. Although normally associated with small areas of DRESSING water, they are found at two of our big waters, i.e., Grafham and Hanningfield. Hook: Size 6 or 8 spade-end The late Cyril Inwood invented a dress- ing which he called the Grafham Drone Body: Laconian (crimson red) wool Fly: You will find it on page 114 of Rob- Wings: Two; wax-colored (dun-colored?) son's Guide. The best method of presenta- tion (in still water) is to cast it out to a made from the feathers taken from rising fish and leave it motionless?7 under a cock's wattle Robson finished his letter with the following thought: "I do not find it hard to imagine our angler from Am- phipolos as a younger man, attaching a Hippouros fly that was dressed accord- ing to Elian, creeping along the banks some of the practical aspects of a near ENDNOTES 2,000-year-old puzzle will help to bring of the Astreos and heart in mouth dib- 1. W. A. Chatto in Scenes and Recollections of bling it in the path of a rising trout closer the vision of an ancient angler Fly-Fishing (1834) was the first author to notice some 2,000 years before Halford and his dapping his artificial fly on the stream Ailian's famous reference to an artificial fly. disciples did likewisel'l8 and catching "the fish with speckled 2. Osmund Larnbert, Angling Literature in Eng- Because I am by inclination a ro- skins," later described as Salmo trutta hnd (London: Sampson Low, 1881). In a footnote e mantic, I hope that the uncovering of macedonicus.19 Lambert states, "This translation has been made Number 2: The Drone Fly

the fly [probably the natnral) as lures in his thb- teen&-centqlarin poem de. VduQ. 5. W.,pp. lgo-91. It is interedng ta note that whereas Bliank note on the Epp10.~frosfly is the: wli& de~xiptbnon record, thgn hfs dress- kg of tlre sea fly or lure for yau~tunny rnos;t, ipw facto, he the second. 6, w. 7- Bid, p, 190, 8. In his Be G&d~am4 &da~lika(Bedim Andre Deutsch, 19651, Alan P&ners. s~&,'Thy weveterans @£theGalliplli Campaign ~donly nine wekkv b~ffb~,had stonnwl asktore hFch blackness helaw the hei~htsof Sulva twa hun- dred mila away." 9. Ibid. Alw Pahas, in &epring to Macedo- nia's &at@ hportanae, ded it '"the great highway @om Rome to Constantinaple, a route I ASKED Kenneth Robson to tie his interpretation of Elian's fly supposing trod by many of the World3 historic figures." 10. L2.R Cameron, Rod, Bole eh. PPnh [Lon- them to be drone flies. At my request, he took the liberty of putting some dm:Martin Hopkinson, 1g2$), pp. 157-58. Mace- ribbing on the thorax of two of his versions because Blian stated that "it donia's most famous son Alexander the Great, "Lord ofhid' used the shipyards at Amphipolis imitates the colour of the wasp." In the note he sent with his flies dated 6 (previously UdXinmysJ to heIp to build his navy. He wbw hid the cify contsafld the water- August 1996, he states, "Here are three versions of the Drone Fly. I would way into the Strpon Vallq and the outlet of like to have hackle, but I did not want to stray too far away from the Blian trade from the Balks iuld fhe Danube Wey. 11, Paul Coraish, Department of MEts and version. Again you can take your pick from a black rib or a yellow one (I Firearms, ImperX U"ar i%seum, Londo~kar to aauthr, 14 November 1995. chose the yellow one). 'The fish attracted and maddened by the colour, 12. G. Ward Price, Tk $Tory of the 5a~oflik.a comes up thinking from the pretty sight to get a dainty mouthful'-un- Army (London: Hoddm $; Stought0~1,~~~.8). q. Stephen Brooks, Department of Entomolo- doubtedly a dry fly! I wonder how long these versions would float unsup- gy, Natural History Museum, London, letta to ported by a hackle. When Elian says 'fit on to the wool two feathers,' he author, 31 January 1996. 14"John Ghainey, Department of Entomolo- does not specify wings. I've tied you a version using two feathers as hackle gy, Natural History Museum, Londoa letter to autho~~Febsuary 1996. and without a built-up body. This is more an impressionist fly, but I guar- ~5.Milan Ch~Ala,Department of Entomology, antee that it would float and attract fish. That one's just for the fun of it!" Charles University, Prague> letter to author, lz March 1996. 16. Bid. 17. Kenneth Robwn, letter to authm, zz April ipgh. In a fbotnote within the letter, Robson not- ed "The rat-tailed maggot has gn ingenioqs breathing apparatus consisting of a tail with a long tube that is te1acopic." @omSchneide&i e&an of&lim. Book XY chap spondence dated 24 lanuary 1996), Maosin m- I& Ibfd. 3. Variatims in gzogrzphic names me dqen- cient Greek geography is a northan tributary of 19. The author consuited i4Iwyn.e Wheeler, dem oq the tradci~o~CVII, PL Charno or Omund -the Aliakmon (or Hdiacmon) River running be- formmfy of the Britfsh Museum (Natural Histo- Lambmt], Thesdwnica was also hwaas Thes- tween Veria and Thessaloniki perhaps that rkr ry) and learned &at Macedonia, which onm in- s&nW or &do&, Be= &sow horn as Be- known in modern times as Kotichas. cluded Yugnslavia has its own native hwn roca; Astmos k know rn &tracm According to 4. Wiiliam Radcliffe, Fishgng Fr~m?he Earliest trout. This fish was d~sifiedin the 19aos by the Ma& HmWIo9--s of tPre idormartion Times (Londan: John Murray, i9z), pp, 187-89, &monomist 8. Kaama~as Salmo tru* mare- Dffim of thg Er$l&sy of GrMt~inLodon (come- Richird de Fournival alludes to the worm and to dorrias, a whspecia of the bmwn trout,

FALL 1996 9 George Parker Holden (second from left, leaning against carriage), c. 1917. Museum collection.

Getting There by Jon Mathewson

ZA AK WALTO N opened his Compleat Angler with haunts because to them, it was fairly obvious: one this quote from the Bible: "Simon Peter said I go a- walked, even if one lived in a city. Ifishing: and they said We also go with thee (John New York City first placed limits on fish caught in XXI: 3)P Neither Saint John nor Saint Izaak mention, 1734 to ensure the survival of angling with a hook on really, how they would transport themselves to the fish- Manhattan. Although fly fishing is no longer widely ing hole. By foot and by boat is generally assumed, but practiced on the island, the law was successful in pro- fly fishers have been nearly as inventive in modes of longing this form of recreation, and Manhattanites transportation as in methods of fly tying. fished on their own island well into the nineteenth cen- Walton and the other early angling authors neglected tury. The same was true for London as well. to mention how they traveled to their favorite fishing Even when fishing within city limits was not desir-

10 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER Hikers in the Adirondacks. From the Columbian Exposition panelsprepared by Mary Orvis Marbury in 1893. Museum collection.

able, alternatives were easily found. Gregory Green- journey, and after all, find her but a semi-cockney sort of drake, in his Angling Excursions (Dublin, 1832), described lady. walking outside of Dublin in the early springtime. So, in the early nineteenth century, the second-largest How delightful it is, now, to turn our backs upon the city; city of the British Empire was still small enough to af- relinquishing reading-rooms, clubs, and coffee-houses, and ford fly fishers their leisure of choice just by walking for betake us to some quiet out-let, some private scene, as near half an hour. Presumably, the longest one would have to to nature, and as far from the city, as half an hour's walk travel to reach a prime fishing spot was half a day, no will lead us. Thank heaven! and our happy poverty, we pos- matter where he or she lived. sess this advantage above the overgrown elder metropolis Farther journeys were taken in horse-driven car- [London] and have not to seek nature through half a day's riages, especially to favorite inns and country estates. In The horse and carriage served many nineteenth-century anglers well. Museum collection, c. 1890.

the New World, travel by railroad became important gained only during the months of June, July, August and -necessary even- to explore the new fishing venues of September . . . The travel will not be found especially the West. According to Charles Hallock in his Sports- difficult, nor will the danger be great, as the Indians man's Gazetteer (1877), fly fishing could be dangerous. having a superstitious reverence for the valley, believing Of the Dakota Territory, he wrote, "The interior is unin- it to be the abode of the Great Spirit, never enter it." habited, or occupied by hostile Indian tribes, and travel- Hallock included a comprehensive railroad map of the ing without armed escourt [sic] consequently danger- country with his book. ous.'' He describes the Yellowstone Valley of Montana as The growing national railroad system enabled ex- abundant with fish: "The streams are filled with large tended angling excursions. By 1880, Forest and Stream salmon trout of great weight and fine flavor." They were, magazine included travel tips for fishers going to the however, difficult to reach: "Entrance to this valley is usual eastern spots (Quebec to Tennessee) and further through the caiion of the Yellowstone, and this can be west. Montana, Colorado, Minnesota, California, Ore-

12 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER padsTJ 'Suyysg Su!pnpuy 'say.[nylx jo Xlar~ene uy aled lodaa p~lua3pueq anea?,, :mourJaA uy aupayle=> -;[3!11ed 07 apysX~lun03ayl oluy sagp ayl jo $no a~doad '3s aye7 y3eal 01 MO~paqyxxap a13111e uaanls pua ~sa 30 SUO~I~I~ly2nolq sapXxq 'le~ndod X1snopuawal~ -log laylout? 'Jaypea yluow TJ '(0881 laqo130 82 'Uaa-IIS -a13hrq ayl jo asp aql Xq lam se~paau sryl 'so681 pua ~sa~og'y~od 'H ung) uo2e~Xq luaM OMJ pue 'yxq ayl Xppadsa put! 'soggr ayl Su~na.surealls alqeysy -asJoy Xq luaM amos 'JaAp ayl 01 papsop e yo01 uayl lsaleau ayl yxal 03 laaj UMO 4ay~ueyl aJow papaau Xued ay~jo slaqwaur awos ry3ue~e 8uyy3ea~pue urell aldoad 'X~nlua3yluaalauru alq ayl ur ~a~lasap;r3 sv Xq OPEJO~O=) 01 SU!O~paq~msap JalyJM auo 'mea1ls ayl 'lsoy 01 X~essa3ausueam JahaleyM uayl 'uopeupsap ayl Jeau sno~auaBe Xq paueol aJaM uopel~odsueejo sapour 01 Ilel Xq seM IaAell jo poylaur Iensn ayL .aspa s'urealls ayl ssalun 'pauopuaur IaAau sy "ahpp,, 01 2uyy1awos 01 1a1Sue ayl Su;r~qIOU pyp %lsno!aqo 'speoqye1 ay;l lual 10 a~;mbxly8p1 lasueas e MOH '' - . 'aye1 ayl .aSessed XEM~~~IXq la18 01 saIyur aaq anpp 'Xaulpod 01 layzq '.LY.V rr le (x'N) -ue aylol dn pauado uaaq IIe pt?y ayserJ uaAa pue 'uoS From E.E. Butcher's article "The Sporting Motorcycle" in theJu2y 1914 issue of Field and Stream. Photo originallyprovided by the Feilbach Motor Co.

pack-rod case was even developed to attach easily to bi- could bring the outdoors man quickly to the most se- cycle frames. (A beautiful example of a "bicycle rod:' an cluded, hard-to-reach places with little effort. This 1893 Kosmic, is part of the Museum's collection.) caught on for a while-even Wes Jordan took a motor- By 1914, companies that had motorized bicycles were cycle streamside -but, like all fads, disappeared. advertising their products, "motorcycles," as being per- By this time, of course, anglers were bringing cars to fect for the camper, hunter, and angler. Motorcycles the wilderness. And airplanes. Gadabout Gaddis, the

14 THE AMERICAN PLY FISHER 'rom 'The American Angle 3 and look and Line, 23 August '890.

These anglers enjoyed the advantage ofmotorized transport to the stream. Museum collection, c. 1915.

"flying fisherman," was most famous for flying to fishing new places for anglers to practice their art. However, as holes, and some readers may recall that the esteemed more people get to these places, demand develops to Lee Wulff was also an aviator. Some of today's anglers reach even more remote areas. Eventually, the least have even begun taking helicopters to out-of-the-way crowded and best fishing may be just within walking places. distance. Improved methods of transportation have opened -

EALL 1996 Preservation and Posting

citr~q*

11 Qd-bw to mnq large t~k.

PRIVATE WATERS in the Catskills were CLUBMEN fact that legislation was introduced in first posted in 1868. By the late 18705, Albany to halt trout fishing. This des- posting in the name of stream preserva- HROUGHOUT THE 1870~,Over- perate attempt occurred in the spring of tion was well under way More than loo fishing had become a major prob- 1874 when "an Act for the preservation years ago, people were dealing with the Tlem in the Catskills. One solution of fish, commonly called speckled trout" same issues we struggle with today: con- that was gaining popularity among was introduced to the legislature. The servation of the resource and access to landowners and anglers was the estab- bill prohibited anyone from catching or sport regardless of class. lishment of private, or posted, water. fishing for trout in any stream in Ulster Ed Van Put's The Beaverkill, a history Trout-fishing clubs were founded on the and Delaware counties for a period of of the river and its surroundings, will be Beaverkill during this era, and for the two years. Although the bill passed in released by Lyons Q Burford in Novem- first time notices began to appear along the assembly, it failed in the senate.' ber. We'd like to present two chapters the stream advising anglers that they Stream posting actually began in the from the book, "Clubmen" and "No More were no longer welcome. Catslulls on the Willowemoc Creek in Free Fishing," as a preview. Trout populations must have been in 1868 when the Willowemoc Club was es- EDITOR a deplorable state, as evidenced by the tablished at Sand Pond. The club leased

16 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER four miles of the Willowemoc upstream structed a small clubhouse approxi- Something, however, had to be done from the tannery at DeBruce. In a letter mately a mile and a half upstream of the and Royal Voorhess believed he had to Forest and Stream, dated 19 March Beaverkill Falls. These men were the found the answer. 1874, Cornelius Van Brunt, club presi- parent group of the Salmo Fontinalis On 1 July 1875, Voorhess obtained dent, advised readers that he and several Club; whether they operated their club leases along the stream from several ad- others had formed the Willowemoc in the traditional manner and leased joining landowners for the "exclusive Club to not only have a pleasant place to and/or posted the stream is not known. rights of fishery, and preserving of the fish, but more important, to put a halt Posting on the Beaverkill began in trout and other fishl'3 The leases includ- to the destructive practice of keeping earnest downstream of Shin Creek, on ed a ten-foot strip along either side of every fish no matter how small. Imme- the farm of Royal Voorhess. Like other the stream and were in effect for a peri- diately they met with opposition, but farmers whose lands adjoined the od of five years, with an option for five attitudes changed as landowners wit- stream, Voorhess received a substantial more. After obtaining the leases, Voor- - nessed an increase in the stream's trout portion of his income from boarding hess and several of his regular boarders population. The founders of the Wil- fishermen. And like others, he was con- filed a certificate of association and I lowemoc Club set in motion a policy of cerned that his guests were bringing in founded a society known as the Beav- 1 stream preservation, through private fewer fish and were traveling farther up- erkill Association: "the business of said I ownership, that exists on the Beaverlull stream to where trout were more plenti- society shall be fishing and other lawful , and Willowemoc to this day. ful. sporting purposesl'4 In 1872, Junius Gridley, Edward B. Most farmers were reluctant to post The leases and the certificate of asso- Mead, Daniel B. Halstead of Brooklyn, their lands and prohibit fishing. They ciation were filed and recorded in the and Robert Hunter of Englewood, New were afraid they might incur the wrath Sullivan County Clerk's Office on 9 Sep- Jersey, spent the entire summer board- of anglers who had always fished over tember 1875. The original trustees of the ing on the upper Beaverkill. They slept their waters, and they held a "fear of organization were Royal Voorhess, in tents the first year, and in 1873 con- some secret attempt at retaliati~n."~Whitman Phillips (Franklin, N. J.), Ed-

Map illustration by Michael Musto FALL 1996 17 ward A. Hastings (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Siclen, who fished its waters each season guard that stream from Balsam Lake Henry Bacon, and Charles Mead for many years. He, like Royal Voorhess, down to Weaver's west line and I have (Goshen, N.Y.). This filing was the first became convinced that measures had to posted notices and the fishing of the up- be taken to halt the overfishing. per Beaverkill in Sullivan and Ulster of its kind in either Sullivan or Ulster counties, New York, is going to be pre- counties, making the Beaverkill Associa- Van Siclen was a founding member served. All gentlemen sportsmen will tion the first fishing club of record on of the Willowemoc Club; he, along with keep away from there after this notice, the Beaverkill. In the years ahead, the other club members, would hike three unless they have my permission to fish, Beaverkill Association would evolve into miles through the forest from Sand and all others will wish they had stayed the Beaverkill Trout Club, which yet to- Pond to fish the Beaverkill and Balsam away if they disregard it. It is unpleasant day maintains the Voorhess homestead Lake. Now, in 1878, after obtaining a for me to write in this positive manner - as its clubhouse. lease and the cooperation of adjoining it sounds boastful and ungenerous- The practice of posting had begun landowners, he and other club members but somebody had to take hold or the formed a new fishing club, known ap- fishing would be gone from there in an- and soon other groups would follow. other two years. On 5 July 1877, the Walton Chronicle re- propriately as the Beaverkill Club. This notice will undoubtedly cause ported that the Mead brothers, from Van Siclen was an authority on an- great disappointment to many, especially Brooklyn, would build a boardinghouse gling and an expert caster; he helped or- to sportsmen of Ulster, Delaware, and on the one thousand acres they owned ganize some of the first casting tourna- Sullivan counties, N.Y.,but I do hope that at Quaker Clearing, and that no one ments in Central Park. He also con- it will be regarded, because we have the would be allowed to fish on their prop- tributed articles and letters to The legal right and title and the means to en- erty except their guests. American Angler and Forest and Stream force it, and we shall certainly do so. It is The Meads built their resort at the 011 a variety of angling subjects. One let- but fair to add that any one stopping at headwaters, far beyond where others ter that appeared in Forest and Stream Weaver's or Mead's will be allowed to fish must certainly have upset many who over their respective pieces of stream, but had settled. The land had been partially not on Balsam Lake nor the "Bank's lots." cleared long before by a Quaker who fished the Beaverkill: The increasing fondness for real sports had abandoned the idea of farming in sends more hunters and fishermen afield such a rugged area. This was the most No more trout fishing in the upper every year, and forests and streams near Beaverkill. Please give notice through remote section of the Beaverkill and the the great cities are almost stripped of fin your columns. Last summer while I was at and feather. Those who cannot take time last to be inhabited. Visiting anglers Weaver's there came down from "Quaker to go far have but one resource-to pre- were surprised to find not only a home- Clearing" three men on a buckboard, and stead, but notices prohibiting fishing as serve the game by restricting the privilege. they boasted "over four hundred trout"; I Yours Respectfully, well. One angler who visited the Meads could not see nor imagine where they had Geo. W. Van siclen6 during their opening season felt a touch so many stowed away, but after a while of pity for these city people who found they opened a twelve-quart butter firkin The stream section referred to was themselves far off in the wilderness, and and showed me the poor little things. several miles in length and included stated, "It saddens one to see refinement They claimed four hundred, and I guess practically all of the water upstream of buried alive in such a place. Over twenty they told the truth. I think that not one of the Beaverkill Falls. To make sure that the "fish" was six inches long. Now this miles to the nearest town, no church, no sort of thing must be stopped, and I have local anglers were also notified of the doctor, no neighbors, and no prospect made up my mind to stop it on that upper Beaverkill posting, Van Siclen fol- for any advance in civilization for a life- stream. How many of us have fished the lowed up by writing to newspapers all time. In the summer one vast forest, in Beaverkill! We used to put up at Mur- over the Catskill region. He requested the winter one expanse of snow, the dock's or Flint's or Walmsley's or Leal's, that editors give his letter space before only visitors are an occasional deer, or a or camp out, and catch our creels full; but the fishing season opened since "this is a starving bear; their lullaby, the screech now-a-days the smallest creel half full of matter of such general interest" to the of a wildcat, the howl of a hungry wolf, seven inch trout is good luck. fishermen where their paper circulated. mingled with the roar of a biting wind After the sight of those poor little inno- Virtually every newspaper in the which seeps through the valley with a cents my plans were soon laid. I obtained mountains published a letter similar to the next day, from Joseph Banks, a long restless fury."5 lease of the stream across his two lots; I the one that appeared in Forest and Those most concerned about the have since made arrangement with Mead Stream. Van Siclen again stated how he trout fishing in the Beaverkill were the Brothers, at the old Quaker Clearing. Van disliked the idea of preventing fishing veteran anglers who had fished the Cleef and Van Brunt, the owners of Bal- that had been, for so long, free to all, stream before its slide into mediocrity. sam Lake, have joined me, and so has and he emphasized that the fishing was One such angler was George W. Van Ransom Weaver. I have hired a patrol to gone because of careless fishermen who

18 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER Holland Society 'earbook- 1888

killed every trout they caught. making turns so short that we The trout population must had to lift the latter end of the have indeed been low on the wagon around to pass and Beaverkill, and the public must even unhook traces to get be- have sensed the urgency or rec- tween huge trees."9 ognized the need of Van Siclen's Buntline avowed that action. There was no outcry, at should he be elected to join least not in print, nor were the club, the only way he there any angry follow-up let- would ever visit Balsam Lake ters on the stream closing. For again would be as a passenger that matter, the only editorial in a hot-air balloon! comments looked favorably on In 1884, a clubhouse was the idea. The Hancock Herald constructed on a hillside over- told its readers that trout once looking the lake and the Bal- SO numerous were now very sam Lake Club, which had scarce, and the cause was care- been founded the year before, less and destructive fishing by began operations. The parent the public. The paper urged group of anglers forming the landowners and lessees to pro- organization was the same as tect their fishing interests and the men who had formed the post their water. Willowemoc Club in 1868 and More posting did follow, and the Beaverkill Club in 1878. on the Beaverlull there were Just as he had been the first few, if any, complaints by the president of the Willowemoc angling public, which seemed Club, Cornelius Van Brunt to recognize the action as justi- also became the president of fied and necessary for the pres- the new organization. ervation of trout fishing. sponse, the Kingston Weekly Freeman ei. The Balsam Lake Club began leasing Another area newspaper, the Ellen- Journal reported that as Balsam Lake portions of the Beaverkill and acquiring ville Journal, chose to speak out against was now "guarded by a mountaineer others in 1886. One year later, they the exploitation of Balsam Lake. Even with a big dog and a springfield musket, owned four-and-a-half miles, including though the lake was remote and travel it is not a popular place with the public waters previously leased by the Beav- difficult, men continually raided the generally? erkill Club. Through continuing land lake's trout population, in winter as well By this time, a rough road or trail purchases, the club amassed more than as summer. ran over the mountains from Seager in three thousand acres, including six the Dry Brook Valley. It traveled the miles of the upper Beaverkill, by 1894. Every winter barrels of trout are scooped west side of the foot of Graham Moun- out with nets through holes cut in the ice tain to SamLlels's Clearing on the on Balsam Lake and whose business is it? Beaverkill. The road was steep, windy, ROM THE TIME settlers began Parties of ten or a dozen "campout" for a and fraught with hidden salting down barrels of its trout, week at a time on the shores of these se- dangers. fiough it made the lake more Balsam Lake had maintained a 'luded ponds; each One fired with the F accessible, it was a deplorable road, and ambition to beat his fellows in the num- seemingly inexhaustible population of bers of trout taken. Hence it is fish, fish, was best described by Ned Buntline, brook trout. The main reason for this from dawn to dusk, and everything that who in 1881 fished Balsam Lake at the bountiful supply is the small stream en- bites from two inches to twenty must be invitation of the owners. Buntline made tering the lake at its north end. The kept and counted.7 the trip with his special buckboard, stream has ideal spawning habitat, and which was followed by an ox sled loaded each fall great numbers of trout enter its This type of outcry was not lost on with two boats to fish from. They trav- waters to reproduce. They do so very the owners of Balsam Lake. In 1878, eled "through swamps hub deep, over successfully and thereby replenish the Cornelius Van Brunt and James S. Van roots, fallen logs, rocks as large as a lake with an apparently infinite number Cleef broke up the boats at the lake, small house stuck up edgeways, length- of new trout. posted it, and hired a watchman. In re- ways, crossways and every other way, The reputation of Balsam Lake was

FALL 1996 19 that its trout "always seem to be hungry conveying to his readers the happiness Through leases, clubmen were acquiring and bite very freely."lo Yet even during he finds in the tranquility and beauty of all of the best trout-fishing water in the days of year-round slaughter, they re- Balsam Lake. He thoroughly enjoys his Catskills. In the spring of 1885, a re- mained abundant, and no matter how escape from business cares and the din porter for the New York Times wrote many were removed, the trout main- of the city. This day, Van Siclen reflects that the Beaverlull, Neversink, and Wil- tained a length generally between 6 and on the pleasantness he finds about him. lowemoc were no longer open to public 8 inches. One angler" who fished the lake fishing, and that natives who had fished for almost forty years, beginning in Soon seated in my boat I paddle to the these waters all of their lives, as well as 1845..,. remarked after his last visit that he shade of a tall, dark hemlock and rest visiting anglers, would be considered "found to my surprise no appreciable there, lulled by the intense quiet. Ever and poachers if they attempted to do so. anon as I dreamily cast my ethereal fly, a diminution in number and size of the thrill of pleasure electrifies me, as it is No stream posting angered the pub- trout in it. They are uniform in size, seized by a vigorous trout. lic as much as the closing of the West from three to five ounces."ll I have long classed trout with flowers Branch of the Neversink. The stream Records of the Beaverkill Club in and birds, and bright sunsets, and charm- was much more accessible to anglers, es- 1880 reveal that 1,364 brook trout were ing scenery, and beautiful women, as giv- pecially those from the Kingston area. kept, with a total weight of 205% en for the rational enjoyment and delight When a Kingston newspaper carried pounds. The average trout taken of thoughtful men of aesthetic tastes.12 notice that the public could no longer weighed .i50 of a pound, which, accord- fish in those waters, it triggered a war of ing to conversion charts, would be a words that raged for years. The conflict trout approximately 7.5 to 7.9 inches. began with letters and editorials in local When the Balsam Lake Club took newspapers, then spread to sporting over the lake, they too enjoyed incredi- I SHING CLUBS were formed be- journals. One area newspaper decried ble catches of brook trout. Early records cause of the scarcity of trout and a the idea of leasing streams as "prepos- reveal the following: Fdesire for social communion. They terous" and declared, "Why, there are were important to the preservation of men enough in New York City with trout resources in the Beaverkill. In the money to control every trout stream in 1870s, fishing clubs protected the re- Ulster and Sullivan County."l3 An out- maining population of brook trout by door writer compared posting to mo- immediately reducing fishing pressure. nopolizing sunsets! He added, "And Before there were laws and officials to only those of sufficient wealth should enforce them, clubmen initiated their see'the recurring glories of the evening own strict regulations on members by sky."l4 TOTAL 15,078 reducing daily creel limits and restrict- One of the most persistent and out- The lake's trout were small. but thev ing angling to fly fishing only. In addi- spoken critics of the clubmen was were generally the same size as those tion, by employing a watcher to patrol Robert E. Best, a Kingston fur dealer, found in the club's headwater section the stream on a regular basis, they fur- who had fished the Neversink for many of the Beaverkill. Club members were ther protected the trout from illegal years and did not take kindly to the idea not concerned with the size of trout, fishing, such as netting, poisoning, and of posting his favorite stream. In a series of blistering letters, he questioned not though; they enjoyed the outdoors and dvna~nitine." the quality of the fishing experience. Early on, posting was accepted by the only the legality of leasing trout streams, The same year the Balsam Lake Club ~ublic.at least on the Beaverkill. How- but the very character of the men un- was founded, Charles Orvis and A. Nel- ever, as it grew in popularity and spread dertaking such an "unAmericann deed. son Chenev vublished a collection of ar- to other streams, where more and more , L These migrating vagabonds hailing from ticles written by well-known anglers of water was being leased and posted by New York, forming themselves into clubs, the 1870s titled Fishing with the Fly. One newly formed clubs, it came to be re- and leasing fishing streams for their self- of the contributions was by club mem- sented. On the Rondout Creek, most of ish purposes, have been on the increase ber George Van Siclen. It is a sentimen- the headwaters were acquired by the for some years. As a rule they spend but tal essay about a day on Balsam Lake Peekamoose Fishing Club; on the Wil- little or no money in the country where called "A Perfect Day." lowemoc, by the Willowemoc Club; and their nests exist, and where they have Van Siclen was a lover of trout and on the West Branch of the Neversink, their drunken orgies, and sing their ob- nature, and he does an excellent job by the newly formed Neversink Club. scene songs. A few barrels of rum brought

20 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER Beaverkill Trout Club, formerly the Royal Voorhessproperty, and home of the Beaverkill Association.

with them from New York, with what and delicious trout is one of God's good and came to their defense "knowing the chickens they can steal from hen roosts, gifts to earth to his children. He has high character of the gentlemen com- and the trout they can catch from the vouchsafed it to all whether his smoke posing the Neversink Club, the Balsam stream that has been stocked from the curls from a palace chimney or a bark Lake Club and the Willowemoc Club, peeler's shanty.l5 State hatcheries and placed there with U1- most of whom are personal acquain- ster County people's money, form their Charles Hallock, past editor of Forest stock of summer substance. tances, we regard the article written to It is but two years ago that an old and and Stream, laid much of the blame for the Freeman as a most vile slander."l7 gray-haired man, born near the waters of stream posting on the Fish Commission Streams were being purchased and the Beaverkill stream, wandered to its for allowing the streams to deteriorate. "preserved," and many felt that only edge to catch a small mess of fish for a He took issue with the commission, men of wealth would be allowed to "en- sick daughter. He was ordered off by two which seemed to believe that stockine" joy a day's sport in fishing for trout."la members of a club, who had leased that more fish was the solution to improving Another noted angling authority who portion of the stream, upon which they trout fishing.u He ~ointedout that after spoke out on the situation was William told him he was a trespasser, and because years of stocking, the fishing was not C. Harris, editor of The American Angler. the old man in his infirmity, could not anv better and argued that the Fish move fast enough to suit them, they cru- cdmmission shoul; abandon the idea Men have felt galled to see legal notices elly knocked him down, and kicked him prohibiting them from taking fish from when down in a most brutal manner. One that stocking alone was the solution to good fishing. Hallock stated that the streams where their fathers freely fished of the assailants, a member of the New before them and where they had as freely York City club, was the keeper of a house commission followed a policy of spend- angled away the Saturday afternoons of of prostitution, and the other, the keeper ing the public's money on "making fish their boyhood. of a gambling den in New York City. Pret- so abundant that they can be caught This is a natural and by no means igno- ty specimens indeed of humanity to come without restrictions and serve as cheav ble sentiment, but a little consideration to Ulster County to teach the natives to food for the people at large, rather than will show any man that it is no more obey the laws of New York. to expend a much larger sum in 'pro- practically possible to leave all fishing wa- In this free country, thanks to God, the tecting' the fish, and in preventing the ters free to all than it is to do away with rich and poor are equals. Let the man be a people from catching the few which still farm fences and turn the crop fields of the millionaire or a bark peeler, let his hands country back into meadow-grazing lands be soft and white, or horny and brown, remain (or did remain) after a genera- tion of improvidence."l6 free for all. give him free fishing and free fowling in We have nothing whatever to say for or free America. However humble may be Forest and Stream also took issue against this system. We only point out a the man's calling in his home, the dainty with Best's assessment of the clubmen

FALL 1996 21 known fact and draw the plain considering legal action: "The re- conclusion that every angler who sult has been that many of our cares to provide for his enjoyment finest streams have been prac- in years to come had better lose no tically destroyed by stocking time in securing some good an- through acts of trespass to which gling privilege somewhere.'9 the State has really been a party, Fishermen were not the only and it is a grave question whether ones upset over the leasing of a claim for these injuries to the trout streams: hotels, inns, and rights of riparian owners could boardinghouse owners also be- not be successfully made to the came alarmed at the amount of Court of Claims of this State."22 stream lost to posting. such ty, and it should be illegal to post such The argument over the public's right businesses had increased steadily ever waters. to fish in streams once stocked by the since the railroad came through the re- Clubmen did not disagree that the state continued for years and led to gion, and they viewed free fishing as vi- state owned the fish, even in their wild more frequent confrontations between tal to their success in attracting tourists. state; but, they argued, they had the fishermen and the stream watchers Boardinghouse and resort owners pre- "right of property, and can exclude any hired by the clubs. These disputes were, pared petitions that they hoped would person from trespassing upon their at times, taken before a judge; however, influence legislators into drafting a bill grounds for the purpose of fi~hing."~'In trespassers hauled into court were USU- to prevent the leasing oftrout streams. effect, they granted that individuals had ally released, as it was almost impossible One club member responded to their the legal right to catch state trout, as to procure a verdict against a man guilty concerns. long as they did not trespass over pri- of trespassing on private club water. vate land to do so. Most often these arguments were settled If the fishing in these streams would al- When streams first began to be with fists, stones, and even drawn re- ways remain as good as it was when the stocked, they were, for the most part, volvers. Some fishermen refused to rec- hotels were built and introduced free to everyone; and when trout were ognize the rights of clubs to prohibit this their argument be planted in those streams, the public fishing and when asked to leave hurled better, but unfortunately the reverse is the benefited from the stocking. insults at the watchman. When this oc- case. Four years ago I ceased fishing the Beaver Kill and adjacent waters, the river not public waters in the strictest sense curred, the watchman would fill his almost devoid of fish; that parties from a (since they flowed over and through pockets with stones, follow the trespass- distance were in the habit of visiting the private lands), they were public waters er, and throw stones in the water ahead streams with the apparent view of carry- for all intents and purposes, since the of him, spoiling his fishing. This occa- ing away as many fish as possible, regard- public had "unrestrained" access and sionally escalated into a fistfight where less of size, hiring small boys to increase use of them for fishing. one side or the other was treated to un- the catch, and making use of other un- AS the of angling increased, comfortable bruises or a good ducking sportsmenlike ways depleting the fishing privileges grew in value. These in the stream. streams. I have heard parties boast that waters that had been free were Not all watchmen were challenged in they had carried away 1,100 fish (some of posted and became in fact what they which were scarcely two inches long), the such a manner; one who was usually result of three days fishing, besides all had always been legally: private waters. avoided was Sturgis Buckley, who pa- they ate.20 All that the Fish Commission re- trolled the Beaverkill for the Balsam quired of one ordering fish was an affi- Lake Club. Buckley acquired a reputa- The most persistent argument put davit by the applicant that the trout tion as a determined, uncon~promising forth by those opposed to the leasing of would be placed in public waters. Very stream watcher. It was said, rather sar- streams was that if the stream was frequently, those ordering and stocking castically, that he wore a "winning stocked with trout by the Fish Commis- the fish were not stream owners, nor did smile," which "made would-be poachers sion, it should remain open to the pub- they have permission of the owners. Yet fish, or cut bait."23 Those daring enough lic. Stocking, it was stated, brought the "free" fishing advocates insisted on fish- to fish "his" water did not do so openly; streams back to their original value as ing the entire stream on the grounds they would hide along the stream, wait trout waters and was done at public ex- that the stream had been stocked at for Buckley to pass by, follow him until pense. Therefore, it was reasoned, the public expense. The issue of stocking it was time for his return trip, and then trout in the streams were public proper- had one stream owner, J.S. Van Cleef, follow him again. When they became

22 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER The American Museum of F1 Fishing Box 42, X anchester,Vermont 05254 Tel: 802-362-3300. Fax: 802-362-3308 JOIN! Membership Dues (per annum) INDIVIDUAL Associate $35 Sustaining $60 familiar with his pattern, they would preservation; as water became posted, it Benefactor $125 fish the area where he had just left. placed an even greater burden on that Patron $250 The idea of posting also began to which remained open. Commenting on GROUP catch on with farmers. Some refused all the increase in posting, the Livingston Club $50 Trade $50 attempts to "fish over them" and would Manor correspondent to the Walton Re- threaten to shoot, but others gave per- porter wrote: "Fishing is very poor Membership dues include four issues of mission to fish for a fee of twenty-five around here this season. The primary The American Fly Fisher ($25). Please cents a head. Farmers did not have time causes are undoubtedly excessive legisla- send your application to the membership secretary and include your mailing ad- to uatrol their water. nor could thev af- tion and the profusion of notices posted dress. The Museum is a member of the ford to pay someone else to do so. One on the banks of the stream in endless American Association of Museums, the wav to keeu an eve on the water was to varietv of form and nearlv everv lan- American Association of State and Local pasture an angry bull next to the guagifrom Hebrew to chictaw, hhich History, the New England Association of stream. Another was the practice of hav- has so bewildered the trout that they Museums, the Vermont Museum and ing a large, aggressive, hungry-looking know not what to do.'I25 e Gallery Alliance, and the International dog run free. When someone was fish- Association of Sports Museums and Halls ing, the dog let it be known, and a very Excerpted with permission from The of Fame. We are a nationally accredited, uneasy angler was only too happy to Beaverkill, by Ed Van Put (New York: nonprofit, educational institution chartered under the laws of the state of Vermont. toss a quarter to the farmer and be rid Lyons ei. Burford, Publishers, 1996). of the annoying beast. SUPPORT! After years of exploitation and over- As an independent, nonprofit institution, fishing, trout fishing on the Beaverkill ENDNOTES the American Museum of Fly Fishing seemed destined to im~rove.One Forest 1. Walton Weekly Chronicle, 2 April 1874, p. 1. relies on the generosity of public-spirited and Stream writer reported: 2. Forest and Stream, 2 April 1885, p. 188. individuals for substantial support. We 3. Liber 71, Sullivan County ClerkS Office, p. ask that you give our museum serious We are glad to hear from some of the vet- 364. consideration when planning for gifts and erans who have for many years made it a 4. Misc. Book No. 2, Sullivan County Clerk's bequests. point to fish these brooks, that last sea- Office, p. 603. son's catch showed a very marked im- 5. Liberty Register, 7 February 1879, p. 2. provement over the previous years as that 6. Forest and Stream, 4 April 1878, p. 162. Summer hours (May 1 through October did over the one of 1888, both in size and 7. Ellenville Journal, 20 July 1877, p. I. 31) are lo to 4. Winter hours (November 1 number. 8. Kingston Weekly Freenzan 6 Journal, 2 May through April 30) are weekdays lo to 4. This happy state of affairs has been 1879, p. 1. We are closed on major holidays. partially brought about by the liberal 9. Forest and Stream, 27 October 1881, p. 252. stocking of these waters by the wise man- lo. Liberty Register, 7 February 1879, p. 7. agement of the Ontario & Western R.R., 11. Kingston Weekly Leader, 7 June 1889, p. 7. Available at $4 per copy: but there is another cause which has 12. In Charles F .Orvis and A. Nelson Cheney, helped the brooks, and that is the head- eds., Fishing with the Fly (Troy, New York: H.B. Volume 6, Numbers 1,2,3,4 waters of the two streams [Beaverkill and Nims & Company, 1885), p. 237. Volume 7, Numbers 2,3 Neversink] are controlled by clubs and 13. Kingston Weekly Freeman Q Journal, 30 Volume 8, Number 3 private parties who limit the fish caught April 1885, p. 5. Volume 9, Numbers 1, 2,3 both in size and numbers, and absolutely 14. The American Angler, March 1892, p. 288. Volume lo, Number 2 prohibit fishing in the little side streams 15. Kingston Weekly Freeman 6 Journal, 26 Volume 11, Numbers 1,2,3,4 where the fingerlings seek shelter from March 1885, p. 3. Volume 12, Number 3 their larger brethren, thus assuring a con- 16. Kingston Weekly Freeman 6 Jotrrnal, 30 Volume 13, Number 3 April 1885, p. 1. stant source of supply. Reasonable people Volume 14, Number 1 17. Forest and Streanz, 9 April 1885, p. 201. begin to see the advantages of having Volume 15, Numbers i,2 parts of streams controlled in this way, as 18. EIIenville Journal, 17 May 1889, p. 1. it certainly improves the whole of the wa- 19. The American Angler, 5 November 1887, y. 1. Volume 16, Numbers 1, 2,3 ters. They cannot lock up their fish, and 20. Forest and Stream, 9 April 1885, p. 207. Volume 17, Numbers 1, 2,3 they naturally will drop down stream, 21. Ihid. Volume 18, Numbers I, 2,3,4 particularly as they grow large.24 22. Forest and Stream, 8 December 1900, p. 453. Volume 19, Numbers 1,2,3,4 23. Walton Reporter, 28 April 1900, p. 8. Volume 20, Numbers 1,2,3,4 Once posting began, it spread quick- 24. Forest and Stream, 15 January 1891, p. 517. Volume 21, Numbers 1, 2,3,4 ly. Undoubtedly it became a case of self- 25. Walton Reporter, 14 May 1892, p. 8. Volume 22, Numbers 1,2,3

FALL 1996 23 HEY ARE TROUT! They are the fishes that have American Museum of Fly Fishing. The Woolner collection moved men's souls for thousands of years, that greatly enhances our selection of saltwater flies. ,' Thave inspired a glorious literature and a mystique The collection includes twelve eel flies of Woolner's as astonishing as it is viable." own design, several variations of poppers by Bill Gallasch, So wrote Frank Woolner (1916-i994), a great popular- various sizes and styles of Harold Gibbs's Striper Bucktail, izer of fly fishing. As the editor of Salt Water Sportsman and other gems. from 1950 to 1982 (then senior editor until 1990 and editor The collection reflects the innovative, pioneering, and emeritus until his death), and as a columnist for the exploring spirit of fly fishing, as well as the generosity of Worcester (Mass.) Telegram Q Gazette, Woolner described sharing that fly fishers often radiate. This collection of the beauty of saltwater angling so magnificently that thou- flies, most decades old, was never bought or sold, except sands experimented with the sport, just on his say-so. once at Woolner's estate sale. vers gave flies to Frank With his coeditor Henry Lyman, Woolner wrote the Woolner, perhaps to experiment with or to write about, classic books Complete Book of Striped Bass Fishing (1954) and Ed Mitchell, in his turn, gave them to the Museum. and Tackle Talk (1971). As sole author, his books included Woolner summed up this generous fly fisher ethic best Modern Saltwater Sportfishing (1972) and the amazingly ti- in a 1977 memo to a new employee at Salt Water Sports- tled Trout Hunting (1977). man: "SWS is respected by writers. Although we do not Woolner also fished with many of his contemporary pay with the big slicks, we've been honest and have helped fly-fishing professionals, most of whom gave him some of to build some of the current big guns. So far as we're con- their flies. Most famous of these were Bill Gallasch, Joe cerned, it is in our best interest to respect the writers. Bates, John Fabian, Mark Sosin, Harold Gibbs, Homer Never go holier-than-thou, and offer help or a pat on the Rhodes, and Bill Catherwood. Woolner was fortunate head where possible. Remember that all are sensitive, else enough to receive flies tied by all of these exceptional, in- they would not be aspiring writers. You build loyalty by novative dressers. In fact, he kept many of these flies in his square dealing.'' desk in a bag, which was offered at auction last year. The So, although the fly collection of a great popularizer of bag was bought by Ed Mitchell of Weathersfield, Con- fly fishing is now housed here, included in the collection is necticut, who proceeded to sort and inventory the flies. a great deal of the nonmaterial culture of the sport. Then, last spring, Mr. Mitchell gave all 237 flies to the JON MATHEWSON,CURATOR

24 THE AMERICAN PLY FISHER Photograph by Cook Neilson NOTES & COMMENT

On the Question of Dapping

R. PATRICK SIMES'S claim in the First, dapping. In my book, I do not, Later in American Fly Fishing, I spent Summer 1996 Notes 6 Comment that as Mr. Simes states, acknowledge "that a lot of time in the murky waters of def- William Bartram documented one of the Bartram's written account is one of the inition. We fly fishers have never agreed first occurrences of dapping in the New first known references to sportfishing on what constitutes "true" fly fishing, World, where he was among the first (dapping) in colonial America." I am es- and todav there are those who think pecially disappointed he should think known Europeans to sport fish, prompted that anything less than upstream dry-fly this, because I spend considerable ener- fishing is barbaric, just as there are' this response from Paul Schullery, former gy in the previous chapter (pages 13-17) those who happily take sailfish on "flies" editor of The American Fly Fisher and pointing out and proving that sportfish- the size of squirrels. I don't intend to get director of the Museum, and author of ing was common in America long be- into that here, and I intentionally didn't American Fly Fishing: A History. fore the i77os, and I do not at any time get into it when discussing Bartram in "acknowledge" that the method Bar- my book. What I do intend to do is pro- tram described was dapping. Among pose that Mr. Simes is perhaps reaching HEN MY BOOK American Fly many other things, I argue that by the a bit too far in his comparison of Bar- Fishing: A History was pub- 1630s sportfishing was common on tram's use of a "bob" ("nearly as large as Wl.ished in 1987, I had high hopes Manhattan and that bv 1767 Philadel- one's fist" and armed with three large that it would stimulate something" more phia had five fishing ciubs, 'composed, hooks) with what John Dennys and oth- than discussion-that it would interest one must assume, of sportfishermen ers did when they dapped delicate little some research-minded readers to vur- (the first of these was founded in 1732, trout flies on British streams. I think he sue some of the tantalizing questions and its membership was and is well is on shaky ground here, certainly too our sport's history has raised. R. Patrick known). I can't seem to make this point shaky for the confidence of his unquali- Simes, in his article "Dapping in the too often: leisure existed in the colonies fied announcement that this was, in- New World" (The American Fly Fisher, well before the American Revolution deed, fly fishing. Summer 1996), has launched just such and was exercised in many ways, includ- For example, Mr. Simes goes on at an inquiry, and in the spirit of scholar- ing fishing. some length about the nature of the ta- ship and sportsmanship I would like to Next, I am concerned with Mr. pered horsehair line used in dapping in participate in it. Simes's enthusiastic lea^ from the deli- the 1700s, but there is no suggestion at Mr. Simes argues" that William Bar- cate technique of dapping described by all in Bartram's narrative that the ex- tram, during his travels in the south- various Old World writers to the rather tremely short line Bartram's friends eastern United States in the 1770s.,, , ob- less delicate practice described by Bar- used (20 inches) was tapered, or horse- served his companions using a tech- tram. In my book, I did not say that hair, or in any other way similar to a nique known as "dapping," and appar- Bartram described fly fishing. I said dapping line. Yet Mr. Simes apparently ently used it himself to catch bass there. only that though the fishing he de- feels that his own description of a ta- Mr. Simes correctly points out that in scribed was primitive by modern stan- pered line somehow strengthens his case my book, I attributed this fishing activi- dards, it sounded like a lot of fun. I then that Bartram was dapping. ty to Native Americans, but Mr. Simes's went on to wonder if somehow from As well, the weight and bulk of the careful reading of Bartram's narrative this early practice there developed mod- "bob" that Bartram described could just suggests that Bartram was seeing his Eur- ern bass bugs" and other wonderful con- as easily have been swung from a american companions use this fishing trivances that, even today, many people lure-casting rod or a cane pole as from a technique. I must have had that wrong. believe strain all definitions of fly fish- flv rod: it was swung.", not cast. and in- I also had the date wrong, by the way, ing. I pointed out that everybody who dked, it almost certainly wokld have stating incorrectly that the dapping took writes about the history of American been heavy enough to be cast with a place in the 1760s rather than the 1770s. fishing feels compelled to mention Bar- modern spinning rod. Such was not the From this necessary correction of my tram and his "bob," but I wondered why case with the flies used for dapping in error, Mr. Simes moves on to bigger they did so, considering that we were England. Today, of course, I routinely game, and I must disagree with some of hard pressed to establish any direct con- use large, heavily weighted "flies" of his conclusions or at least offer serious nection between what he described and which the same is true, but that is exact- cautions to his interpretations. later practices. ly the point - a segment of the fly-fish-

FALL 1996 25 ing intelligentsia do not regard these as flies at all. Mr. Simes owes it to the com- plexity of his subject to acknowledge that this is a gray area, in which defini- tions must be couched more cautiously because they simply are not settled mat- ters. There are, then, important differ- ences in scale and in tackle between what Old World dappers employed and Director of Development her ideas for the Museum, to pass along what Bartram described, and they seem names of potential members or donors, to me to play seriously enough in this Named or simply to say hello. discussion to require a more cautious Eric Brown began work as the Muse- assertion than Mr. Simes has offered. um's new director of development on Salmon Fly Exhibit There are also differences of technique: I July 1. He joins the Museum staff after Currently on display at the Museum think that dapping was accomplished by five years as director of alumni relations is a salmon fly exhibit developed by Mu- always bringing the fly into contact with at Green Mountain College in Poultney, seum Trustee Pamela Bates Richards. the water, while, according to Bartram, Vermont, where he worked on both The exhibit includes seven oak display bob-fishing was mostly a matter of alumni relations and fund-raising. cases filled with important historical swinging the bob above the surface and After graduating from Green Moun- flies. The first display, "Colonel Bates only occasionally letting it touch the tain College in 1990 with a B.S. in busi- Fly Variations," boasts more than thirty water. My impression of dapping is that ness administration and a minor in flies tied by such noted anglers as Carrie it imitated a fly coming down and light- marketing, Eric worked as an assistant Stevens, Megan Boyd, Charles DeFeo, ing on the surface, possibly repeatedly. project supervisor with the Kaswell Michael Martinek, Paul Schmookler, That is not my impression of bob-fish- Company in Framingham, Massachu- Michael D. Radencich, Ron Alcott, ing. setts, and as a management trainee with Mark Waslick, Jimmy Younger, Bob In my book, the contextual issue Trustco Bank in Schenectady, New York. Veverka, John Wildermuth, Bob War- with which I was primarily concerned "The Museum has a lot of untapped ren, and Belarmino Martinez. The sec- in even referring to Bartram's narrative potential in the area of fund-raising," ond display, "The Salmon Fly: A Centu- was that the fly-fishing tradition, which Eric says. "The next several years will be ry and a Half of Innovations," includes we received from the Old World, did a time of growth. For this growth to be flies originated and dressed by Lee not (at least as far as we know) include realized, though, everyone connected Wulff, Maurice Ingalls, Harry Smith, Ira the gear that Bartram described. Besides with the Museum - trustees, members, Gruber, Poul Jorgenson, J. Clovis Arse- the robin-sized fly, I seriously doubt and friends-will have to take an active neault (Rusty Rat), Esmond Drury, that the bob was suspended from the role in fund-raising. Success in fund- George LaBranche, Preston Jennings, whippy sort of light trout rod of British raising cannot be achieved through the Charles DeFeo, and Edward Hewitt. practice; I suspect it was a stout pole, efforts of one person, but through a The third display, "North American with guts enough to drag a 15-pound concerted team effort." Streamer Fly Patterns," includes flies bass across the surface to the boat with Eric lives in Poultney with his wife dressed by their originators, including no ceremony. The really interesting Maureen. His spare time is filled with Carrie Stevens, Preston Jennings, Chief thing in all this is that we are left with activities such as scuba diving, moun- Needabeh, Edgar Burke, Bill Edson, some fun questions. For example, did tain biking, golf, and skiing. He invites John Alden Knight, Herbie Welch, Don Bartram's companions, assuming they everyone to call him and share his or Gapen, Herb Johnson, and Ai Ballou. originated this technique (I doubt it), The remaining displays hold "Green try it because they were familiar with Kathleen Achor Highlander Variations," "North Ameri- dapping on English streams? If so, then can Classic Atlantic Salmon Feather- what Bartram described was a nice early wings," "Atlantic Salmon Flies of the episode of Old World fishing methods Penobscot River Region," and "Salmon undergoing modification and adapta- Fly Patterns Dressed According to Es- tion to New World conditions. That, I tablished References, 1816-1931." think, is a more stimulating avenue of Accompanying the fly boxes are six consideration than the more or less full-color Michael D. Radencich pho- hopeless debate over what is, or is not, tographs of salmon flies from Richards's fly fishing. recently published book, Fishing At- Last, I must again disagree with Mr. lantic Salmon: The Flies and Their Pat- Simes's assertion, repeated again in his terns (Stackpole, 1996). The photos closing paragraph, that Bartram and his showcase salmon flies originated and companions "were some of the first dressed by Preston Jennings; the Shan- known Europeans to sport fish in the non, dressed by Bob Veverka; the New World." All I can do is refer him, Colonel Bates, dressed by Bob Warren; and other readers, to chapter 2 of my the Evening Star, dressed by Mark book, where I lay out the overwhelming Waslick; Antique Popham, formerly be- evidence that sportfishing was common longing to Megan Boyd; patterns by in America long before the 1770s. John Popkin Traherne; British Classics, PAULSCHULLERY 1 Director of Development Eric Brown

26 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER dressed by Syd Glasso; and various Doc- tors, dressed by various tyers. The exhibit greatly adds to the Muse- um visitor's knowledge of the variety and development of salmon flies through the centuries. Schaldach Search The Museum is hoping to present an exhibition sometime in the not-too-dis- George Thomas tant future of the life, times, acquain- discusses his work tances, and work of fly-fishing artist at the August30 William Schaldach. As such, we would art opening. welcome any information regarding this remarkable man, as well as the location of any of his original works or personal effects that might be loaned to the Mu- seum for the exhibit. If you have any in- formation, please contact Curator Jon Day weekend August 30 with an artist's or send e-mail to [email protected]. Mathewson at the Museum. reception and opening of "Casting Light (Mike Fong and Me1 Krieger have on Waters: The Paintings of George planned some activities for the men.) Art Openings Thomas." The seventeen-piece show On July 12, the Museum held an art featured Thomas's pastels of fishing and Receni Donations opening and book signing for the artist river scenes in such as New- Robert H. Miller of Chicago, Illinois, James Prosek. Prosek, a Yale University foundland, Nova Scotia, Maine, and responded to our call for photographs Nantucket. "Capturing light in sky and undergraduate" from Easton. Connecti- with a selection of thirteen from his cut, authored and illustrated the recent- water is the prime focus of my paint- youth. Included in the collection was a ly published Trout: An Illustrated Histo- ings, and the love of sailing, fishing, and picture of Joe Brooks and a letter from ry (Alfred A. Knopf, 1996). The book canoeing has provided me the subject Mary Brooks. documents more than seventy species of world of rivers, lakes, and the sea," says Wallace Murray of Manchester, Ver- trout, including rare and extinct species, Thomas, who lives in Nantucket and mont, presented the Museum with a subspecies, and strains. A selection of Novia Scotia. "In pastel I seek to create copy of Rare and Unusual Fly Tying Ma- the original paintings made up most of reflected light by the heavier application terials: A Natural History, Volume I: the eighteen-piece show. The opening of opaque color in an impressionistic Birds by Paul Schmookler and Ingrid was well attended, and Prosek spent the technique." The paintings were on ex- Sils. Anne and Frank Whitesell sent evening signing books and talking at hibit until October 15. along a copy of Ken Reniard's book, The length with guests. Colonial Angler, which features an in- The Museum kicked off the Labor New Membership Categories depth look at the intricacies of angling The Museum has introduced two in America two centuries ago. During Kathleen Achol new membership categories. A Club Executive Director Craig Gilborn's re- Membership is now available for volun- cent trip to Colorado, he met Ed Dentry, teer organizations such as fishing and who gave the Museum a copy of his fly-tying clubs and local chapters of na- book, Blue Ribbon Rivers of the Rockies. tional organizations. A Trade Member- Thanks to longtime Museum friend ship is available for businesses. Dues for Chat Lee, Duffield Ashmead I11 of both membership categories are $50 per Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, stopped in on year. For more information, contact his way through town to see the Muse- Eric Brown, Director of Development. um's new exhibits and drop off two books: Memoirs of the Old Schuylkill Festival for Women Anglers Fishing Company (1830) and History of The Golden West Women Flyfishers the Schuylkill Company (1880). These two are launching a new event in the world are books the Museum has very much of fly fishing: the first International Fes- needed because they tell the story of the tival of Women Fly Fishers, to be held nation's first and oldest fishing club. December 6 to 8 in San Francisco. The John M. Robson of Lakefield, On- weekend will feature panels and work- tario, formerly of Sultan Qaboos Uni- shops, conservation activities, skill- versity in Oman, sent a copy of his arti- building sessions, demonstrations, tour- cle "The Physics of Fly Casting," which nament casting lessons with Joan Wulff appeared in the American Journal of Phys- and Me1 Krieger, social events, and an ics (March 1990, vol. 58, no. 3). Robert auction. Registration is $95 for all activ- M. Young of the Fly Shop in Hollis, New ities, including meals. For more infor- Hampshire, sent us a copy of his pam- James Prosek signs a copy of his book at mation, call Fanny Krieger (415-752- phlet Tandem Streamers. The people at Field Q Stream are the July 12 opening. 0192) or Pat Magnuson (510-934-2461),

FALL 1996 27 moving into new offices, so Bruce Richards of Traverse they sent us several nearly DinnerIAuctions City, Michigan, presented the complete bound sets of their Fall Museum with an original Paul magazine (1960 to present). o CT~BER3 TO 6 Young tabletop fly-tying vise. Stan Bazan of Cleveland, Meeting of the Board of Trustees Todd 0. Young, also of Tra- Ohio (through Leigh Perkins Comfort Inn, Bozeman, Montana verse City, kindly sent us pa- of Manchester, Vermont), sent pers that belonged to his OCTOBER 4 us a January 1947 issue (vol. grandparents, including a stack Trustee DinnerIAuction of letters from John Voelker 51, no. 9). Riverside Country Club, Bozeman, Montana Don Phillips of Marco Is- and Arnold Gingrich, a selec- land, Florida, sent us not only o c TO B E R 25 tion of Paul Young catalogs a complete run of The Rod- Boston DinnerIAuction and books, and some related crafters Journal (1976-1996), Towne Lyne House, Lynnfield, Massachusetts tackle. but included a computerized John Farnum of Manches- index as well, which greatly ER ter, Vermont, gave us a Bristol Hartford DinnerIAuction increases the magazine's use- steel rod advertisement, c. 1919, The Country Club, Farmington, Connecticut fulness. reproduced on a steel sign. Nick Lyons, of fly-fishing TO BE ANNOUNCED James Prosek of Easton, Con- publishing fame, sent us a Philadelphia DinnerIAuction necticut, and Yale University, marvelous selection of recent San Francisco DinnerIAuction author of Trout: An Illustrated prints by Rod Walinchus, For details, please phone the Museum at History and a featured artist at Dave Whitlock, Alan James (802) 362-3300. the Museum this past summer, Robinson, Adriano Manno- sent us his old Powell graphite chia, John Troy, John Lane, fly rod. and Gordon Allen. Ray Salminen paid us a vis- Leon Martuch of Traverse City, rod by "Al" Ellis of Phoenix, Arizona. A it on the first of July. He left us with a Michigan, sent us four Scientific An- week later, another box appeared from Don Leyden framing of some Salminen glers System rods (thus completing our Mr. Martuch, which included flies, lead- flies, a first edition of Halford's Dry Fly collection), along with rods by Shake- ers, and a nice selection of Scientific An- Entomology, a Kosmic rod, and, of speare, St. Croix, and a custom-made glers reels. course, fond memories of his visit.

CONTRIBUTORS

and Galway. Buller's article, "The Earli- est English Illustrations of an Angler," appeared in the Summer 1993 issue of The American Fly Fisher. "Origin of the Reel" from Falkus & Buller's Freshwater Fishingwas recently excerpted (Notes & Comment, Fall 1995).

Ed Van Put has written articles for such publications as Trout, Fly Fisher- man, Fly Rod and Reel, The Conserva- tionist, and others. He was a contribut- ing author to A. J. McClane's McClane's trout populations, and working at Game Fish ofNorth America (1985). For agelgrowth analysis of trout. He is also the past eleGen years, he has pioJided involved in developing access for handi- Frederick Buller is one of England's the historical notes for the Catskill Fly capped or elderlylinfirm anglers along finest all-round anglers and is the au- Fishing Center's monthly activities cal- trout streams. In addition to his thor of the highly acclaimed book, Pike. endar. The Beaverkill is his first book. full-time employment, Ed has worked as He founded the gunmaking and fishing Ed has worked as a fisheries profes- a professional fly tyer, stream watcher tackle company of Chubbs in London sional with New York State's Depart- (patrolling club water), stream consul- and is now the managing director of the ment of Environmental Conservation in tant, licensed guide, and instructor at famous London gunmaking firm of the Bureau of Fish for the past twenty- the Joan and Lee Wulff Fly Fishing Charles Hellis, Frederick Beesley and seven years. As a principal fish and School. Watson Bros. He is the author of four wildlife technician, he spends a great Ed lives with his wife, Judy, and sons, books and coauthor of two more. Buller deal of time along trout streams, pur- Lee and Tyler, along the Willowemoc is happiest when fishing for trout and chasing public fishing easements, partic- Creek in the Catskill Mountains of New sea trout in the Irish loughs of Mayo ipating in stream surveys, estimating York.

28 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER Collections: 1loard or Trove?

As they have each year since Leonards, but does it need a ninety- the Museum's founding in fourth?" The reply, "It depends," is equi- 1968, these numbers grow, vocal, but museums never know what mostly from gifts but occa- might turn up tomorrow. Mathewson sionally through purchases by concedes, however, that the Leonard col- the board, as with the acquisi- lection is largely complete, which is to tion of the magnificent Cush- say that it comprises a "study collection." ner collection of more than Collections acquire importance as zoo framings of flies and art- thev," grow because fresh inferences can ONTRARY TO POPULAR impres- work in 1985. be drawn from the larger pool of fea- sion, museums are not hoarders. To some, the numbers exceed what tures or attributes. Thev become studv CThe public can be forgiven that the Museum reasonably needs to do its collections and are important even if conclusion when curators admit that a job. Doubters will concede that the Mu- they're never exhibited. Discerning dif- tiny fraction of their collections can be seum's small exhibit space limits the ferences among rods, reels, and flies is displayed. If the curator adds that some number of rods that can be displayed at what separates curators and serious col- things may never be exhibited, a silent one time; still, they wonder about a col- lectors from everybody else. Their find- alarm mav go off. Valuables locked in a lection of 1,176 rods. At this point, I ings are disseminated in publications remote piaG looks like a hoard to the must reveal my bias: collections are the -in periodicals like the one you're ~ublic. heartwood of a good museum and col- holding now and in books and collec- Museum workers are uncomfortable lecting is the sapwood. A healthy muse- tion catalogs (such as A Treasury of with this embarrassment of riches, um is a museum that is collecting. Reels by Jim Brown, which the Museum though they know there are reasons for Let's look behind the numbers. Hi- published in 1990). it-one being that the majority of mu- ram Leonard was one of the earliest The notion of a museum having too seums, especially in their formative rodmakers and certainly the most influ- many artifacts arises from the belief years, accumulate artifacts less by plan ential of his time. His shop (which start- that collections exist to be exhibited. than by luck. Museums are choosier to- ed in 1869 and did business for a centu- But museums are more than vehicles day than they once were, but collecting ry, first in Bangor, Maine, then in Cen- for exhibits. This Museum is repository by inadvertence, the old-fashioned ap- tral Valley, New York) spun off a second for a sport having a world stage, a histo- proach, has been the start of dozens generation of makers who, leaving ry as old as society, and printed litera- of important museum collections in Leonard, produced rods in shops of ture that is 500 years old this year. The ~merica. their own. American Museum of Fly Fishing is the A recent solution to surplus holdings The Museum owns ninety-three Hi- memory of fly fishing. It cannot collect is open storage, in which, say, a collec- ram Leonard and Leonard & Leonard or remember everything, and it has no tion of furniture is placed in floor-to- Company rods, the earliest signed and monopoly on knowledge. But it must ceiling glass cases where it can be seen dated 1873. In 1889, an exodus of Leon- be vigilant and open minded because it but not touched. This approach takes ard workers led to the establishment of is accountable to the heritage of fly money and space, which is why few in- the Kosmic Company in Brooklyn, New fishing. stitutions (the Metropolitan Museum of York. Kosmic, which is represented by In principle, this puts museums in a Art being one) have adopted it. five numbered and signed rods in our category with research institutions such Just as there cannot be too much fly collection, was the rod of choice among as universities, places where information fishing, so, by the same logic, fly fishers New York's fashionable fly-fishing set, and knowledge are facilitated. Small as may cast a benign eye on estimates like according to Mathewson. Other firms this museum is, it goes where fly fishing the following supplied by Museum Cu- traceable to Leonard were F. E. Thomas has gone. This means having collections rator Jon at hew son: Rod Company, Payne Rod Company, for which there mav be no immediate Fly rods 1,176 and Edwards Rod Company, of which application. They're troves, perhaps, but Reels 1,000 the Museum has thirty-one, fifteen, and not hoards, because thev contain an- Flies 27,000 fourteen specimens, respectively. swers to questions not yet formulated. Miscellany 1,498 I hear the reader thinking, "OK, I'll CRAIGGILBORN Books 2,567 grant the Museum its ninety-three EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR THEAMERICAN MUSEUM OF FLY FISHING, a nationally accredited, nonprofit, educa- tional institution dedicated to preserving the rich heritage of fly fishing, was founded in Manchester, Vermont, in 1968. The Museum serves as a repository for, and conservator to, the world's largest collection of angling and angling-related objects. The Museum's col- lections and exhibits provide the public with thorough documentation of the evolution of fly fishing as a sport, art form, craft, and in- dustry in the United States and abroad from the sixteenth century to the present. Rods, reels, and flies, as well as tackle, art, books, manuscripts, and photographs form the ma- jor components of the Museum's collections. The Museum has gained recognition as a unique educational institution. It supports a publications program through which its na- tional quarterly journal, The American Fly Fisher, and books, art prints, and catalogs are regularly offered to the public. The Muse- um's traveling exhibits program has made it possible for educational exhibits to be viewed across the United States and abroad. The Museum also provides in-house ex- hibits, related interpretive programming, and research services for members, visiting scholars, authors, and students. The Museum is an active, member-orient- ed nonprofit institution. For information please contact: The American Museum of Fly Fishing, P. 0. Box 42, Manchester, Vermont 05254,802-362-3300.