American Fly Fisher Journal of the American Museum of Fly Fishing
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The American Fly Fisher Journal of the American Museum of Fly Fishing SUMMER 2008 VOLUME 34 NUMBER 3 In the Spirit of Rivers F THERE IS ANY time of year when we northern-hemisphere anglers might be found standing midriver, meditatively Icasting, and—as a direct result of this—allowing a feeling that could possibly be labeled spiritual or religious to seep in ever so slightly, it is right now. Summer. It was last summer that I met Sam Snyder, a Ph.D. candidate in the University of Florida’s graduate program on religion and nature. He and I were beginning to work on the article featured in this issue, and he was visiting the museum to do some research. Not only did his visit happily coincide with one from writer/historian Paul Schullery, whom Snyder cites prominent- ly, but also with a surprise visit from writer/Fly Fisherman edi- tor John Randolph, whose work Snyder discusses as well. Museum staff shared a sunny lunch at the picnic table with these three fly-fishing authors. It was a good day. In the aforementioned article, “Casting for Conservation: Religious Values and Environmental Ethics in Fly-Fishing Cul - ture,” Snyder asks, “Is fly fishing a religion? And what is accom- plished by considering it so?” He argues that fly-fishing faith can translate directly into works: conservation, restoration, and preservation. For more on the subject, turn to page 8. Turning from the philosophical to the literary, we’re pleased to bring you a rather unusual piece from our dear friend Gordon M. Wickstrom. Washington Irving, Wickstrom is quick Clouds Rising—Pinto Lake, The Wind River Range, Wyoming to point out, is no longer widely read; however, as he states in by Ogden Pleissner. Oil on canvas, 1937. the introduction to his article, he believes that “Irving’s ‘The Collection of David Nichols. Angler’ is indeed the prototype of the immense number of fishing stories, good and bad, that we have been reading for Volunteer of the Year Award is named. I was lucky enough to nearly two hundred years.” have started work here in the Joe Pisarro days, and I can attest In a fascinating exercise, Wickstrom made an outline of “The that his devotion and humor were an inspiration to all of us. Angler,” written circa 1815, and rewrote his own story based on Jerry further adds to this issue by gracing us again with his that outline. “The Angler” appeared in Irving’s The Sketch Book “Notes from the Library” column (page 19). This time he (1820), and one can find the story online by doing a quick updates us on donations and highlights Stackpole’s series of search for it. I recommend reading the original alongside fly-fishing classics edited by Paul Schullery. Two longer book Wickstrom’s retold tale. “Washington Irving’s ‘The Angler’: A reviews await you in these pages as well: Paul Schullery on New First Fishing Story,” begins on page 2. John Betts’s Making Strip-Built Fly Rods from Various Woods on Fred Buller, author (with Hugh Falkus) of Dame Juliana, the a Lathe (page 20) and John Betts on Fred Buller’s The Angling Treatyse and Its Mysteries (2001), offers us further food Domesday Book of Giant Salmon (page 22). How’s that for for thought in the ongoing search for earlier manuscripts that nearly completing a review circle? might have been the model for The Treatyse of Fysshynge wyth As often as we can, we’re asking Collections Coordinator an Angle (1496). He presents some notes as to his own recent Nathan George to tell us about some of our own stuff in research, which led both to dead ends and to possible leads for “Gallery” (page 7). Italian flies from the Sesia River valley, a future researcher well versed in French or Flemish. In the donated to the museum in the 1970s, constitute today’s fare. hopes that someone will take up the mantle, Buller shares this And speaking of the gallery, we couldn’t be more excited information with us in his “Notes and Comment” piece, about what’s in ours right now. The museum is pleased to pre- “Could Angling’s Oldest Manuscript Have Survived?” You’ll sent Ogden M. Pleissner: The Grand Sporting Tour until October find it on page 16. 31. This is the first museum show ever to focus on Pleissner’s What would the museum be without its volunteers? One of sporting art. Be a part of the experience, and come see us. our best and dearest volunteers, Gerald Karaska (whom we call Jerry), follows his Fall 2005 story about Dick Finlay with this one about Joe A. Pisarro (page 18), who became practically a KATHLEEN ACHOR full-time volunteer for a dozen years and for whom our EDITOR THE AMERICAN MUSEUM Journal of the American Museum of Fly Fishing OF FLY FISHING SUMMER 2008 VOLUME 34 NUMBER 3 Preserving the Heritage of Fly Fishing Washington Irving’s “The Angler”: TRUSTEES A New First Fishing Story .....................2 Michael Bakwin Walter T. Matia Gordon M. Wickstrom Foster Bam William C. McMaster, MD Pamela Bates John Mundt Duke Buchan III David Nichols Gallery: The Sesia River Flies ...................7 Peter Corbin Wayne Nordberg Nathan George Jerome C. Day Erik R. Oken Blake Drexler Raymond C. Pecor Casting for Conservation: Religious Values and Christopher Garcia Stephen M. Peet Environmental Ethics in Fly-Fishing Culture .........8 Ronald Gard Leigh H. Perkins Samuel Snyder George R. Gibson III John Rano Gardner L. Grant John K. Regan Notes and Comment: Could Angling’s Chris Gruseke Roger Riccardi James Hardman Kristoph J. Rollenhagen Oldest Manuscript Have Survived? ...............16 James Heckman, MD Robert G. Scott Frederick Buller Arthur Kaemmer, MD Franklin G. Schurz Jr. Woods King III Gary J. Sherman, DPM Joe A. Pisarro, Volunteer .....................18 Carl R. Kuehner III Ron Stuckey Gerald Karaska William P. Leary III Richard G. Tisch Douglas F. MacKenzie David H. Walsh Nancy Mackinnon James C. Woods Notes from the Library ......................19 TRUSTEES EMERITI Gerald Karaska Charles R. Eichel Robert N. Johnson G. Dick Finlay David B. Ledlie Book Review: John Betts’s Making Strip-Built W. Michael Fitzgerald Leon L. Martuch Fly Rods from Various Woods on a Lathe............20 William Herrick Keith C. Russell Paul Schullery Paul Schullery OFFICERS Book Review: Fred Buller’s The Domesday Book Chairman of the Board Robert G. Scott of Giant Salmon ..........................22 President George R. Gibson III Vice Presidents James Heckman, MD John Betts Stephen M. Peet Richard G. Tisch Museum News ...........................24 Secretary James C. Woods Clerk Charles R. Eichel Contributors ............................25 Treasurer Robert G. Scott STAFF ON THE COVER: Gibbon Falls, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, c. 1860. Executive Director Catherine E. Comar From the Mary Orvis Marbury Collection of the American Museum of Fly Fishing. Deputy Director Yoshi Akiyama Collections Manager Nathan George The American Fly Fisher (ISSN 0884-3562) is published Gallery & Store Supervisor Marci MacNeur four times a year by the museum at P.O. Box 42, Manchester, Vermont 05254. Project & Administrative Coordinator Sarah Moore Publication dates are winter, spring, summer, and fall. Membership dues include the cost of the Events Coordinator Kim Murphy journal ($20) and are tax deductible as provided for by law. Membership rates are listed in the back of each issue. Account Manager Patricia Russell All letters, manuscripts, photographs, and materials intended for publication in the journal should be sent to Director of Visual Communication Sara Wilcox the museum. The museum and journal are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, drawings, photographic material, or memorabilia. The museum cannot accept responsibility for statements and interpretations that are wholly the author’s. Unsolicited manuscripts cannot be returned unless postage is provided. Contributions to The THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER American Fly Fisher are to be considered gratuitous and the property of the museum unless otherwise requested Editor Kathleen Achor by the contributor. Copyright © 2008, the American Museum of Fly Fishing, Manchester, Vermont 05254. Original Design & Production Sara Wilcox material appearing may not be reprinted without prior permission. Periodical postage paid at Copy Editor Sarah May Clarkson Manchester, Vermont 05254 and additional offices (USPS 057410). The American Fly Fisher (ISSN 0884-3562) EMAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: www.amff.com POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The American Fly Fisher, P. O. B ox 42, Manchester, Vermont 05254. Washington Irving’s “The Angler”: A New First Fishing Story by Gordon M. Wickstrom To: My Reader RE: The Matter of Washington Irving and Angling Literature Washington Irving is no longer widely read. His stories and essays of early American life inThe Sketch Book (1820) lie sadly neglectedall but The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, made popular once again in a Tim Burton film that transforms the awkward country school teacher, Ichabod Crane, into Johnny Depp, a callow would?be? scientif ic New York detective on assignment in the remote van Winkle mountains. But Johnny Depp is not the issue here. Rather, I?m on to another of the fine things in The Sketch Book: Irving?s story, The Angler (circa 1815), quite possibly the first of all modern fishing stories. Everything that we have come to expect from a good fishing story is there. I believe that Irving?s The Angler is indeed the prototype of the immense number of fishing stories, good and bad, that we have been reading for nearly two hundred years. It struck me that I might advance this claim for the originality and modernity of Irving?s story from the early nineteenth century by outlining it, testing its skeletal structure in the twenty?first. So I did it and was amazed at how at home I felt in the story.