The Thirtieth anniversary limited edition lithograph from original watercolor, The Bubble, by fly tyer and artist John Betts, 4 " x 16% ", with ample margins designed for museum-quality An International Cast framing. Available in Anniversary LY FI s HING. People all over the world indulge in this sport. Some even Edition (edition of300 prints signed think about its history and want to share their findings and knowledge in The and numbered by the artist, unframed, $75) and Celebration Edition (edition FAmerican Fly Fisher. This Spring 1998 issue is the most international I've had of thirty prints in a shadowbox framing the pleasure to work on. that includes the signed, numbered, and First, Alvaro Masseini of Italy brings us "Fly in Valsesia, Italy: An An- remarqued print as well as a fly tied by cient Technique." In his article, Masseini discusses a fly-fishing technique found in Betts that reflects the mayflies in the the valley of the Sesia River in northern Italy. He explains its equipment and print, $25o-twelve of these will be offered at Museum dinner/auctions, history-a history that has basically been passed on orally, not in written form. leaving only eighteen available here). Then, in "A Fourth-Century European Illustration of a Salmon Angler:' Frederick Order by phone (802) 362-3300 or by Buller of follows a lead to a bronze plate that was engraved with a repre- mail: AMFF, PO Box 42, Manchester, sentation of a during the Roman occupation of Britain. VT 05254. Shipping and handling is Jiirgen F. Preylowski of Germany is back with a photo essay culled from his col- $5 for the Anniversary Edition, $12 for the Celebration Edition. VISA, lection of historic fly-fishing photographs. The text, "He Avoids Fashionable Cos- Mastercard, and AmEx accepted. tume:' was originally published in the February 1985 issue of Fliegenfischen. Richard C. Hoffmann of Canada translated the article for us, which addresses clothing and equipment deemed appropriate in Europe in the early part of this century. (Every spring journal needs a fashion section!) Some of the images were taken by Alexan- der Behm (see Winter 1998, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 20 to 23), the others by an unknown photographer. My favorite appears on page 17, highlighting the camaraderie of Julie Helene Brehm, Horst Brehm, and Baron von der Ropp. Here in the United States, we're celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of the American Museum of . On page 20, Board of Trustees President Richard G. Tisch highlights recent accomplishments, goals, and our appreciation of mem- ber support in "The Museum Reaches 30.'' We're also proud to have honored Trustee Gardner Grant with the Museum's Heritage Award this year at our success- ful benefit dinner in New York City (see Museum News for story and photos). As part of celebrating our thirtieth birthday, two artists have made their art available to the membership in limited edition prints. Pictured above is The Bubble, a watercolor by John Betts that turned out to be the most coveted piece in his art show last summer. The other, The Pool by Brett James Smith, is pictured on the in- side back cover, where Executive Director Gary Tanner tells you more about both of them. Happy wading. KATHLEENACHOR, EDITOR Preserving the Heritage Journal of 4the American Museum of Fly Fishing of Fly Fishing SPRING 1998 VOLUME 24 NUMBER 2 TRUSTEES E. M. Bakwin Walter T. Matia Michael Bakwin Janet Mavec Fly Fishing in Valsesia, Italy: An Ancient Foster Bam Wayne Nordberg Paul Bofinger Michael B. Osborne Technique...... 2 Donn Byrne, Sr. Allan K. Poole Alvaro Masseini James H. Carey Pamela B. Richards Roy D. Chapin, Jr. Tom Rosenbauer A Fourth-Century European Illustration of Peter Corbin Robert G. Scott Thomas N. Davidson James Spendiff a Salmon Angler...... 6 Charles Ferree Arthur Stern Frederick Buller Reed Freyermuth John Swan Duncan Grant Richard G. Tisch He Avoids Fashionable Costume...... 14 Gardner L. Grant David H. Walsh James H. Hunter Richard J. Warren Jiirgen F. Preylowski Woods King I11 Joe Wells (translated by Richard C. Hoffmann) James C. Woods The Museum Reaches 30 ...... 20 TRUSTEES EMERITI Richard G. Tisch G. Dick Finlay David B. Ledlie W. Michael Fitzgerald Leon L. Martuch Honoring Our Membership...... 21 William Herrick Keith C. Russell Robert N. Johnson Paul Schullery 24 Stephen Sloan Museum News......

OFFICERS Contributors...... 28 President Richard G. Tisch Vice Presidents Arthur Stern Pamela B. Richards o N T H E c o v E R : From the files of Jiirgen F. Preylowski, a photograph David H. Walsh by Alexander Behm, dates uncertain. Preylowski documents dress Treasurer James H. Carey in his photo essay, which begins on page 14. Secretary James C. Woods

STAFF Executive Director Gary Tanner The American Fly Fisher is published four tlmes a year by the Museum at PO. Box 42, Manchester, Vermont 05254. Administration Marianne Kennedy Publliation dates are winter, spring, summer, and fall. Membership dues include the cost of the Paula M. Welch Events eS- Membership ~ournal($30) and are tax deductible as provided far by law Membership rates are listed in the back of each issue. All letters, manuscripts, photographs, and rnater~als intended for publication in the laurnal should be sent to THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER the Museum. The Museum and journal are not responsible for unsallcltcd manuscripts, drawings, photographic Editor Kathleen Achor material, or memorabilia. The Museum cannot accept respansiblllty for statements and interpretations that are Design eS- Production Randall Rives Perkins wholly the author's. Unsolicited manuscripts cannot be returned unless postage is provided. Cantrlbutions ta The Copy Editor Sarah May Clarkson American Fly Fisher are to be considered gratuitous and the property of the Museum unless otherwise requested ConsultingEditor Margotpage by the contributor. Articles appearing in this journal are abstracted and mdexed m Htstorical Abstracts and America: Contributing Editor Paul Schullery History and Lzfe. Copyright D 1998, the American Museum af Fly Flshing, Manchester, Vermont 05254. Original mater~alappearing may not be reprinted w~thoutprior permission. Second Class Permit pastagc pad at Manchester Vermont 05254 and addltlonai offices (USPS 057410). The Amencan Fly Fisher (ISSN 0884.3562) POSTMASTER:Send address changes to The Amencnn Fly Fisher, PO. Box 42, Manchestcr, Vermont 05254.

SPRING 1998 1 Fly Fishing in Valsesia, Italy: An Ancient Technique by Alvaro Masseini

T IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE that in addition to the classic Anglo-Saxon in the Piedmont region, covers a surface our contemporary fly-fishing tech- traditions, other methods developed in- area of 1,000 square kilometers. The Iniques originated in England at the dependently in geographic areas located Sesia River springs from the Monte beginning of the sixteenth century. It is far from the great arteries of European Rosa, which, at 13,899 feet, is one of the also well known that during the same communication. In these culturally highest mountains in Europe. It runs period, similar techniques spread in "closed" areas, a fishing tradition grew through the provinces of Vercelli and northern Spain, although historians do based on the use of artificial flies, but Novara and flows from the north into not agree whether these techniques these methods were rather different the great Po River. A mountain and originated in Spain or were imported by from the "English technique." high-hill area, Valsesia is characterized foreign pilgrims during their trip to the One of these areas is the valley of the by meadows and forests in the north sanctuary of Santiago Compostelo. Sesia River in northern Italy. The typical and wineries in the south. Many fly-fishing historians agree that fly-fishing technique there is called Umberto Eco wrote in The Name of even in ancient Greece, some species of Valsesiana. I became aware of the Val- the Rose that during the Middle Ages the fish were caught with artificial flies sesiana technique and its variation, impervious territory of the high valley made of feathers. pesca a frusta, when I saw anglers using of the Sesia River, almost inaccessible, But only a few people are aware that them and when I read about them in sheltered the followers of the heretic Italian fishing manuals published before monk Fra Dolcino. This large group of the 1970s. Since then, one can seldom people was persecuted and slaughtered ABOVE: Fishing with the classical find articles on the Valsesiana technique at Varallo in 1307 by the papist troops of Valsesiana rod: two pieces of natural reed in specialized magazines, and there is no the Bishop of Vercelli. with the bamboo top (thefisherman is information published at all about the The Sesia River is a large-size alpine Arturo Pugno, an expert of this tech- pesca a frusta. stream in which grayling and brown nique, the president of the local The Sesia River valley, located in and marble trout find the best environ- association of anglers). northwest Italy near the city of Vercelli ment. The latter species-the Salrno

2 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER I Landscape of the Sesia River near the I town of Varallo.

trutta marrnoratu~isa biotype exclu- ate). Even today, no current book exists Valsesiana and the pesca a frusta (a vari- sively found in Italian alpine and to illustrate this technique: it was ation of Valsesiana, using the rod like a Slovenic rivers that can reach a weight taught, and learned, through experi- whip). of more than 20 pounds. This secluded ence. The Sesia River's fame for its exquis- environment of alpine valleys produced It is clear that this technique was not ite trout dates back to the eighteenth a peculiar fly-fishing technique. affected by any external influence. An- century at least. Napoleon was so en- The first written evidence of this gelo Bruni's book, I1 libro pratico del thusiastic about the Sesia's fish that he technique is found in a cadastral map of pescatore all 'amo in acque dolci (1934; made the river a reserve of the French lands located in the municipality of Val- The Practical Manual of the Fresh- Water empire. At the beginning of the nine- muccia, dated 1775. It shows the icon of Fisherman with a Hook, one of the first teenth century, the philosopher Mel- a fisherman whose posture and rod rep- manuals of fishing in Italy), in its open- chiorre Gioa and the historian Vincenzo resent use of the Valsesiana technique. ing chapter on fly fishing reads: "True Cuoco-two republican and pro-French No other written sources have been fly fishing, which was born in England Italian intellectuals actively collaborat- found so far to reconstruct the history and later successfully spread in Ger- ing with the Cisalpine Republic-in the of this indigenous fly-fishing technique. many, America, France, etc., is practi- preface to an ordinance addressed to lo- To study its origins and development, cally unknown in our country. I went cal people wrote: "Fishing is forbidden the historian has to rely on an oral throughout all Lombard valleys, fished at Albertagno, Varallo, Cravagliana, tradition passed down for centuries many mountain streams, but I never Rinello, Fobello, because the Sesia River through the generations. Its inventors found any person who knew, at least, belongs to the French Empire. The belonged to those populations who sel- the basic elements of this system" (p. quality of the trout fish of Sesia is excel- dom leave written records of their mate- 337). In Italy, the English fly-fishing lent." (This quote is printed in a recent rial and spiritual life (bear in mind that technique became known in the late advertising brochure issued by the until World War I, more than fifty per- 1940s and developed along with two Valsesia association of local anglers with cent of the Italian population was illiter- preexisting indigenous techniques, the no reference to the original).

Photographs by Alvaro Masseini SPRING 1998 3 Marble trout, a large type of the Italian and Slovenian alpine areas. In the Piave, Tagliamento, and Isonzo rivers, marble trout of 9 to lo pounds can befished rather frequently. A few weigh more than 20 pounds.

hair from the tail of a female horse is the surrounding mountain areas. The weakened by urine). The line has a con- Valsesiana technique requires the use of THE ROD. The Valsesiana rod was ic shape. At its beginning, the braid is three artificial flies at the same time: the made of a body of natural reed (Arundo made of twenty horsehairs; it gradually first one must be placed at the tip of the donax) of the Gramineous family. Its decreases to one to four horsehairs at its line, then the three flies are spaced from length was between 12 and 14 feet, and it end. To allow a perfect floating, the 1foot to 1 foot, 4 inches apart from each had no reel. It was built in three pieces: braid must be softly made with the other. the first was lo feet long and made in knots not too tight. Although today seasoned natural reed; the second piece many Valsesiana anglers use nylon for FEATHER s . Feathers are the most im- was made of the same material, approx- the last 2 feet, 8 inches of the line, local portant feature of these special dress- imately 2 feet, 4 inches long; and the anglers prefer an end made of only one ings. One to four feathers must be top piece was made of thin bamboo. horsetail hair for a softer fall of the line placed around the hook, depending on These three pieces, connected by metal in the water. Horsetail hair ends are still the characteristics of the river. Feathers rings, constituted a flexible and strong available in some specialized stores of are chosen according to the season and tool. This type of rod is not easily avail- Valsesia. the hatch. Strongly bent hooks are used. able today. Anglers using the Valsesiana The body of these tail-less flies is made techniques now use telescopic fiber- PAT T E R N s . Far from being imitations of unpainted silk thread to allow a light glass, parabolic action rods of similar of real insects, artificial flies used in the sinking. Colors vary according to the length. Valsesiana technique are "free" interpre- type of fish: for the trout, yellow, hazel, tations, giving the impression or sug- blue, violet, brown, red, and black; for THE LINE . The line is tied to the top. gestion of real insects. They are simple the grayling, a longer color list, includ- Its length-a little longer than the rod- flies with characteristics similar to wet ing light pink, light blue, light green, varies according to the angler's height. and dry flies. These flies are essentially and gray. Hooks also vary according to

At the appropriate length, the right emergers built with extremely soft the fish: larger-fromV number 8 to 14 hand can keep the rod straight while feathers, which, for the most part, stay -for the trout; smaller-number 16 and the left hand holds the hooked fish. in the water and work just under the 17-for the grayling. The extraordinary thing about this surface. This type of dressing is a direct The fundamental characteristic that line is that it is made with hair taken response to the particular characteris- makes these flies particularly effective is from the tail of a white male horse (the tics of the streams in Valsesia and in all the softness of the feathers, which must

4 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER Valsesiana artificialflies with horsehair line and fiberglass telescopic rod.

be carefully chosen from mountain leaving a mark as it softly places the flies parabolic, no-reel rod with a conic plas- birds with feather barbules that are soft which, to the fish's eyes, may appear as tic line (two to three times longer than and thin (these barbules provide the if they have just fallen from the sky, the rod) with a nylon end and two to bird with excellent protection from the been transvorted bv the stream. sunken three wet flies (spider type) drifting in cold weather). For the trout, partridge, lazily, or are jumpy and unreachable like the stream. When the fish is hooked and great grouse, and light and dark wood- an evhemeral hatching. Thanks to the won, the long line is taken back by hand cock feathers are used; the grayling rod ind its slightly logger line, the an- and rewound on the left arm. It is hard dressings are made of thrush, fieldfare, gler in the stream can precisely place the to find someone practicing the pesca a starling, grosbeak, or bullfinch feathers. flies to every pool or rock where a fish frusta variation of the Valsesiana tech- However. some of these birds are auite may be waiting for feeding. This type of nique in central Italy today. The English rare and' therefore protected unde; the rod also allows the angler to use his or technique has entirely taken over the old law. In this case. substitute feathers can her wrist to make the artificial flv move traditions. be used. ~alsesianaartificial flies have and look like a living insect, a trick that The Valsesiana technique still has a no wings. They are built using the same is often very effective. In fast water, the number of clever vractitioners who will techniques with which spiders and fish's attack is almost always fast. Conse- pass this tradition to the next genera- diptera are tied in the English tradition: quently, the angler's strike must be just tions. But the pesca a frusta variation a light silky body with hackles pushed as rapid. lacks historical and cultural background forward (see photo above). The technique born in Valsesia has -it does not have any future. Pesca a spread to the nearby valleys. Still prac- frusta is less useful than the English ticed today by many passionate local technique. The low price of the rod anglers, a modernized method uses fib- (about $20) seems to be its only attrac- The fundamental principle of the erglass rods and silk or plastic instead of tive quality. Because of the difficult Valsesiana technique is the special rela- horsehair lines. As in the past, local manual way of pulling the line back, the tionship the angler establishes with both dressings are used. The pesca a frusta very long rod, and the extreme length of water and prey. At first, fishing the variation (using the rod like a whip) its always-stretched line casting, it is Valsesiana way may seem simpler than spread only moderately in the central only useful in large rivers inhabited by the English technique. Unlike the latter, regions of Italy since the beginning of chub (Leuciscus cephalus) and impossi- long castings with short rods are not the century. It uses a similar 12-foot ble to use in the Appennine streams and used. The rod acts like a whip without long telescopic fiberglass, flexible and brooks where the trout live. -

SPRING 1998 5 A Fourth-Century European Illustration of a Salmon Angler by Frederick Buller

AVING SPENT many years or headdress worn by an officiating plate. The plate was found during exca- studying medieval church wall priest] of [Romano-British] beaten vations in 1805 at Park in Hpaintings in my search for early bronze representing a fisherman with . It depicted a seated English illustrations of anglers, and sub- pointed cap. . . in the act of hooking. . . fisherman holding a rod and in the act sequently having published my findings a fine salmon."l of landing a salmon (see the right-hand in The American Fly Fisher ("The Earli- My investigation was delayed some- side of the bottom drawing in Figure I, est English Illustrations of an Angler:' what, as I discovered that King was not above) and ipso facto was an illustration vol. 19, no. 3), I was anxious to follow the author in question. The information of a British angler some 600 years earlier up another lead pointing to a represen- in Radcliffe's note was culled from the than the aforementioned earliest English tation of a fisherman that was engraved privately printed and rare book Roman illustration. during the Roman occupation of Britain Antiquities at Lydney Park, - The site of the Roman camp at Lyd- (which ended circa A.D. 410). shire (1879).~Published posthumously, My lead was found in a footnote in it was the work of the Reverend William FIGURE 1. Drawings of bronze frag- William Radcliffe's Fishing from the Ear- Hiley Bathurst, with additional notes by ments, items 1 and 2, from William Hiley liest Times (1921), which refers to a W. King. Bathurst's Roman Antiquities at Lydney drawing in a book that he attributed to ~urtherinvestigation ultimately re- Park, Gloucestershire. By permission of W. King, illustrating "a diadem [crown vealed a drawing of an engraved bronze the British Library, shelfmark 7705.J4.

6 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER FIGURE 2. A map ofthe southern half of England and Wales (Britannia) showing Lydney in relation to four cities prominent in Roman times (there were more than fify of them).

FIG URE 3. This view across the from Lydney (the site of the Roman camp or watchtower) is commanding, which may account for its being chosen by the invading Celts, who probably arrived from Brittany some zoo ney Park on the southern edge of the years before the Roman invasion. According to Leonard Cottrell in The Great ancient Forest of Dean is about a mile Invasion (1958), "In the late second century B.C. tribes from Brittany settled in and a half from the western bank of the Cornwall. . . . Later they moved on to the and may have exploited and about nine miles above the iron in the Forest of Dean" (p. 47). By the same token, the Roman lookout its confluence with the . The on the hilltops of Lydney could scan miles of the river Severn and communi- city of Gloucester is twenty miles upriv- cate to other Roman fortresses ( and Selsley Hill) on the opposite shoreline. This drawing first appeared in Roman Antiquities in Lydney Park, er (see Figures 2 and 3). The Roman remains were first no- Gloucestershire. By permission of the British Library, shelfmark 7705.j4. ticed when Roman coins and other an- tiquities were recovered after Benjamin Bathurst-a forebear of both William H. Bathurst and the present owner, the third Viscount Bledisloe-purchased the estate in 1723 and the details of these and other finds were published by Major Hayman Rooke in Arch~ologia (1777, p. 207).3 When in 1805 Benjamin's

SPRING 1998 7 grandson, the Right Honorable C. station to artifacts associated with a had stopped at the Roman level) and es- Bathurst, was having some holes dug on temple where citizens hoped to be cured tablished proof of an earlier Celtic occu- the estate in order to plant trees, he of both physical and mental ills. Many pation of the hill fort. The Celtic tribes found the extensive foundation walls of representations of dogs in stone, bronze, (called Silures by the Romans) mined a temple together with a whole range of and bone and other votive offerings iron ore. Doubtless they continued to Roman buildings. Included in these re- have been found.4 These include the fa- do so after the Roman occupation, but mains were mosaic pavements, hypo- mous Lydney dog, a miniature of a probably as slave workers. Marks on the causts, and painted stucco adorning the wolfhound, which is one of the finest mine walls made by the miners' picks at walls. surviving pieces of Romano-British Lydney-in what is now the only surviv- Most significantly, the series of coins sculpture. It is on display in the muse- ing Roman mine in Britain-are still that were found-representing the reigns um room at Lydney Park, which is open discernible. of many Roman emperors-pointed to to visitors during the summer months. The mixing of cultures is exemplified an occupation by Romans for the whole The Romans were not the first to use by the Roman temple built on this site period of their dominion in Britain. the five-acre hill site at Lydney. In 1928, during the late fourth century by the Such a long occupation accounts for Sir Mortimer Wheeler, Britain's most fa- fleet supply depot commander Titus changes in the character of artifacts mous archaeologist, reexcavated the site Flavius Senilis. It was dedicated to the from those associated with a military (fortunately, the previous excavators Celtic god Nodens (the greatest god of FIG URE 4. Sadly, the already damaged tessellated pavements at Lydney revealed and drawn in the last century were not conserved at the time of their uncovering because of crippling cost estimates. The drawing reproduced here is the cella pavement within the temple (the only one that was conserved because it was covered over again). Thefrieze is made up of the images of normal fish and two sea serpents that are not unlike paleontologist? Ichthyosaurids (wrongly identified as dolphins by Sir Mortimer Wheeler) with pectoral paddles or flippers. The dedication to Nodens, "God of the deeps," despite the fragmentary state of the pavement, has been patiently but conjec- turally formulated by Wheeler: "To the god Nodens, Titus Flavius Senilis, oficer in charge of supply-depot of the fleet, laid this pavement out of money offerings; the work being in charge of Victorinus, interpreter on the governor's staff" Photograph courtesy of the British Library. By permission of the British Library, shelf mark 7705.j4.

the Silurians) and marked a local up- toiled up the narrow rocky path to this in Bathurst's book, p. 4) remained in the surge in paganism at a time when shrine," especially since Nodens, "God collection. Christianity was widely established as of the deeps," was supposed to have This doubt reinforced my anxiety. I the official religion of the Roman Em- powers over the sun and the sea.6 already knew that although Wheeler pire.5 The temple was part of a building Having viewed Bathurst's book at the described the images on the larger frag- complex designed to house staff and British Library and Wheeler's papers ment in Figure 1 in his report of the visitors, embracing ten chapels-some courtesy of Sue Byrne, archaeology offi- Excavation of the Prehistoric Roman, and with mosaic pavements (Figure 4)- cer of Gloucester's City Museum and Post Roman Site in Lydney Park, pub- within an arcaded and paved cella (cen- Art Gallery, I sought permission to view lished by the Society of Antiquaries of tral area) that was surrounded by a pro- the bronze fragments that are housed in London (i932), he made no reference to cessional corridor (ambulatory). Doubt- the museum room at Viscount Bledis- the image of a fisherman when he de- less it was not only used by local digni- loe's home at Lydney Park. Permission scribed the small fragment. taries and important visitors, who to visit was readily granted by Museum On my arrival at Lydney Park I was would have enjoyed the lavish centrally Custodian Mrs. B. Butcher, although given leave to search the collection of heated accommodation and the ritual she was not hopeful that the fragmented Romano-British bronzes for the "miss- baths, but as Wheeler thought probable, plate depicting a fisherman landing a ing" item. Wheeler had described both "Fishermen from the Severn must have salmon (marked item 2 in the drawing upper and lower fragments as repoussk

SPRING 1998 9 the authirvat ~ybne~~arkin November 1997. ~t ;s parTictharly appropriate that the author was given permission to execute this research by the owner Viscount Bledisloe, because this lord and his father before him have always been dedicated salmon fishers.

work, that is, raised or beaten (from the yond these again are two tritons [imagi- sion caused by the archaeologists' con- underside) into relief. Items 123 and 124 nary sea monsters] of whom one holds flicting statements was resolved when I in Wheeler's report should have corre- two anchors and the other an uncertain noticed that the small fragment, item 2 sponded with items 1 and 2 in Bathurst's object, perhaps a conch-shell [a shell (now separated in the collection from drawings. used by tritons as a trumpet or horn]."s item I), was not, as described, orna- Wheeler described items 123 and 124 He continued, "The small fragment mented in repoussk, but plainly en- thus: "Fragments of bronze ornamented (124) represents part of a swag with the graved on both sides. Bathurst had de- in repoussk. The larger fragment may figure of putto holding a basket and per- scribed one side and Wheeler the other! have formed part of a head-dress7 or haps an agricultural implement. Both As the reader can observe, my photo- may on the other hand have been part these items were found during earlier graph offers a more convincing image of of the decoration of a tray or dish. It excavations."9 the Romano-British salmon fisherman shows in the center the oriental sun- Whereas Wheeler's description of the than the nineteenth-century drawing god, armed with a scourge and standing large fragment, item 123, corresponded (Figure 5). The fish is undeniably a in a four-horsed chariot. On each side with item 1 in Bathurst and King's draw- salmon, "the chief glory of the Severn." of him flies a putto [representation of a ing, his item 124 fragment, the so-called If the reader wonders why the rod in naked child or child in swaddling] hold- small fragment, did not correspond this illustration is so short and the line ing apparently a flaming torch, and be- with their item 2 fragment. The confu- so thick, let him look below at two relief

10 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER FIGURE 6. A Greek angler from the Agathemeros Relief; circa third century B.c., from Fishing from the Earliest Times (London: John Murray, 1921), facingp. 236.

images (Figures 6 and 7) from classical tile and dress at the Victoria and Albert [meaning the right-hand side of item z] antiquity and note the similarity in the Museum in London, to see if the hood sits the votary [one who is bound by thickness or crudity of those items. No- or mantle and the clothing worn by the vows] of Nodens, the Silurian fisher- tice also that all three anglers are seated, angler was fashionable fourth-century man, enveloped in the hooded frieze that all are right-handed, that all have a British clothing or had any other known mantle worn to this day [1868] by his hooked fish attached to their lines, and significance. Woolley, despite her con- brethren of Naples, and who, by the fa- that all are equipped with a . The siderable interest in the item. was un- vor of god, has just hooked a magnifi- Romano-British angler has his creel sus- able to relate it to other dress items of cent salmon."lo - pended from the shoulder (the modern the period because examples simply do way), whereas the other two have a not exist. Her earliest comparative hand-held creel. Perhaps the shoulder work-ing material was eighth-century ENDNOTES creel of the Lydney angler reflects the six Anglo-Saxon. Indeed, she considered 1. William Radcliffe, Fishing from the Earliest centuries separating the fabrication of the Lydney fisherman's dress as "source Times. London: John Murray, 1921, p. 195. 2. William Hiley Bathurst, Roman Antiquities these images-and marks a change in material." at Lydney Park, Gloucestershire. London: Long- fashion. In this context it is probably helpful mans, Green & Co., 1879 (British Library Catalog I sent a copy of this photograph to to defer to the Reverend William Hiley shelf mark 7705.f.4). With additional notes by W. Linda Woolley, assistant curator of tex- Bathurst who wrote, "On the other side King.

SPRING 1998 11 FIGURE 7. An Etruscan panel from Orvieto, c. 300 B.C. According to B. Ashmole, sometime keeper of the department of Greek and Roman antiquities of the British Museum, in a letter published by The Fish- 3. This reference to Major Hayman Rooke's ing Gazette (13 May 1939), the panel may have been piece (Arch~ologiaor Miscellaneous Tracts Relating a part of a fountain. "This would probably be the to Antiquity, vol. 5. London: Society of Antiquaries front of the fountain, the jet coming through the of London, 1779) cited in Reverend William Hiley hole." Photograph courtesy of The Fishing Gazette. Bathurst's Roman Antiquities at Lydney Park, Gloucestershire (1777) is incorrect; the date was 1779. 4. "Exports from Britain which reached the Roman World included wheat, hunting-dogs [au- thor's emphasis] and a species of freshwater pearl, of which Caesar was particularly fond." Leonard ciating priest," according to Reverend William Hi- Cottrell, The Great Invasion. London: Pan Boolzs ley Bathurst, in Roman Antiquities at Lydney Park, Limited, 1958, p. 48. Gloucestershire. London: Longmans, Green 81 Co., 5. Established by the Emperor Constantine in 1879, p. 40. 8. Wheeler, Excavation of the Prehistoric Ro- A.D. 325 at a time when the vast proportion of his subjects were not Christians. man, and Post Roman Site in Lydney Park, Glouces- 6. R. E. M. Wheeler, Excavation of the Prehis- tershire, p. 90. toric Roman, and Post Roman Site in Lydney Park, 9. Wheeler, Excavation of the Prehistoric Ro- Gloucestershire. London: Society of Antiquaries of man, and Post Roman Site in Lydney Park, Glouces- London, 1932, pp. 90-105. tershire, p. 90. 7. "Worn either by the idol itself or by the offi- lo. Bathurst, Roman Antiquities, p. 195.

12 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER SPRING 1998 13 He Avoids Fashionable Costume

Photograph taken by Alexander Behm (see The American Fly Fisher, Winter 1998, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 2*23), dates uncertain.

14 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER by Jurgen F. Preylowski

Julie Helene Brehm (1867-1912). Taken by an unknown photographer, c. 1900.

ow HAPPY Dr. Karl Heintz would be today to know But even in Heintz's Germany this so highly praised piece that his beloved "rucksack" has been taken over di- of equipment had not yet been adopted by all anglers at the Hrectly into the English language without translation! turn of the century. Dr. Horst Brehm, in the 1904 book Die He even wrote in his 1903 book Angelsport in Siisswasser [tr.: Fischwaid [tr.: Game Fishing] by Dr. Fritz Skowronnek, is SportIJishing in Fresh Water]," . . . the English are otherwise quoted as saying " . . . in southern Germany the rucksack is so practical that it is incomprehensible to me why they have surely in general use, [but] in northern Germany the angler still have not yet adopted our rucksack [tr.: literally in Ger- who carries a rucksack on his back still often gives rise to man, back bag]." public merriment."

Originally published in Fliegenfischen, February 1985, pp. 50-51. English translation by Richard C. Hoffmann. SPRING 1998 15 Photograph taken by Alexander Behm, dates uncertain.

The question of appropriate clothing and equipment took gling literature at that time, there was still no truly competi- up far greater space in angling books of the turn of the cen- tive alternative to English goods in the area of clothing (as tury than it does today Surely the chief reason for this was was also the case in the areas of rods, reels, and flies). Recom- that one could not then get to the fishing waters so quickly mended in fishing catalogs and angling books were outer and easily. Time-consuming journeys by rail, coach, and foot fabrics of mountain loden (heavy wool) and the "millerai- forced anglers to take account of every possible weather con- nierte" cloth of the Imperial navy (an early waterproof cloth dition and be correctly equipped to meet it. with air permeability), and undergarments of wool and Although a strong national[ist] attitude is found in all an- buckskin. But recognized as the best were products of the Left to right: Julie Helene Brehm, her husband Dr. Horst Brehm (1863-1917), and Baron von der Ropp. Dr. Horst Brehm was the founder and first president of the Deutscher Anglerbund (German Angler Association). His father was Alfred Brehm (1829-i884), better known as "Tiervater Brehm," who wrote and published the largest encyclopedia of animals, Brehms Thierleben (first edition in six volumes published from 1864 to 1869). Taken by an unknown photographer, c. 1900.

English firms Anderson, Anderson & Anderson, Cording & no guarantee of dry feet, the recommendation was simply to Co., and Burburry. This was especially true for the wading carry two of everything. boots so important to the fly fisher, but only a few could af- Scarcely a single old photo [shows] a fly fisher without a ford this English luxury. Germans more often wore sturdy hat-an important item for protection against sun and rain, mountain boots with linen leggings, solid cowhide fisher- but at the time also the most practical place to keep leaders men's boots, or thinner ones made from Russian leather. prepared with flies on hand. Innumerable details were Naturally these had to be carefully oiled with Mars01 [tr: thought through: the arrangement of pockets, the buttons Mars oil] before and after fishing. But because there was still concealed so that nothing would get tangled, even the so-

SPRING 1998 17 Baron von der Ropp, photographer unknown, c. 1900. The baron's daughter wrote to Mr. Preylowski in 1985, when she was eighty-two years old, saying that this photograph (and the ones on pages 15 and 17) had been taken in Saxony.

called grandfather's cuff for the chamois leather knee knickers and a short skirt. Have many small and large pock- breeches. ets, though these are rarely present in women's clothes. With Far ahead of his own time was Max von dem Borne, who that are worn high waterproof laced boots and heavy linen made recommendations in the fourth edition of his angling leggings. A pert little loden or sailor's hat looks good and book, Taschenbuch der Angelfischerei (1904) [tr.: Pocket Book makes a good place to wind up leaders. A short waterproof of Angling], to women who fished: "They may put on a corn- cape of loden will serve as a coat." bination of women's hunting and cycling costume with But the fly fisher was also advised against being dressed Photograph taken by Alexander Behm, dates uncertain.

too fashionably. All authors then urged clothing that was easier to dress ourselves for the weather. But Dr. Karl Heintz's unobtrusive in natural surroundings, as did von dem Borne: recommendation of 1903 still holds: "In selecting clothing, "The color should be brown, gray, hunters' green or mottled, the sport fisher should above all make sure that it protects in any case not conspicuous." This advice would still hold to- him against wetness from above and wetness from below." day for those fly fishers who walk around like moving bill- - boards for the tackle industry. Thanks to modern materials, these days we find it much

SPRING 1998 l9 The Museum Reaches 30

by Richard G. Tisch, PRESIDENT BOARDOF TRUSTEES

HOUGH WE ARE trustees, Gary will con- precise in describ- tinue to ensure that the Ting the fish we catch American Museum of Fly and celebrate to others Fishing remains a perma- -"that bonefish weighed nent institution dedicated 8% pounds" or "the rain- to the careful and respon- bow was 17% inchesn-we sible stewardship of an- seem to prefer celebrating gling objects. Among the only anniversaries corn- expected changes for 1998 fortably divisible by five. If you've been stature as well, Through the able editor- are the hiring of a part-time registrar, married a mere twenty-two years, you ship of Kathleen Achor and the artistic quarterly exhibits featuring the Muse- and your spouse may be the only ones design marvels of Randall Perkins, this um's collection, and publication of a taking notice of this estimable mark. journal sustains a respectable scholar- quarterly newsletter, similar to the for- Reach twenty-five and it's a silver an- ship in fly fishing and acquaints readers mer Greenheart Gazette. You may read niversary with more friends and rela- with events of the past that have shaped more about saltwater fly fishing too. tives than hairwing salmon flies or the sport. It is a beautiful journal, too, The Board of Trustees has both many Clouser Minnows in your vest. having won first place in the scholarly new and many well-recognized faces. The Museum is pushing thirty, and journal category for its design in the Their judgment and dedication have we're not about to break tradition- 1996 New England Museum Associa- provided a needed steadying influence we're celebrating, too. These are some of tion's publication awards. This issue of these past few challenging years. Trus- the highlights since our silver anniver- the journal will be funded in part by ad- tees do, indeed, owe a duty of disinter- sary in 1993. vertisers, which will help us cover costs ested loyalty, but the service provided by Your Museum's collection continues as we add more color. Let us know what many trustees has been exceptional, for to grow: 2,800 books, scores of manu- you think of it. We think it's terrific. which I am profoundly grateful. scripts and journals, untold magazines, The Museum now has a full-time Recently, the trustees' donations to with many first and rare editions (I re- membership directorlevents coordinator, the Museum, and those of Museum cently gazed at a 1558 volume of Ron- Paula Welch, and a director of adminis- friends, have been unequaled. Thanks to delet's Histoire des Poissons). Through tration, Marianne Kennedy. Member- the trustees, the Museum has a dedicat- the generosity of trustees, members, and ship has grown almost 20 percent in the ed Endowment Fund with a balance of friends, we continue to add to the tens last six months-the largest such in- more than $loo,ooo, commitments of at of thousands of flies and thousands of crease in at least a decade. We forecast least another $50,000, and the likeli- reels and rods, many of which are extra- continued growth at more than 20 per- hood that substantially more will be ordinary and some of which are mun- cent annually through 2000 and expect added to the account before year's end. dane, but all of which represent the evo- to achieve it. The financial and other Although the endowment is still small, lution of fly fishing. These artifacts and records of the Museum, needed to en- what required twenty-nine years to cre- the creels, fly boxes, and hundreds of sure smooth handling of donations, ate has effectively tripled in one month. other objects celebrate more than just dinnerlauctions, payroll, and dozens of The board and staff still have many the history of a sport-they embrace in other transactions required of nonprofit challenges before them, such as main- part the folklore, ethics, social strata, art organizations have never been better taining financial stability, hiring a history, commercial marketing, conser- handled. We're interviewing candidates curator, ensuring membership growth, vation history, economics, industry, and for curator and expect to hire someone implementing educational outreach literature of generations of fly fishers. shortly. programs, enhancing exhibitions, and Each object has a unique story, having Our executive director, Gary Tanner, continuing the care and growth of the been held, cast, tied, written, read, or in only seven months has presided over collection. With your continued sup- carried by past or present anglers, and the development and early implementa- port, however, we will accomplish these visitors to the Museum are invited-no, tion of the Museum's first three-year goals and set our sights beyond them. urged-to imagine those glories, conjure business plan, engineered substantial The American Museum of Fly Fishing them up, with every story being possible membership growth, and overseen the is a vibrant, healthy thirty-year-old. and none less real than any other. strongest end-of-year financial results in Thank you for this birthday present. The American Fly Fisher grows in memory. With the full support of the -

20 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER Honoring Our Membership

CLUBAND TRADES UPPOR TER S The Museum's ability to accomplish its mission has been significantly enhanced by the support of fly-fishing clubs and members of the fly-fishing trade who realize that yesterday is as important as tomorrow when it comes to the future of fly fishing. We are thankful to them for their many contribu- tions of time and resources.

Abenaki Publishers Gates AuSable Lodge Quest Fly Fishing Shop Bennington, Vermont Grayling, Michigan Louisville, Kentucky The American Museum of Glenn Struble Manufacturing Co. Retreats Wildlife Art Sutherlin, Oregon Nashville, Tennessee Minneapolis, Minnesota Golden West Women's Flyfishers River Essentials Angler's & Shooter's Bookshelf San Francisco, California Honesdale, Pennsylvania Goshen, Connecticut Gray's Sporting Journal River Graphics The Anglers Journal Augusta, Georgia Portland, Oregon Livingston, Montana Green Mountain Fly Tyers River's Edge Athens Fly Fishing Shop Chittenden, Vermont Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Athens, Georgia Hexagraph Fishing Rods R. L. Winston Rod Company Battenkill Angler Houston, Texas Twin Bridges, Montana Manchester, Vermont The H. S. Trask Company Rodale Press, Inc. The Bay King Club Bozeman, Montana Emmaus, Pennsylvania Tokyo, Japan The Joe Jefferson Club Rod & Reel magazine Callahan & Co., Booksellers Saddle River, New Jersey Camden, Maine Peterborough, New Hampshire Key Largo Angler's Club Scientific Anglersl3M Catskill Fly Fishing Center Key Largo, Florida St. Paul, Minnesota Livingston Manor, New York Kidd Guide Services South Creek Outfitters The Cortland Line Company Auckland, New Zealand Lyons, Colorado Cortland, New York Me1 and Fanny Krieger's Club Sporting Classics magazine The Diablo Valley Fly Fishermen Pacific Columbia, South Carolina Walnut Creek, California San Francisco, California The Sporting Life Federation of Fly Fishers Lang's Sporting Collectibles Memphis, Tennessee Bozeman, Montana Raymond, Maine Stackpole Books Fish & Game Frontiers The Lyons Press Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania Wexford, Pennsylvania New York, New York Theodore Gordon Flyfishers Fishing World Martin J. Keane, Classic Rods New York, New York Floral Park, New York Ashley Falls, Massachusetts Thomas & Thomas Rodmakers Fly Fisherman magazine Midwest Fly Fishers Turners Falls, Massachusetts Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Minneapolis, Minnesota Fly Fishers of Virginia The Orvis Company Arlington, Virginia Richmond, Virginia Manchester, Vermont Troutwater Supplies Fiy Fishing Outfitters Orvis San Francisco Kelowna, British Columbia San Francisco, California San Francisco, California United Fly Tyers, Inc. Fly Tier's Primer Press of the Sea Turtle Woburn, Massachusetts Carrollton, Texas Easthampton, Massachusetts Vagabond Angler The Fontinalis Club Primal Scream Outfitters Castle Rock, Colorado Vanderbilt, Michigan Sun Valley, Idaho CLUBAND TRADEcontinued CORPORATEAND FOUNDATIONMEMBERS The significant financial contributions of our corporate and foundation members have Vermejo Park Ranch Raton, New Mexico always been vital to the day-to-day operation of the Museum as well as to its ability to carry out its mission: the preservation of our fly-fishing heritage. Vermont Dept. of Fish &Wildlife Waterbury,Vermont Baron Technology The Kara Foundation Vermont Inst. of Natural Sciences Trumball, Connecticut Bloomingdale, Illinois Woodstock, Vermont Borden and Affiliates McGean-Rohco, Inc. Western Fly Fishing magazine Denver, Colorado Cleveland, Ohio Portland, Oregon Cargill Lumber Company, Inc. McGraw-Hill Companies Whale River Outfitters Minneapolis, Minnesota Princeton, New Jersey Parish, New York Culbro Corporation Steve O'Brien The Wild Trout Journal New York, New York South Hamilton, Massachusetts Bozeman, Montana General Cigar Company RemyJAmerique Wood Classic Sport Enterprises Bloomfield, Connecticut New York, New York Barton, Vermont S. C. Johnson Company Sharf Marketing Group Wright & McGill Company Racine, Wisconsin Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts Denver, Colorado Samuel F. Johnson Foundation Redmond, Oregon

L I F E MEM B E R S An institution like the American Museum of Fly Fishing doesn't move into its fourth decade of existence without the significant contributions of a core group of people who, through their lifetime membership commitments to the Museum, have helped ensure its future. The general membership, the trustees and staff, and fly fishers the world over owe these individuals a sincere debt of gratitude for their significant support.

E. M. Bakwin Michael Fitzgerald William Levy Pamela Bates Richards Michael Bakwin Audun R. Fredriksen John J. Louis Dean E. Richardson Foster Bam Arthur T. Frey Nick Lyons Tom Rosenbauer William Barrett Reed Freyermuth Ian Mackay Keith Russell Philip J. Baugh George F. Fry, Jr. William J. Mares John Schlesinger Stephen D. Bechtel, Jr. Vernon E. Gallup Leon Martuch Paul Schullery Erik Bedford Patrick I. Gilligan Walter T. Matia Robert G. Scott Heidi S. T. Bedford Larry Gilsdorf Janet Mavec Stephen Sloan John F. Betts David I. Glaesser James F. McCloud Brett J. Smith Hamilton W. Budge Francis Goelet Tom McCullough Jim Spendiff Donn Byrne, Sr. Duncan Grant Henry P. McIntosh Wallace J. Stenhouse, Jr. James H. Carey Gardner L. Grant W. Harrison Mehn Arthur Stern Hoagie Carmichael Wayne Hicklin John Merwin John Swan Roy D. Chapin, Jr. Curtis I. Hill Robert L. Mitchell James S. Taylor Kenneth M. Childs, Jr. Herman C. Hittenberger Michael H. Monier Richard G. Tisch Thomas Clark Robert J. Hoback Christopher E. Mullin, Sr. David H. Walsh Michael D. Copeland James H. Hunter Wallace I. Murray 111 Richard J. Warren Peter Corbin Robert Johnson Wayne Nordberg Joe C. Wells Hugh Corrigan Arthur Kaemmer David D. Perkins Dickson L. Whitney James R. Dalziel Martin J. and Lillian Keane Leigh and Romi Perkins Pete Widener Thomas Davidson John Kiely Perk and Randall Perkins George Widener I1 John C. Dorn Woods King I11 Joe A. Pisarro James C. Woods John D. Drinko Martin Kline 0. Miles Pollard Earl S. Worsham Charles R. Eichel Me1 Krieger Allan K. Poole Charles E. Ferree Edward D. Landel Ivan and Susan Popkin Cliff Fitzgerald David B. Ledlie Thomas J. Rice

22 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER 30th Anniversary Poster This work of art will be a stunning addition to any home or office. We are grateful to photographer and longtime member Bob O'Shaugnessy and designers Jeff Billig and Anthony Henriques of PART N E R s & Simons, Inc. for donating their creative services. Posters, which measure 20" x 30", may be ordered by phone (802) 362-3300 or by mail: AMFF, P.O. Box 42, Manchester, VT 05254. $24 includes shipping. VISA, Mastercard, and AMEX accepted.

SPRING 1998 23 The American Museum of Fly Fishing Box 42, Manchester,Vermont 05254 Tel: 802-362-3300. Fax: 802-362-3308 JOIN! Membership Dues (per annum) 1998 AMFF Heritage Award INDIVIDUAL Associate $35 Dinner DinnerIAuction Events Sustaining $60 Trustee Gardner L. Grant was guest APRIL 24 Benefactor $125 Westford, Massachusetts Patron $250 of honor at a benefit dinner at the Yale GROUP Club in New York City on January 29. Westford Regency Club $50 Grant, a lifelong supporter of Trade $50 conservation and the preservation of MAY 9 the fly-fishing tradition, was the recipi- Membership dues include four issues of Manchester, Vermont ent of the Museum's Heritage Award. The American Fly Fisher. Please send your The Equinox Hotel & Resort payment to the Membership Director The award, created in 1997 by the Muse- and include your mailing address. The um's trustees, honors those individuals Museum is a member of the American who have made contributions of their Association of Museums, the American time, energy, and resources to a degree Association of State and Local History, that sets a standard for others. Museum the New England Association of Muse- founder Leigh H. Perkins was the recipi- ums, the Vermont Museum and Gallery ent of the first AMFF Heritage Award. Alliance, and the International Associa- The evening featured cocktails, din- tion of Sports Museums and Halls of ner, and tributes to Gardner. Dona1 C. Fame. We are a nationally accredited, O'Brien Jr., chairman of the Atlantic nonprofit, educational institution chartered Salmon Federation (U.S.) served as under the laws of the state of Vermont. master of ceremonies, and noted author and fly-fishing expert Ernest G. Schwie- bert gave the keynote address. In his re- As an independent, nonprofit institution, marks, Schwiebert recounted Gardner's the American Museum of Fly Fishing involvement and leadership in organiza- relies on the generosity of public-spirited tions such as this Museum, Trout Un- individuals for substantial support. We limited, the Theodore Gordon Fly Fish- ask that you give our museum serious ers, the l?nvir~nmentalPlanning Lobby Author Ernest G. Schwiebert gave the consideration when planning for gifts and for the State of New York, the New York keynote speech honoring Gardner Grant. bequests. State Commissioner's Council on Envi-

Hours are lo AM to 4 PM. We are closed on major holidays.

Available at $4 per copy: Volume 6,- umbers 1,2,3,4 Volume 7, Number 3 Volume 8, Number 3 Volume g, Numbers 1,2,3 Volume lo, Number 2 Volume 11, Numbers 1,2,3,4 Volume 13, Number 3 Volume 15, Number 2 Volume 16, Numbers 1,2,3 Volume 17, Numbers I, 2,3 Volume 18, Numbers 1, 2,4 Volume 19, Numbers 1, 2,3,4 Volume 20, Numbers 1,2,3,4 Volume 21, Numbers 1,2,3,4 Museum volunteer Peter Castagnetti and Events and Membership Coordina- Volume 22, Numbers 1,2,3,4 tor Paula Welch display a reserved deluxe edition of Fishing Atlantic Salmon: Volume 23, Numbers I, 2,3,4 The Flies and the Patterns by Joseph D. Bates Jr. and Pamela Bates Richards. Volume 24, Number 1 At the podium, Executive Director Gary Tanner served as auctioneer. All ~hotoera~hsbv Mareot Paee

President Richard Tisch, Trustee Gardner Grant, and Executive Director Gary Tanner at the dinner honoring Grant with the Museum's Heritage Award.

Reelmaker Stanley Bogdan, who donated a reel for the first in the Museum's Great Rods &Reels series. Ellen Stern and committee member Wendy Tisch. ronmental Conservation, the Atlantic Salmon Federation, and the Hudson River Foundation for Science and Envi- ronmental Research. Schwiebert also re- lated some personal fishing tales about Gardner, and summed up by saying "I celebrate Gardner Grant for his remark- able fishing skills, his continued hus- bandrv and leadershiv in environmental affairs, his support of our little fly-fish- ing museum in Vermont, and thirty- odd years of unflagging friendship and generosity." At evening's end, Board of Trustees President Richard Tisch presented Gardner with the Heritage Award. Both a silent and a live auction were also features of the evening. The silent auction featured domed displays con- taining flies dressed by some of the world's premier tyers. Tyer Rick Whor- wood created an original pattern espe- cially for the event called "Gardner's Benefit." Trustee Pam Richards and Bob Volunteer John Mundt displaying auction Blain assembled the treasures. item, "Gone Duckin:" a limited edition, Thanks go to the benefit committee museum-quality bronze by artist and for their work that made this such a Trustee Walt Matia. successful event: Richard Tisch, Chair;

SPRING 1998 25 You@ GotIa Cast The Lightest

Orvis is proud Ito suppor t The : AmericaIn Museu m of Fly Fishing

I~~tr~d~cingthe New Orvis Tl" Rods like every Orvis Trident, they cany our patented MVR' Cast a Trident TL. vibration-reduction technology for increased accuracy That's the only way you'll fully appreciate just and distance. how incredibly light and responsive these new Orvis Orvis Quality from End to End rods really are. All Trident TLs are further graced by anodized aluminum reel seats, superior quality cork handles, and Rod Weight Comparison 865 905 908 911 8X' 5-WT. 9' 5-WT- 9' 8-WT. 9' 11-WT. low-glare, low-friction carbonitride rmides. and Orvis Trident TL 2.86 oz. 3.09 oz. 4.75 oz. 5.69 oz. precision-ground Comparable Sage Rod 3.23 oz. 3.52 oz. 4.68 oz. 7.89 oz. integral ferrules. New Exclusive Lightweight Graphii. Trident TL When you pick up the rod you'll notice that it is rods are available in incredibly light. So light in fact, that the new high- two- and four-piece modulus graphite construction laces them among the models, a variety of flex Trident TL rods come in both lightest rods in the world. profiles, and line weights fresh- and saltwater models, But don't let the light weight fool you - these rods from four to eleven. in line weights from four to eleven. are tough. Trident TLs combine featherlight feel with And if budget is a concern, but you don't want to the strength to set the hook on the big boys with total compromise on your equipment, try out a TL rod from confidence. our Silver Label" series. New Compound Tapers: Where the Acti Casting is Believing Power flows through a Fishing a Trident TL is an exceptionally satisfying Trident TL.As experience. Visit your local Orvis dealer and you make your experience first- TL rods are also first cast, you'll hand the lightness available in a Silver Label version, feel the balance which gives YOU light weight with a light and power of and symmetry price tag. Trident TL. ORW that only an Orvis compound taper can provide. And A SPORTING TRADITION SINCE 1856 www.orvis.com

Hlstor~cRoute 7A, Manchester, Vermont 05254 Call toll free 1-800-333-1550 MI. 990 for further information on our dealers world-wide or for a free Fishing Catalog

26 THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER Would you like to host a fund raiser for the

la Welch at 802-362-3300.

President Richard Tisch presented Gardner Grant with the Museum's 1998 Heritage Award. MTHE- LYONS PRESS Limited and Deluxe Editions! Our limited editions are slipcased and printed letterpress on 80- pound paper. There will be 750 copies available at $95.00 each. The deluxe leatherbound editions are large-format and printed on Arches Mouldmade paper. There will be only 25 copies, available at $750.00 each. Each limited and deluxe edition copy is signed by the author, artist, and publisher.

IN PRAISEOF WILDTROUT ONE RIVERMORE Former Trustee Art Kaemmer with bene- fit committee member Judith Bowman. On the Pleasure, Biology, and A Celebration of Rivers and Fly Preservation of Wild Trout Fishing

Edited and with a Foreword by W. D. Wetherell Nick Lyons

ISBN 1-55821-677-4 (limited) ISBN 1-55821-750-9(limited) ISBN 1-55821-676-6 (deluxe) ISBN 1-55821-751-7 (deluxe)

RIVERSOF THE HEART BLOODKNOT A Fly-Fishing Memoir Fishing Stories by Pete Fromm, author of Dry Rain Steve Raymond Attendees of the benefit dinner included Sallie Baldwin and Ed Migdalski. ISBN 1-55821-748-7(limited) ISBN 1-55821-752-5(limited) ISBN 1-55821-749-5(deluxe) ISBN 1-55821-753-3(deluxe) Michael Bakwin; Foster Bam; Judith and James Bowman; Roy D. Chapin Jr.; More than 125 fine fishing titles! Paul Fitzgerald; Bill Hazen; Bob John- son; Dona1 C. O'Brien Jr.; Michael Os- For quick credit-card service, call 212-620-9580 ext. 39 from 9-5 borne; Janet Mavec; Wayne Nordberg; EST, or write for a complete catalog of books on the outdoors to: Leigh and Romi Perkins; Allan K. The Lyons Press / Dept. TL Poole; Pamela Bates Richards; Terry 31West 21 Street New York, New York 10010 Shultz; Ernest Schwiebert; Robert Scott; and Wendy Tisch.

SPRING 1998 27 Jiirgen Preylowski, whose images and articles have graced the pages of CONTRIBUTORS several of the most recent issues of The American Fly Fisher, is a freelance designer and art director living in Diisseldorf, Germany. He is a collector of historic tackle, books, and angling art. Preylowski designed the fly- collection of Rudolf Reichel, one of the most important collections in Europe, for the South Tyrolean Museum of Hunt and on Castle Wolfsthurn. Richard C. Hoffmann, Preylowski's translator, is professor of history at York University and a continuing member of the Centre for Mediaeval Studies at the University of Toronto, as well as author Frederick Buller is one of England's of Fishers' Craft & Lettered Art: Tracts on finest all-round anglers and is the Fishing from the End of the Middle Ages, author of the highly acclaimed book, which we excerpted in the Winter 1998 Pike. He founded the gunmaking and issue. That very issue featured another fishing tackle company of Chubbs in PreylowskilHoffmann collaboration, London and is now the managing direc- "Dr. H. C. Alexander Behm and the tor of the famous London gunmaking Behm Fly." firm of Charles Hellis, Frederick Beesley and Watson Bros. He is the author of ' Alvaro Masseini is a high-school teacher of history and philosophy in Florence, four books and coauthor of two Italy, and has worked with several Italian environmental organizations. An expert His most recent contribution to this on water pollution and related problems, he is the author of numerous articles on journal was a Notes & Comment piece, fly fishing in western and eastern European countries and in the Americas. "The Earliest : A New Masseini is author of "The French School: Messieurs de Boisset and de Chamberet Perspective," which appeared in the and Les mouches de la se'rie Gallica," which was published in the Winter 1997 issue Summer 1997 issue. of this journal.

As a reader of The American Fly F~sherMaszine, \'ou ~list~n~uisl~vourself as one who obviously appi-eciates the finer elements ot our wonderful pastime. That fact alone identifies you as a fisherman wlhc will appreciate and unilerstand HEXAGRAPH. Our company helleves that a fly rod can and should reflect an equally advanced perspective and we build our rods with that in mind. HEXAGRAPH rods deliver unequalled strength, exquisite cosmetics and unparalled performance in a graphite package unique among fly rods. Froin our delicate Small Stream Series to the awesome power of our new Atlantic Salmon Special, we have a rod that will take you to a higher plane of satisfaction and enjoyment. And - I guarantee that! Harry J. Briscoe - President Etching by noted sporting artist Brett James Smith, The Pool. Artful Commemoration Released in an edition of only thirty 9" x 12" hand-struck, signed, and HE AMERICANMuseum of Fly Fishing's thirtieth anniversary has ar- numbered prints annotated "AMFF rived! We've grown from a collection of seventeen rods, a few reels, and 30th Anniversary." Available only through the Museum-twelve will be Tfewer flies in 1968 to a treasure trove of more than 1,200 rods, 1,000 reels, offered at Museum dinner/auctions, and 25,000 flies. Our library now has 2,700-plus volumes on the shelves, and our with the remaining eighteen available art collection exceeds 650 images that revolve around the world of fly fishing. only through our first-ever mail-in-your- Speaking of images, we are commemorating this milestone in our history by bid auction. The fair market value and releasing two works of fine art in limited editions: The Bubble by John Betts and minimum bid for this extremely limited The Pool by Brett James Smith. These images bring the essence of fly fishing edition etching has been established at alive. In The Bubble (see the inside front cover), the careful observer will notice $200. Bids in excess of that minimum that one mayfly in the group floats backwards, tied by a leader to an anxious an- may constitute a charitable contribution for income tmpurposes; check with your gler. It takes us into that wonderful, tension-filled moment in our fly's drift tax preparer. Mail or phone your bid when success or failure (as defined by a "take") is but a heartbeat away. The Pool to Paula Welch, AhfFE PO Box 42, (pictured above) takes us back a step, to a time when a creel was not quite the Manchester, VT 05254; (802) 362-3300. "collectible" it is today and when life was simpler (or so we like to think or re-

9Note: Bidding closes May 15,1998. member). You may wonder why we have chosen these images instead of, for example, a still life that portrays items from our collections-the "neat stuff," as one of our trustees like to call it. That is certainly a valid question. I guess my answer is that, in my view, the Museum is ultimately about fishing, albeit through the arts and crafts and even sciences that are integral components of the activity. These im- ages celebrate fly fishing, including the "stuff" that makes it all so much fun. And so, for our supporters' enjoyment in their own home, office, or getaway spot, we are proud to present these thirtieth-anniversary celebrations of fly fish- ing. To the artists, our sincere gratitude-like so many other artists associated with this Museum before them, they have declined remuneration for their efforts. GARYTANNER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTO~ THEAMERICAN MUSEUM OF FLY FISHING, a nationally accredited, nonprofit, educa- tional institution dedicated to preserving the ch heritage of fly fishing, was founded in lanchester, 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- ,donsand exhibits provide the public with iorough documentation of the evolution of y fishing as a sport, art form, craft, and in- dustry in the United States and abroad fron the sheenth 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 Fl Fisher, and books, art prints, and catalogs art I regularly offered to the public. The I Vuseum's traveling exhibits program ha. ~adeit possible for educational exhibits tc e viewed across the United States anc ,road. The Museum also provides in-housl exhibits, related interpretive programming, and research services for members, visiting scholars, authors, and students. The Museum is an active, member-orient- ~d nonprofit institution. For information lease contact: The American Museum of Fly ishing, P. 0. Box 42, Manchester, Vermon