The American Fly Fisher Photo by Pfeiffer
LYNN, LANCE AND TONY SKIL TON LEARN A NEWPHASE OFAMERICAN HISTORY
Each year hundreds of youngsters and their families visit the Museum of American Fly Fishing exhibits. Here the past and the present meet and quietly we teach. Can you think of a better reason for becoming a participating member? Or if you are already a member, contribute a bit more. Membership in forma tion is on the inside back cover. The American Fly Fisher 4 Published by The Museum of A~nericanFly Fishing for the pleasure of the mcnihership.
Vol. 3, No. 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS ADVISORY. KOAKII I AKTIC1.R i\rnoltl Gingrieh Gitehe Cuniec on the Krule Kiver New York, N. Y. by Susie lsaksen AK'I'ICLH Ilr. 12lvin <;rove Introducing Dr. Wm. Raige~itand Sheona Lodge State <:ollcgc, Pa. by Austin Hogan P. 8 Bairil llull ARTlCLlr Ilytle Park, Vt. William Baigent, M. D., 0. B. E. by Sheona Lodge Dr. David K. Ledlie ,rIiI.: MARKET PLACE Middlebury, Vt. Fa~nousFirsts for the Keginning Collector by Austin Hogan John T. Orrclle Slier\vood, Oregon KESEAKCH IIean Sage - Part 11, The First Trip Leigh 14. Perkins by David Ledlic Manchcster, Vt. FAMILY POKTKAITS Steve Kayniorld Keuben Wood Seattle, Washington The lzaak Walton of Iowa BOOK KEVIEW Mrs. Anne Secor "The Atlantic Salmon Treasury" Arlington, Vt. by A. I. "Pal" Alexander p. 21 Donald Zahricr MUSEUM AFFAIKS Dorset, Vt. New Slide Show and Photo Project Women's Studies Library Austin S. Hogan Keseareh Cambridge, Mass. Memorabilia - Donor List Research & Liaison I MEMKEKSHIP INFOKMATION p. 24
TtlE AhlEKICAN FLY I~ISIIEK,the magazine of TIIE MUSEUhl OF AhlEKlCAN FLY FISIIING, is pub- lished qr~arterlyby the MUSKUhl at hlanchester, Vermont 05254. Subscription is free with pay~iicntof nienil>ership dues. All correspondence, letters, manuscripts, photographs and materials should be forwarded care of the Curator. The MUSEUM and h4AGAZINE arc not responsible for unsolicited man~~scripts,draw- ing$, photographs, materials or ~neniorabilia.The Museu~ncannot accept responsibility for statements and interpretations which are wholly the author's. Unsolicited manuscripts cannot be returned unless postage is provided. Contributions to TtfE AMEKICAN FLY FIS116K are to be considered gratuitous and become the property of the Museurn unless otherwise requested by the contributor. Publication dates are January, April, July and October. Rnteretl as Second Class rnattcr at the U. S. Post Office, hlanchcstcr, Ver~iiont.
@ Copyright 1976, TIIE AMI CRFDITS: hlr~$eumphotos by David B. Ledlie. Dra\vings by Austin S. Hogan, Curator. Printing I,y Tho~iipso~i,Ine., Manehestcr Center, Ver~iiont Gitche Gumee on the Brule River Susie lsaksen The following article is drawn from three sources: the Gitche Gumee Club log which was maintained by all the members before the various families established their own homes on the club property; the logs and scrapbooks which the Holbrook family has maintained since 1906; and "From the Log of a Trout Fisherman" by Arthur Tenney Holbrook (Plimpton Press, Norwood, Mass., 1949, 204 pp.), a book which narrates the lore of fish and people which the Milwaukee physician absorbed duringsixty-four seasons on the Brule River. The early camp photos are by Truman W. lngersoll of St. Paul, Minn., who stayed on the Brule as a guest of the Winneboujou Club in 1890 and, again, in 7891. Wollin Studios of Madison, Wis., copied the photos from the Holbrooks'scrapbooks so they could be re- produced here. The photo of Calvin Coolidge is from the archives of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Special thanks are due Arthur Andrews Holbrook, M. D., of Milwaukee and his wife. May, for their generosity in sharing the family's historical collection with us. During the 18701s,Arthur Holbrook, It was this group of six 1)oisterous a Milwaukee dentist, suffered from his tent campers and their chaperons that allergy in a sportive manner by frc- first used the nanie "Gitchc (;ulnce" quenting northwestern Wisconsin, then and it is their nanies that arc engraved proclaimed in resort and railway litera- on the first calling cards listing the ture as a haven for persons afflicted nicmbers of the Gitche Gunlee Camping with hay fever. Club. It was his custoni to take the Wiscon- Three years later, in 1889, the sin Central train from Milwaukee to youngsters had lost their places on the Ashland. and. from there. to embark calling card and the rnembcrship consist- upon fishing and camping expeditions ed of the senior Arthur Ilolhrook, throughout the Chequarnegon Kay area. George C. Markhani of Milwaukee, an It was during one of these outings, in executive with the Northwcstern Mutual 1878, that Dr. Holbrook, along with his Life Insurance Conlpany, Judge George friend Dr. Carpenter of Chicago, became H. Noyes of Milwaukee and Kcv. Judson irresistibly enticed by repo;ts of the 'Titsworth, also of Milwaukee. 1)eauty of the Brule Kiver valley and the The first club building, a cook house, fishing to be had there. was built in the summer of I889 on l'he two doctors packed their gear land leased from the Winneboi~jouClub. and left Ashland on the tug Eva Wads- 'l'he lease agreement was drawn up in a worth which took then1 along the Lake formal Iiianner and stipulated in precise Superior shoreline to Rayfield, where detail, according to A. T. Holbrook's they engaged a man named Cooper and book, that "the rent should be paid in his team and wagon. It took two days to one annual installment sonletime during ride 50 ~iiilesthrough the forest to the the month of August and should consist site where the twc; men set up their of one trout of at least ninc inches in tents, beside the Krule at Ashland Lake, length to be caught by Mrs. Josephine the northern most widening in the Tenney I-lolbrook and by hcr tcndcred stream. Louis Job served as their guide. personally to Mr. Christopher D. Dr. l-lolbrook was so impressed by O'Krien, and by him received in the this first visit to the Krule that a trip to presence of the Winneboi~jou and its banks became an annual event. His (iitche Gunlee clubs." The lease-paying family became involved in the tradition cercniony became an annual cha~npagne in 1884 when his wife, Josephine, and and dinner affair until 1898 when E. N. son, Arthur Tenney, made the trip. Saunders began building his lodge on In 1886, Dr. Iiolbrook and Jalnes H. the site. Kradley of Chicago, an official with the Forced upon itself, the Gitche Gum- 121iierican Express Company, conducted ee Camping Club was incorporated. A a group consisting of their sons and four The senior Arthur Holbrook, pictured new home, one half of a forty-acre tract other high school boys to the Krule by here in 1914, fished the Brule almost at The Point just one bend upriver from wav of the Wisconsin Central to Ash- every year from 1878 until 1919. Today the leased site, was purchased from Col. land and then over the new Northern his heirs are into a well-established fifth John I-I. Knight for consideration of Pacific line to Brulc. generation at the family lodge. $600. The buildings were moved to the Page 3 During the 7890's,steamer trunks built especially to hold fishing and camping gear were sent to this humble site by engraved waybills which read, "Gitche Gumee Club Lodge, Brule Station on Northern Pacific Railway; Winneboujou Station on Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway." new site during the winter of 1898-1899. helped to avert the wreck of their children now to be accommodated in Other aspects of the early Gitche schooner Black Diamond which had addition to grown-ups and there was al- Gumee camp life are described in the broken her mooring during a storm and ways a question about the accommoda- club's log. An entry dated August 11, had run ahsore. The next day we poled tion of guests who came in considerable 1890, says, "Judge Noyes was up since to Duluth which was reached in time to numbers. before this season to start the cabin, catch the evening train to Winneboujou. "In 1903, George Markham with- purchase lumber and employ a man. He We brought our canoe with us in the drew and placed his new lodge at the was soul proprietor of the front porch." baggage car." furthermost upriver site. In 1906, Fath- On July 30, 1893, Dr. Holbrook It was probably this same trip that A. er left The Point and built our present wrote, "Painted boats. Pitched canoe. T. Holbrook mentioned in his book. lodge between the other two." An Killed flies and mosquitoes and drove The Gitche Gumee party had hoped to agreement was drawn up in which Nitchie's livestock from the premises. ride to Duluth on the schooner but, aft- Gitche Gumee retained title to the land Received calls from friendly aborigines er spending most of the night out in the but recognized dooryards appertaining offering services for consideration. No cold and rough water helping the crew to each lodge. No provisions were made takers." protect their boat, the young gentlemen for dividing the land. The most interesting account of a retired to catch a few winks before sail- fishing outing is dated September, 1884: ing at daybreak. When they awakened, Part 11, 1906 - 1944 "Stuart Markham, F. W. Rockwell, F. F. the crew and sailboat were gone as were The Holbrooks named their lodge Bowman and Arthur T. Holbrook made armfuls of sweaters, shirts, shoes and Gitche Gumee and opened it for the a trip to the mouth in two boats. The other belongings. "Weeks after I had re- first time on April 28, 1906. On that first night's camp was at the old Gitche turned to Milwaukee," A. T. Holbrook day the senior Dr. Holbrook made the Gumee Camping Club camp of 1886, wrote, "I received a forwarded unsigned first entry in the lodge log book which, about six miles below the Northern note. It read, 'I seen your sweater on to this day, is maintained by family and Pacific bridge. The dam made the water Pete.' It was a black-and-red striped guests visiting at Brule. In addition to so low that we had to lay up in a second football jersey I had worn at Harvard signing in and out and making notes camp a few miles below the first and and had 'Holbrook' marked on the neck during their stay, the Holbrooks have wait for flood waters." (Logging com- label." maintained scrapbooks of articles, pict- panies dammed the river to collect back- Back at the clubhouse, things pro- ures and newspaper clippings about the waters so, when the dams were opened, ceeded much more happily and amiably Brule River. their logs could roar down river at the until 1903 when, according to A. T. The collection speaks best for itself. crest of a flood.) "We rode all falls and Holbrook's book, "Rev. Titsworth real- The following selection of entries is in rapids in high water - upset over 15 ized that the increasing number of child- order by date rather than as it appears times and reached Lake Superior soaked ren and the limitation of accommoda- in the logs and scrapbooks because num- through after an all day's run down river. tions were going to necessitate the es- erous books were kept simultaneously. We camped with the lumber camp at tablishment of a separate logde for each May, 1906: "River lower, fishing the mouth where we sang and told yarns family. Not wishing to assume such a re- good. Weather fine. House stained on for our keep. The next day we poled a- sponsibility, he withdrew from the club. outside, work finished May 16." round Lake Superior to a point beyond "The other three members were soon September 6, 1906: "Huge black the Amnicon River where we put up faced with the same problem," Dr. Hol- bear around kitchen creating consider- with a fishing camp and, incidentally, brook's book says. "There were twelve able alarm; clawing about the doors and The club's first landing, ir 7 189 1. Young people have been included in the Gitche Gumee activities since 1886 when six high school boys were listed, along with their chaperones, as the first members. window screens; tearing off the netting. September 4, 1914: "Barent Hol- nose, left ear and three toes from expo- Maids blew horn but failed to awaken brook Poucher and Jim left at 2:30 p.m. sure on north sleeping porch." anybody in the lodge." - dinner a la carte - returned at 11:OO August 12, 1919: "R. Camp and A. May, 1910: "Forest fires had been p.m. with a cargo of four partridge, a 3 T. H., with Roy Stearns and Eddie Den- frequent all about us. On the morning pound rainbow, a four pound ~cotcht nis for guides, went to Coquette Bridge of the ninth Joe Lucius sent word that trout, a 5 pound Scotch? trout and a for a day's fishing. We fished the rapids the camps were all in danger and that 175 pound buck. The largest haul of and pools for about two or three miles his family was preparing to go to the big game brought in at any one time for sev- upstream and about 2 miles down- lake for safety. There was no delay in eral years." stream. In seven hour's fishing between preparation for flight. The fire started September 12, 1914: "Arthur Tal- us, we caught over 150 trout, all steel- from sparks of a locomotive on the Du- madge Spence, age 10 years, 5 months, heads and iainbows, and brought home luth South Shore and Atlantic railway. this day poled up the second and third over fifty beauties. The largest was a- The flames had been sweeping through rapids and falls - the latter being per- bout 2 pounds. The guides cost $5 each the old slashings so that by 9 o'clock it formed in excellent form, exhibiting for the day including the half day they was apparent the fires would come to great strength, skill and perseverance. spent arranging the trip; Robinson, $12 the river and the long bend below camp He had a short setback just as he reach- (for bringing two boats in hayrack from unless headed off. It was a struggle to ed the top on account of his pole slip- Iron Bridge); Webster, $10 (for automo- turn the fire back but it was kept to the ping, but he recovered himself in time bile ride from lodge to Coquette, north old logging railway. It was then that a and then made the top in splendid form, of the town of Brule). Total, $32 for change of wind would have made Gitche to the great edification of his proud the day! But worth it. Caught all fish on Gumee untenable in ten minute's time. mamma, Grandfather Holbrook and flies. Used chiefly No. 8's, Professor, This was a deciding day for the camps - guests watching from shore." (Poling Queen of the Water, Grizzly King, no backfiring and all would have been the Falls is onerous work, requiring Royal Coachman, March Brown." gone. The camps were completely sur- great determination. It is not often done Summer, 1919: The senior Dr. Hol- rounded by fire so that" (when the today because the upper stretches of the brook's last season on the Brule. flames died) "an island of green was left river can be reached by highway. How- July 27, 1920: "The summer has from Hartman's to ~c~ougall's." ever, the numerous log accounts of who been marred by only one incident; the July 8, 1913: "A. T. H. landed, at made it and at what age are still, today, infamous unlovely McDougall fence trout bend in dead water, on a worm - a the toughest challenges Holbrook which the eccentric captain has had despised worm! - a brook trout weighing youngsters must contend with at Brule.) made of uneven lengths of ugly iron 4 pounds, 2 ounces." August 5, 1915: "Seth Green agreed posts connected by 5 or 6 lines of heavy July 31, 1913: "A. T. H. landed a with A. T. H. to build a 20-foot boat in- wire to enclose 516 of Joe's Lake for a triple in Spring Lake narrows. 314 Ib. cluding sliding seat, chair, live box, pole distance of 314 of a mile. He told us per- brook trout on Professor as drop fly. and paddle in the same pattern as Joe sonally that he did not care what any 114 pound brook trout on Gray Hackle Lucius' boats for $45. Also, poles for man, woman or child, kith, kin or unre- as middle fly and a smaller brook on B.A.H., A.A.H. and H.T.H. at $1.25 lated, thought of the fence. He put it end fly. Also, 2-114 pound rainbow on a each." there because he was tired of poo; fish- Professor as drop near the head of dead July 25, 1916: "Killing frost. Mrs. A. ing and wanted a place where he could water. 45 trout in all." T. H. reports probably loss of tip of catch fish . . . Be that as it may, on this date Herb and A. T. H. pushed under way of St. Paul.) hear from you this week, with best the wires and, in a half hour or less, had Letter to A. T. H., dated February wishes to and Mrs. Holbrook and three trout of two pounds each. Previ- 28, 1933: "My Dear Doctor Waboose the boys. . . I am gratefully yours, John ous to this invasion, Herb caught a 2 lb. Holbrook; It was very dear of you to re- LaRock or Moose Hide." Loch event over the fence and Sandy member me by sending me the picture August 11, 1936: "In the Tepoten and A. T. H. had each caught several of July 4, 1928, of myself and our Meadows at 12:40 p.m., caught Loch rainbows and brooks over one ~oundby former President Calvin Coolidge, who event brown trout weighing 6 pounds, fishing over the fence." (A few years lat- has gone to a better fishing grounds. 14 ounces. Girth; 17-114 inches. On No. er, the Wisconsin State Railroad Com- "In all my experience as a guide, 10 Professor wet fly, 5 pound straintest mission ruled that the fence was illegal Coolidge did love his trout fishing. He Weber leader, Grade F flat Crandall's and McDougall was ordered to remove was an angleworm fisherman in the first Ashaway line. Also caught the limit - the obstruction.) place. But Colonel Starling, Coolidge's over 20 - good trout." August 28, 1921: "We found Mc- aide, advised me confidentally on July August 5, 1939: "Basil Edgette re- Dougall starting to dam Buck Slough." 4, 1928 at 10:30 a.m. on Coolidge's ports hearing wolves frequently of late, August 7, 1923: "A. T. H. caught a fifty-fifth birthday - and this is what although we have heard them but rarely Loch event weighing exactly 3 pounds Starling said: 'John, it is up to you. The in the past few years. Last night there and measuring 20-314 inches on a No. 8 President must flyfish today.' was a large, howling, yelping pack ap- Royal Coachman. Same day, at night, "1 said, 'Okay, Colonel.' parently rather close on the west bank Will Dalrymple caught a 3-314 pound "It was a rather hard task for me to of the river about 2:30 to 3:00 a.m., Loch event at Hungry Run and put it take this responsibility of a fisherman which woke us up." in the live box where it swallowed an 8 that has probably fished with angle August, 1944: "Record of this sea- inch rainbow." worms all his life. Mr. President finally son's fishing kept at the request of the May 14, 1924: "Noyes lodge burned. took interest in watching me casting a Conservation Commission. Total, 423 The grand old lodge became history and fly. I handed the President his fly rod legal-size trout, 263 of them brooks, when a new lodge is set up there and we and he casted very well. Finally he took 114 browns and 46 rainbows. Largest sit on new steps and sing before the a double of two rainbows and landed brook: 1 pound, 15 ounces. Largest campfire, some of us are going to close the first one which weighed 1-314 brown: 4 pounds, 2 ounces. Largest our eyes and dream of the place that pounds. The second one was 1-112 rainbow: 3 pounds. All on a fly during was and the things that were.". pounds. It was very exciting for a mo- the day." (In his book, A. T. Holbrook March 14, 1927; Western Union ment for the moving picture cameras points out that the total of 423 trout in Night Letter to Dr. A. T. Holbrook, Mil- were clacking everywhere. It was smil- 1944 does not compare well with a re- waukee: "Will you permit the offering ing Cal and flyfishing was his hobby af- port that in 1894 one fisherman alone of your place on Brule River to Presi- ter that. He loved to see the trout rise caught over 2,700 Brule trout to supply dent Coolidge for the summer? Senator for his flies. He never .jumped . the heads two restaurants in Superior. Today, the Lenroot coming this week to investi- off. He was a good, clean sportsman. He river seems almost void of native resi- gate. Advise number of bedrooms and never complained of losing the big ones dent trout except on July evenings, baths. Allen T. Dodler." so that made it easier for me. So, doctor when mayflies bring out hundreds of big March 14, 1927: Western Union you can plainly see, it was not George browns. However, the Brule still retains Night Letter to Allen T. Dodler, Brule: Babb that gave the president instruct- its fame as a trout stream as, each spring "Honored and pleased to offer place on ions in fly casting. and fall, hordes of bait and hardware Brule River to President Coolidge but it "I have a complete diary of Coolidge anglers seek the big browns and steel- is very crude and limited. Has but one and myself and every variety of trout head which come up the river from simple bath. Advise consulting Henry and pounds caught on the Brule River in Lake Superior to spawn.) Clay Pierce, 25 Broad Street, New York. pierce's private-lakes. I wrote to Cool- July 27, 1961: Dr. Arthur T. Hol- His Cedar Island Lodge is very beautiful idge about this diary on June 2, 1932 brook signs out of Gitche Gumee Lodge and fully adequate for President's use. and received a reply June 12, stating: for the last time. A. T. Holbrook." 'My Dear John; I am very pleased to (Henry Clay Pierce of the Pierce Oil know you have a complete diary of my tMost, if not all, the "Loch Leven" Company, died the previous year. His fishing on the Brule Kiver. I am very and "Scotch" trout mentioned in the heirs offered the 31-building 3000-acre anxious to see it in book form. I will do above accounts were not of any special estate to President CoolidgeD who decid- all 1 can for you to make this a success. strain but were localized, inbred brown ed to stay there for the entire summer I will take this up with the National Ge- trout. of 1928. A summer White House of ad- ographic Society of which I am a direct- ministrative staff and offices was set up or and I will let you know later. It will at the high school in Superior, Wiscon- take a little time as the Society is rarely sin, about 36 miles west of Cedar Island. very prompt. My best wishes to you and Roads were built and improved to facil- your family. I am gratefully yours, Cal- itate communications. Newspaper ac- vin Coolidge.' counts of the President's visit indicated "I haven't heard from the Geograph- that he spent most of his fishing hours ic Society as yet so 1 must find out soon in the estate's private hatchery ponds. where I can get this book printed the Other presidents to fish the Brule in- cheapest. It pays to be Scotch these cluded President Grant in 1870 and times. Grover Cleveland who was a guest at "How is my dear friend Bob Camp? 1 Senator Vilas' lodge', in the 1880's. Her- will guide him when he comes to fish on bert Hoover was entertained by the the Brule for $3.50 per day and let me Coolidges at Cedar Island, having visited know in x,~lentvof time. It has been verv the river years before as a guest at Mar- hard here this winter, no work of any shall~'lodge in the Winneboujou Club. kind. 1 am going to ask you a favor, doc- In 1947, General Dwight D. Eisenhower tor. Would you lend me $21 for six was a guest at Cedar Island which, by day's guiding at $3.50 per day? I am all then, had been purchased by J. G. Ord- down and out. Thank you. Hoping I will Page 7 k Introducing DrWm. Baigent and Sheona Lodge RUSTY Fishing Can Be Gentle on the Mind , VARIANT One of the happier circumstances of putting to- like owners of beats. 1 don't know the Tees today. It gether this magazine is renewing old acquaintances was never a trout stream, when last 1 heard of it, and saying hello to new ones. The Baigent name be- there were no salmon either. came familiar through an old Hardy catalog dated "Our length - from Middleton - in Teesdale to 1930, cherished for its color plates of flies. That was Cotherstone was varied. There were good pools with at least two decades ago. it her Hardy or the good gravel beds and no trees to get entangled in: for miles DARK Doctor had named the series "Refractra" based on it flowed through woods, in October almost the VARIANT the thory that it was essential a proper light refract- colour of yours in the fall. Sometimes it surged 0. ion result when the fly was on the water, if it was to through narrow rocky ravines. be functional. There were fourteen flies illustrated "It was a dangerous river because after rain a wave and 1 can remember my usual problem of finding like a tidal bore would sweep downstream, carrying hackles of the extra long fibre and stiffness in order everything - including anglers - before it; one had to to bear out the advertised appeal promised by Hardy. keep a weather eye open. "An important and distinctive feature of these flies is "Now! my first salmon. Do you remember every , . that they are all dressed with natural Old English detail of vours? I was sixteen. and father had found MARCH Game cock Feathers, either alone or intermixed.- he me an old sea-trout rod, and an equally old reel. BROWN style of dressing with the hackle long in the fibre Monks sixteenth century ones walked Eggleston SPINNER - - gives a buoyant fly which stands up well on the sur- Bridge; if they were there that morning we weren't face of the water. In this position the rays of light aware of them. Father wanted me to have a few 1,~lav on the steelv iridescent fibres. and constitute the practice casts before he left me. 1 had on a Silver most attractive Lnd natural looking flies." Wilkinson, his favourite fly. Memory no longer serves to tell me how many 1 "Although the rod was said to be light, it required tied or if they were cast to the trout of the Rangeleys two hands. If the fly didn't alight with complete ac- where I then was doing most of my fishing. I do recall curacy, the stream took over. 'It's fishing' is this what ' ' BAIGENT'S BLACK the names - Baigent Brown, Baigent Black, a Dark everyone says when he feels the pull of the fly Olive and especially the March Brown spinner with its through forty feet of line to his very finger tips? partridge (English grouse) hackle wound in front of a "Across slightly down, lower the tip of your rod golden brown set of legs. (1 still don't understand the when he leaps, keep level with him; he'll be lying English differentiation between hackles and legs). there called my father pointing to the far side of the Hardy also provided a number of Variants, Red, Dark pool where the river ran swiftly under the bank: and 1 Olive and Light Olive Spinners and Blue, Red and was alone. Olive Quills. "I couldn't believe it when I felt that first sharp The Kai~entname then was familiar when I receiv- tug - then the melee began: upstream like an arrow, LIGHT D OLIVE ed a letter from one of the our members stating he the reel screaming; 'keep level, keep level,' I tried to had been visiting Dr. W. Oliver Lodge and his wife remember everything father had told me. Towards Sheona, daughter of Dr. Baigent, who lived at Amble- me, down, across; leaping out of the water again and side. Westmoreland near Lake Wildermere. Mrs. again. Lodge wrote poetry, enclosed two examples which "With father miraculously back at my elbow, gaff had appeared in the Fly Fisher's Journal, and would I ready, I had my first moment of hope: I wanted more be interested in reprinting them in our Museum maga- than anything in the whole world to land him - and zine. we did. Twenty two pounds and the record for that I liked the poems. Also enclosed was a personal season. letter which was quite revealing as to the depth of \ LIGHT "Triumph was my emotion at the time. Today I '. VARIANT creative ability characteristic of Sheona Lodge and say perhaps when fighting for life one doesn't feel suggested she would be a welcome guest of our maga- pain or fear; merely puzzlement. zine. "Why should monks come into the story? They'd "My dear. . . been there for roughly four centuries according to "Do you know anything - outside the realms of legend. The years of the Tees can't be numbered; it is love - to compare with the head and tail rise of a two a wild rough little river at this point; it has probably or three pound trout; or that almost imperceptible never altered much: cities have grown up at its mouth - prelude to battle between you and salmon? the sea, its goal, no longer performs its task of 'pure tug"l can't visualise the flats in the Florida Keys, the ablution' thanks to tankers and nuclear waste; yet words conjure up magic. there are still stretches unspoilt by man, and maybe BAIGENT'S "You've listened patiently to my stories of the BROWN fresh-run salmon. Father nearly bought the house be- Beck which you can? even find on the map; now it's side the bridge, in it monks walked corridors long the turn of the Tees - can you bear it? the thought of since crumbled away; I was glad that plan fell Dr. Baigent's a sympathetic audience on the other side of the At- dry fly patterns through. of about 1927 lantic is too good to resist. You are going to be de- "The estate was sold, we lost our fishing. My salm- when his "Re- luged with prose and poetry simply in order to in- on was the first of ten in one week; father caught fractra" series dulge nostalgic recollections. How is it that you who thirty." received wide could do it much better are so restrained? world attention. Yours sincerely, "The Tees is unlike your mighty Spey with its god- Sheona Lodge My return letter to our Museum member contained an en- Arts and Crafts expeditions, competing with men, and due she thusiastic yes we would publish the poetry and that it would be says to her father's patience as a teacher. She also maintains her good to have a Transcendentalist with us. We would first, how- father was a better fisher than Izaac Walton. There are many ever, have to have permission to reprint from David Colquoun with expertise who said Dr. Baigent was the best fly fisher in of The Fly Fisher's Journal. England. And so, I renewed an acquaintanceship with Dr. Baigent and In reference to Dr. Baigent (which supplements the biog- met Sheona Lodge. raphy following) she writes "his interest in fly fishing began at Eventually, we received permission and in the interim Mrs. about seven, he studied the habits of trout, and this, of course, Lodge was asked to provide a bit of background material about led to his interest in the life history of the trout fly. Upstream herself. A number of letters were received which informed me fishing was the only possible method in overgrown becks and Dr. Baigent was for the time being the subject of a book and the streams, experimenting all the time; the wet and dry fly became publishers had first call regarding certain biographical material interchangeable. Breeding our own Old English Game (in a very but she would write an article concerning him and provide infor- small way compared with Frank Elder whose book is being pub- mation about herself and her poetry. lished by Honey Dun) played a great part in the invention of the Sheona Lodge is now 74. She is by birth the niece of Dr. Wil- Baigent's Brown. The stiffness, the shape and glossiness of the liam Baigent but went to live with him at the age of 2, and if hackles made all the difference in the floatability. The Baigent's not "the daughter in fact, was in practice totally." Her sister is a Brown represents no known fly yet in our northern streams. Socialist, and a Life Peeress, her husband a Doctor, retired and Trout will take it in preference to the live fly hatching or laying fishing. There is a brother who is a Doctor in New Zealand and its eggs on the stream." another on a philanthropic assignment in Kitmandu. Apparently The late William Lawrie gives the pattern for the BB the practice of medicine and surgery is a family talent. (Variant) as: Wings, young Starling; Hackle, medium honey dun Her writing began "in a fortuitous way. I was walking beside cock, long in the fibre. Body; Yellow floss silk; Hook, No. 3., the Trout Beck (in Cumbria) with our youngest grand daughter Limerick. Unlike Preston Jennings who wrote Dr. Baigent for when she said tell me about my grandfather. I could see by her the pattern because the colors in his Hardy catalog were in- bored expression I wasn't making him live. I took a pencil and distinct, my copy confirms except for a possible over redness of paper and what happened was a poem. It was in the sound of the hackle due to the printer and his choice of ink. The reddish the water, the playing of a fish, the flash of a kingfisher, that he brown may be the reason for Lawrie calling his pattern with the seemed to be constantly at my side. The poems and writings honey dun a Variant. I will have to ask. were tucked away in a drawer and there would have remained Sheona Lodge is a bond between the last of a Victorian until it was shown to a guest who in turn passed them to the England and the present. There is a standing invitation for her editor of the Fly Fisher's Journal. . ." to continue contributing to The American Fly Fisher. Her father taught her to tie flies and she won first prizes at A. S. H. William Baigent, M.D.,O.B.E. b Y Sheona Lodge The name William Baigent may be known to a few readers of ous trials and unbelievable tribulation,' and Messrs. Aquarius the magazine of the Museum of American Fly Fishing but per- have bound them in half green morocco with gilt emblematic haps not too many; therefore it seems appropriate to sketch in tooling on the suine. Suuerb work. briefly his background. His parents lived at Hurworth on the In the same secret drawer are his school prizes, and a letter: River Tees which, in the nineteenth century and the first quart- 'My dear Mother' it says, 'I have been fortunate to come out er of the twentieth century, was a first class salmon river. first among the M. D.'s, and in consequence got the Gold Medal In 1881, the river froze and the family gathered to skate. for being the most distinguished graduate of the year. With After a time my father left his parents and grandparents and much love, Your affectionate Son. P. S. My essay on Multiple skated on alone. The moon rose; in its light the trees shone Peripheral Neuritis was spoken of highly by the examiners.' silver, the Tees was a pathway of gold. I heard this story as a About this time he was illustrating Sir Thomas Oliver's book child and think of it as the first stitch in a sampler which was on lead poisoning, with drawings of the fundis oculi. He put the completed when he became Chairman of the Tees Fishery highlights on the retinal arteries to reproduce a burnished Board and shared an eight mile stretch of river with a brother-in- copper aspect, with a lancet-sharp pen knife. law. I imagine because he was in love with my mother and wanted He had the gift of seeing every side of a problem. I remember to marry as soon as possible, he elected to earn an immediate in- walking with him through woods behind Mount Grace Priory come by going into general practice. Northallerton, the small and finding a rabbit trapped in a snare. Very gently he released country town of the North Riding of Yorkshire, was an ideal it - he could not bear to see an animal in pain. On the way home choice. There was an efficient Cottage Hospital - I should love however, he expressed concern for the poacher who, confident to dwell on this, because the mere thought of it takes me back that his children would have hot rabbit pie for supper, could be to the nostalgic pre-1914 world. anguished at finding an empty snare. Over the porch grew the second oldest vine in England; win- Men on Tees-side had families to feed. Factories had to be dows opened on to a Long narrow garden; indoors, oak panelling built and commerce pursued, which meant the salmon, his was painted white; bright fires burned. Matron, Sister, Nurses journey almost completed, instead of savouring the taste of pen- and patients appeared (to my eyes) to be happy and smiling. nine peat, the flavour of the Greta which joined the great river, However, I must concentrate on the angling aspect of his life. would have to endure instead the reek and poison of chemicals. His holidays as a boy and young man were spent in the A temporary solution to pollution must have been found, be- Border country, shooting, and fishing the Tweed, Till, Coquet cause, in his day, the Tees remained a salmon river. and Ettrick water. A word about his parents. Although his father seemed to me He knew where the guillemot and eider duck nested; years a very old man, his mother was an alert delicate Dresden China later he carried me across the beck, when I was too little to person, carrying always a sketch and note book. In a secret wade, to peer into a dipper's nest. drawer in her desk I found a list of every wild flower on Lindis- He was observant as a trauuer:.E , sooora of heron or otter never farne, its order, and Latin name, in her exquisite hand-writing. escaped his eye; we ourselves had to leave no tracks when fish- A cousin tells me she still treasures her grandmother's riding ing. crop. She used to ride in Rotten Row when staying in London He appeared to be accepted by kingfisher - shyest of birds - with an Aunt, married to an Equerry of the Prince Consort. and water-rat alike. This is what made fishing with him so excit- My father's interest in fishing began as a small boy. His ing; under every stone lay some living creature. mentor 'Uncle George,' a picturesque character in waders, and Together we watched the behaviour of trout, how they rose top hat bound round with casts and flies, was well known in splashily to stone-fly, leapt at mayfly, gently sucked -spent Darlington as a skilled angler. From an early age my father march brown or took an iron blue dun. If a trout rose, or dressed his own flies (as he taught me to do when I was seven). salmon showed itself, 'you have first go' he said. He studied the original fly, drew it, and attached to the body 'Think like a trout;' these are probably the first words I re- the real wings. It is amazing that these illustrations, bound in member. He tried to see the flies he tied from the trout-eye view brown paper, are still in existence. The Honey Dun Press has that is why he had to breed his own Game Cocks, experiment- privately produced four Photographic Facsimiles 'after numer- ing at every turn; crossing them with blue ~ndalusians-tryingall the time to discover the perfect hackle, which had to be long, tapering gradually from base to point, giving maximum number of fibres of equal length. They had to be firm, strong, clear, glassy and transparent. The colour was equally important, it should be clear and brilliant when held to the light. I think it was 1925 when his Baigent's Browns and Variants first appeared in Hardy's catalogue. Folded in squares of white paper are hackles of 1917. They have not lost their lustre, and although my fingers are less nim- ble and I need a large hook, the hackles seem as firm and brilli- ant as ever. It was such a quiet hobby, of interest to few people locally (ours was a hunting and shooting country) that it seems strange that he should have letters from all over the world asking his ad- vice, and telling him of the success of his flies. A fly tied by his hand had a magic all its own; no copy was quite the same. Many of his friends pleaded with him to write a book. A few years before his death in 1935 he numbered and named the THEIR GREAT GRANDFATHER capes which at all times adorned the chimney-piece in his sitting WILLIAM BAIGENT, M. D., PISCATOR room, to be stored in drawers and boxes where they still remain, awaiting use for illustrating a Nook of'H~rck1e.sby Wm. Raigent, What was he like? the children ask. M. D., a forthcoming publication of the Honey Dun Press. The Beck, so secret overgrown My Mother, with the aid of her friend Daisy (widow of Gen- By willow, alder, does it bask eral Taylor who commanded the 13th Hussars and had fought at Beneath June roses, still unknown? Ondurman) who was also the daughter of Mr. Strachan with whom my father fished Castle Forbes water, for as many years A tapered cast, spliced greenheart rod, as 1 can remember, decided to publish the already collected mat- A Greenwell's Glory, Dun, March Brown; erial. There were fifty copies at seven guineas each. I think my The corner pool where cows have trod mother gave most of then1 to her friends. When she died, I Flies falling light as thistle down. found several unfinished copies with the numbered capes in order; all I had to do was to insert the hackles. I sold the books - October! Unpolluted Tees, four or five of them - to a secondhand book shop for the same The Stag pool favoured salmon run, price. A few years later I was told that one had been sold for Selecting flies beneath chrome trees two hundred and ninety pounds at Sotherby's and 1 appreciated Jock Scott or silver Wilkinson. my mother's skill and enterprise. The latest news I had was that the book was bcing offered for seven hundred and fifty pounds. Donside in April and its banks ablaze Whether my father and my mother realised that what he had With broom - "it fishes best when broom is out" begun and she completed was unique, I do not know. As far as He said. Oystercatchers - we seldom found my father was concerned, it was a matter of lifelong interest; Their nests. Sandpipers, redshanks, curlews, larks, for my mother a labour of love. Their cries all mingle with the caw of rooks Mr. Simpson of the Honey Dun Press describes my father as a Above the Rookery stream, and anxious sheep pioneer. What my father hi~nselfsaid of new inventions was that Recalling lambs who've strayed, they make the air an original idea can occur almost simultaneously, sometimes at Vibrate with sound. Above Keig Rridge we go - opposite ends of the earth; that discoveries are countless as Past cherry and whitelilac - lizards dart. seeds, but not all come to fruition. At last we reach Broom Brae, put up our rods Among his notes, written when a medical student, are obser- Select a Baigent's Brown - one eye upon vations on the fungus Penicillin Notatum, virtures of which were The stone of curious shape, it's there a trout discovered a generation later. Of quite phenomenal size is sure to lurk. This morning I acquired Francis Klaikie's 'We Go A-Fishing.' Bright sun, strong wind, a normal fishing day. In my copy of his father's book 'I Go A-Fishing' are letters from The river ripples round our feet; Broom Brae his father to mine. Rlaikie and Kaigcnt are names as much a part Is beautiful, but just a pool, no more: of the Aberdeenshire Don as arc names of famous pools. And then there comes a hatch of fly, Greentail It could be my father spcnking when Dr. Blaikie urges his Or Granum, for their eggs are emerald son to imagine the water to be two or three feet higher than it Green, smooth, velvet, in clouds they come up stream really is in order that the fly may land softly on the surface. The Engulfing every bush; the females dip books by father and son quote a poem by their kinsman An- So lightly on the whirling eddying drew Lang, which must confirm the pious hopes of many Miniature waves that swirl behind each stone. anglers that there is a corner in some other world not only Head tail they rise, the tense and urgent trout, where spectral fish may swim, but where fishermen gather tb Or with a merest dimple suck the fly. discuss every detail of the day's adventures over a dram. Seen from the bank, it may not seem like this, In years to come, we may need to know the art of angling, as Rut in the transformed pool a miracle's did our primitive and hungry forebears. There is in any case in Occurred; the strength, the vital quivering force most of us an urge to pit our wit and skill against nature: far In every dorsal fin and y-shaped tail! more than that, as has been said over and over again, (how can For once we're seeing not as stranger sees, one help repeating it?) joy in listening to the voice of the river, But as a trout. feeling its current flowing, knowing that life stirs beneath each stone. An innocent and poetical amusement to those of us on "You haven't told us very much!" both sides of the Atlantic. Who could his alchemy unfold? My father dedicated his book 'To the best companion an How to explain his subtle touch, angler ever had - my wife.' Transmuting leaden days to gold! THE BECK One trout, a pound; perhaps a brace if that were all, perhaps one might abstain; with lesser pains, some greater joy to obtain; moreover, sport is scarce an act of grace. 'Yet if none fished for trout, that might release pollution: vandals, predators unchain.' Temptation's eloquence like gyves restrain the sob'ring thought that ardour must decrease. Why not just write and not for rivers sigh, describe each pool, forget each dies non? In books and journals surely there is peace. If nature is God's art, why tie a fly or cast that Baigent's Brown upon the Don? Of one short stretch of beck renew the lease? DOPPELGANGER t Do you hear crunch of icebergs conversation of whales or song of your river summoning you voice guiding you past mouths of alien waterways until you recognise music you knew as smolt? Do you remember each pool each run? I lean against the current listening to its heart-beat probing its pulse AOKA t through forty feet fingers sensitive as antennae: Seal, otter, man reel's scream you have eluded: fit accompaniment lower and middle falls for silver capriole navigated: and scimitar'd arch. now you lie beneath the force of Carlunnan May you hear gathering strength as always for the final essay. the voice Above you that does not know rocks smoothed by centuries the word soar fear. seemingly impregnable; instinct guides you t The Leaper from cranny to cranny whence you may slither and leap through rainbow spray to plumed crest and gravel redd. Aora snakes through peat bog fragrant with myrtle starred by asphodel to her source. t Aora is Neil Munro's name for the river which runs through the castle grounds of Inveraora, or Inveraray as it is now call- ed. My father fished it with Lady Elspeth Campbell and on the Sabbath we used to watch salmon leaping the falls. Land or Red Deer and Eagle, and background for one of Neil Munro's best books based on fact - 'John Splendid.' THE MARKET PLACE Famous Firsts for the Beginning Collector From Charles Lanman 's "Adventures in the Wilds of the United States and British Provinces. " 1856 So you want to be a collector of fishing books? The require- shield Smith to take the first steps as icthyologists and biologists ments are a pocketful of gold, discrimination, perseverance and during the beginning of the 19th century. Each provided the a talent for study. A knowledge of history is mandatory if the precise inforniation the angling author needed to allow the collector is to build a library worthy of its keep. sportsmen an opportunity to identify the game fish hc caught. I The early American writers of angling books are shadowy fig- think also, deep in the subconscious of naturalists, writers and ures now, yet in their time they were gentlemen of strength and sportsmen there \\,as a pride in the daring exploits of the explor- purpose, living in several ages that were as violent, often as des- ers and pioneer settlers who had first fished the wilderness, pairing and tempoed to changes in society much in the pattern thrilling to the strikes of the pikcs, trout, salmon and bass in of today's graceless wars and politics. Their books are few. what were virgin waters. But by the time Dr. Sniith had publish- Scarcely a round dozen came into print frotn 1833 until a little ed his 1;isbr.s of'/Mizs.sr~cL~~s(~rrs.1833. and to which he had an- after the Civil War. 'l'he waters were in a natural state, teeming pended an I by David B. Ledlie "How would you like to go salmon- the steamer Miramichi to Dalhousi. Two at three o'clock; the fare is six dol- fishing next June? Sir Hugh Allan has wagons were rented at Dalhousi for the lars; the meals extra, and, conse- just invited me to bring two friends 35 mile trip to Metapedia (now Mata- quently, extra good." to his river, the Upsalquitch, in New pedia) and the Metapedia Hotel where "The Waverly House, in St. John, Brunswick, and I at once thought of rooms were obtained. * kept by J. Scammell, affords the best you and Haines as the two most like- The course of travel followed by though poor, accommodation, at a ly to appreciate such a chance." ' Sage, Haines, and the general was ap- reasonable price. A train leaves on parently a well known route to the the arrival of the boat for Shedia So was Dean Sage accosted by his American sportsman. The venerable [Point du Chene], and makes the friend the general, on a morning in Kobert Barnwell Koosevelt in his Ciame one hundred and ten miles in six March of 1875 and offered the opportu- Iqish of'the Northern Stutes of America hours, at a fare of three dollars." nity to pursue the mighty sal?no salar (1862) describes essentially the same for the first time. The invitation was route taken by Sage and his party. I seem to remember Scrope (Duys and quickly accepted and Nights of Salmon Fishing, 1843) com- "As explicit directions for traveling menting that anglers tend to revel in the "On the 28th of June, having receiv- through the benighted regions called sublimity of extravagant expectation. I ed intelligence that the salmon had the British Provinces, the following would venture that the Sage party was commenced ascending the Kisti- are given from a somewhat unwilling- no exception to this maxim. The road gouche River, of which the Upsal- ly extended experience. Take the followed on the last leg of the journey quitch is a tributary, we started for night train or any route that will by wagon to Matapedia at some points Boston on the Sound steamer, with bring you to Boston before half past closely paralleled the banks of the Kisti- enough impediments to supply a seven a.m., for at that hour the boat gouche; and according to the account modest regiment." leaves for St. John, not St. Johns, "we could see now and then, after From Boston another steamer was which is in Newfoundland. reaching the river, a salmon jumping, taken to St. John, New Brunswick ". . . This boat does not leave daily, and the stream was so beautiful that we where after spending several days the but generally advertises in the New could hardly resist the impulse to alight party boarded a train which carried ~orkand always in the Boston pap- and try a cast or two on the way." In them to Point du Chene (see map). ers . . . The Boston boat reaches St. addition the acting landlord (Mr. Shaw) From there it was a three day trip via John in about thirty two hours, or of the hotel showed the party a catch of six noble salmon that had been recently jump six feet out of water. A half Sage's disappointment must have killed that day by an English officer. hour's play brought him to gaff, and been compounded by the knowledge The largest fish was 27 pounds and none I resumed my own operations. After that Haines had that same morning kill- were below 20. a few casts I saw a break in the water ed two salmon, one of 12 pounds and The next day (July 4th) was cold and below my fly, which Peter, one of another of 32 pounds. ~ater-in the day rainy and the decision was made to wait my Indians, assured me was caused he hooked and lost two more fish due for more favorable weather before as- by a salmon. Giving him, as I had to his "confounded propensity to strike cending the Kistigouche to the mouth been instructed, about five minutes' too soon . . . ." The general, meanwhile, of the Upsalquitch. Permission was rest (it seemed an hour) after his who had never in his life thrown a fly granted by the river guardian (Mr. John fruitless exertion, I made another and could not cast a wit (casts of 10-15 Mowat) for the party to fish that day on cast, letting my fly go down just a- feet were not uncommon for the gen- the Matapedia pools. The following is an bove where he rose, and this time he eral) managed to hook and land two account of the first day on the water, came in earnest. fish. Thus, as the sun's rays retired for which for Dean Sage must have been another day, so did a crest fallen Dean one of great disappointment. Sage, tired, fishless, and extremely frus- trated. "Haines and I in the utmost trepida- The following morning the Sage par- tion and haste commenced getting ty loaded their provisions aboard a ready amid the ill-concealed sneers of horse drawn scow (provided for them the surrounding natives, who regard by John Mitchell an Irish sportsman our split bamboo rods with distrust who was a contractor for a portion of and aversion, and predicted misfort- the Intercolonial Railway. He is not to une to them should they get hold of be confused with Archibald Mitchell, large fish [note: in addition to the creator of the Mitchell salmon fly and two 17% ft. split bamboo rods, a one of the founders of Runnymeade green-heart rod manufactured by Lodge on the Ristigouche) and began a Clark and another made by Conroy slow but, we are told, delightful trip up- were also included in the party's river to the Upsalquitch. It took them tackle.] Just as we were setting out all day to get the twelve miles which our ardor was increased by the ap- brought them to the first falls on the pearance of our English captain, fol- Upsalquitch. They could not get their lowed by his two Indians bearing scow above the first falls, thus they halt- three large salmon, the result of his ed their journey and made camp amidst early fishing in one pool. He showed a plethora of mosquitos, midges, and us the fly he had used, which had a black flies. dark silver-tinseled claret body, with After an unsuccessful excursion to a dark turkey wings; and selecting pool five miles above their camp, early those we had nearest like it, we, with the next morning, Sage and his two In- our Indians sallied forth. Route travelled by Sage party. dians traveled down river to the pool at "It takes two Indians and one bark the mouth of the Upsalquitch. It was canoe to every fisherman. An Indian "I saw the boil of the water as he there that "fierce Dean" brought his sits in each end, the fishermen in the took the fly, the line started slowly first salmon to gaff. middle; the canoe is paddled or poled from the reel as he turned downward "We then embarked, and in less than to the head of a pool, where it is an- a foot or so of his broad tail appear- an hour had gone down the six miles chored by the man in the stern, he in ed in the air waving a farewell to me, and were at the Upsalquitch pool, the bow keeping it steady and and then, forgetful of all I had been which is long and deep, with a fine straight in the stream with his pad- told to do at this point, the instinct beach on one side and terminating in dle. As soon as possible after a fish is of the trout fisher overcame me, and a long stretch of smooth and very hooked the canoe is taken to shore; I struck hard and sharp. The fish, a swift running water of an average one man remains by it and the other large one, was going away from me depth of six or seven feet. Half a mile stays by the fishermen to gaff the to the bottom of the stream, and the of this brings you to a gradual turn in fish when the time comes. result of my striking as I did was very the river (the Kistigouche) where the "Haines decided to try the Metapedia much as though I had attempted the water deepens for quite a distance pool, and 1 went to the one below, same thing with my line attached to without actually forming a pool, where the captain had been fishing. a runaway horse. My line, with about with an abrupt bank at least seventy- Arrived there I found Mr. Shaw in half of my leader, flew back high five feet high on one side, and a good possession, but he said the pool was over my head, and at once realizing beach on the other. Just as we came large enough for both of us, and so, and cursing my folly, I put on a new to the pool proper we saw a salmon anchoring the canoe, I made my first leader and fly and resumed fishing. jump, and I drew a happy augury cast for salmon. The split bamboo In half an hour, Shaw having killed from the sight. Anchoring the canoe worked beautifully, and I found that another meantime, I had a rise, at the head of the pool I began cast- my long esperience with a one-hand- hooked my fish, and snapped off my ing, having on a small fly with a yel- ed rod in trout-fishing was of great fly in exactly the same way I had low tail, black body, and mallard service in assisting me to a quick done before, being unable in my ex- wings. 1 had not to wait long, when knowledge in casting with both citement to resist striking as the fish with about fifteen yards of line out I hands. After making one or two casts turned. Peter, at this, began talking had a strike, and summoning all my Mr. Shaw, who was but a short dis- to Andre his fellow Micmac, in their resolution, kept perfectly quiet until tance from me, called out that he native tongue, and I am sure was in- the fish made his first halt at the bot- had a fish, and looking around I saw dulging in the most unfavorable crit- tom of the river. Then, giving a sharp his rod bent half double, heard his icism of my skill, which 1 cut short but gentle twitch, to my intense joy I reel whir like a mill, and the next in- by telling them we would return to felt my first salmon firmly hooked, stant saw his fish fifty yards away, the house." ' and my lost manhood partially re- stored. The fish was very active, but ~edwith a stick at the butt. The kindly given us permission to fish his did not seem particula;ly strong. I water was good for half a mile furth- river. Accordingly, we made a raft to soon got ashore, and a few moments er down, so I did not check my fish transport our 1;ggage down, and that later Peter gaffed and held up by the as sharply as I might, not wanting to night pitched our tent on a beautiful gills a creature which I recognized throw away a single chance. His runs bluff at the junction of the Upsal- from descriptions as aL'mendedkelt." began to grow shorter and began to quitch and Ristigouche, and just over that is, a fish which had been very yield a little to the pressure exercised the pool. Here we were comparative- late in spawning the preceding fall, to bring him towards the beach. At ly free from flies, with good fishing had remained in the river all winter, last I got him up within ten feet of all about us and a delightful view up and on going down to the sea in the the shore, and told Peter to go down and down both rivers." spring to recuperate had met some of and try to gaff him, getting below This was to be the sight of Camp his kind on their way to fresh water, the fish, which I should then, by eas- Harmony (named after the wife of one and turning back had gone with them. ing on the line, let go down past him of Sage's good friends, Joseph Twitch- My fish was nearly three feet long, tail foremost. Peter was a very poor ell) where he was to return every sum- but weighed only fourteen pounds gaffer, however, and made a motion mer until his death in 1902. For the re- and was almost black, with a head which the fish saw, and off he went mainder of their stay the fishing was ex- disproportionately large. As he was again with seemingly a new supply of cellent. One morning Sage and Haines mortally wounded by the gaff we strength and game. This time, at the hooked 23 salmon. Eleven were landed, killed him and gave him to some In- end of his run, he came to the sur- the largest of which was 29 pounds and dians who were passing down the riv- face of the water and thrashed about, caught by Dean. Four of the eleven er. This was not the fish we had seen trying to break the line with his tail. jump, and inspired with fresh confi- It took twenty minutes more to get were killed with a fly of Sage's own ty- dence I had the canoe anchored a him in position to be gaffed, and ing. We are told that this was his first at- few rods below the first place. Just as when finally Peter terminated his gal- tempt at the art of manufacturing salm- on flies. On Tuesday, July 14, 1875, the Andre dropped his stone overboard I lant fight I was quite used up, as saw a fish jump about twenty yards much from excitement as exertion, tent was struck, baggage was loaded and down the stream from us. and. com- and lay down on the beach by the the journey home was begun. mencing on a short cast aid gradual- side of my victim deliciously fatigued Sage concludes his piece with a short ly lengthening my line, at last reach- and joyful 'ad unguem.' paragraph which alludes to his enthusi- asm for this new found sport. ed the spot where he had shown him- "This fish weighed twenty-three self. A moment of anxiety as the fly pounds and was the finest in condi- "After a fresh run salmon has taken passed right over where I knew the tion and color of any I killed. Peter the fly he disarms all criticism on his fish must be, and then with a swirl, who had gaffed him very awkwardly, previous conduct, and hard to please and showing half his side, he rose and bragged a good deal of the skill he must be the man who does not con- went down, taking the fly with him. had displayed, and he and Andre as- sider the sport he then affords ample So soon as he stopped 1 struck firmly sumed a much more deferential air consideration for any amount of long and the fish, feeling the steel, started towards me than they had hitherto journeying and hard fare it takes to off like lightning diagonally across used. Both Indians were remarkable procure it." and down the river, taking out about for a stupidity which each fully ap- We had not been successful in identi- fifty yards of line with a rapidity preciated in the other; for example, fying either Haines or the general. We buzz- which made the reel singa like a on one occasion when Peter had know only that the party began their saw and the rod tremble from tip to made several futile attempts to gaff a adventure in New York, and that the butt. At the end of this run the fish, fish, Andre, who was standing near general's invitation was made to Sage in partially turning, made his first leap me, remarked as though to himself, March of 1875. These two facts coupled out of the water, then dashing across 'Peter, dam fool.' Not five minutes with the information that the Sage fam- the stream jumped again and sought later Andre, despite my remon- ily normally did not make the move the bottom for a moment's rest. This strances, allowed the canoe to drop from Brooklyn to their country home in moment I improved in getting to down directly through a part of the Menands, New York until well into the shore, but before 1 was fairly out of pool where we had seen a fish jump, month of April would indicate that the canoe the fish had started off when Peter, turning around to me, both Haines and the general were from again, and in spite of my running said in a whisper, 'Dat Andre dam New York City environs. down the beach after him had gained fool.' Both, in their rude, untutored A perusal of the Brooklyn directory about fifty feet more of my line, and way, had approximated. . to the truth. for the year 1880 reveals a Samual A. brought up sulky behind a large "Going back to the pool I very soon Haines who resided at 538 Clinton Ave. stone under the opposite bank. This killed another smaller fish, and as it - only a short distance from Sage's home gave me an opportunity to reel up was getting late in the afternoon, at 779 St. Marks. Ave. Perhaps this is and collect my scattered senses, but I started back to the camp with the the mysterious Mr. Haines? could not get- the fish to do anything two salmon in front of me in the can- Our third installment will deal with more than now and then give a suc- oe, where I could feast my eyes upon the Camp Harmony years. cession of short and vicious tugs at them without turning. I found the the line. and at last I had to send An- general and Haines had given up sal- dre over with the canoe to start him mon-fishing, not having seen one 1 "Atlantic Monthly," August 1875. out. Leaving the rock with a speed since I left, and with their light tack- 2 "Game Fish of the Northern States of which made my reel hum, he went le had had a good afternoon with America" by Robert Rarnwell Roosevelt. sailing down-stream steadily, stop- the trout at the mouth of a little ping occasionally for an instant to brook which flowed into the river. try and rub the hook out against The next day the general went to some stone. This trick of a salmon's. Metapedia, and in the afternoon sent which is often successful, communi- back a messenger with the welcome cates a very peculiar vibration news that the lessee of the Risti- through the line to the rod, which gouche, whom he had met there, had shakes as if it had been sharply tap- FAMILY PORTRAITS Reuben Wood Born in Greenbush, N. Y., Reuben Wood, and his brother ~nternationalFisheries Exposition in London, he won first in Ira became internationally known as champion tournament cast- the salmon casting at the Welch Harp using an 18 foot split bam- ers and sportsmen. Reuben left Greenbush for Syracuse, New boo, scoring 108 feet. The English champion, Malloch, cast 105 York where he entered the tackle business. As a member of the feet. With the trout rod, he beat four English competitors with Onondage Fishing Club, he was the first to sponsor fly casting an 82% foot cast. As a guest of W. B. Marston, editor of the tournaments casting over 60 feet with a lancewood rod, and English Fishing Gazatte, Reub tried club fishing, but his flies then with the development of the split bamboo, demonstrated were far to large for the British brown trout. He cast beautifully his expertise to further distances at country fairs and fishing but his score was zero on the Kennet at Hungerford. It was here club tournaments. One of his best distances was 101%feet with he fist became acquainted with dry fly fishing. a salmon rod at a State Sportsmen's Association meeting at The Reuben Wood fly named for him perpetuates his mem- Coney Island (1881). ory. In 1883, in charge of the United States' angling display at the The Izaak Walton Iowa Des Moines, la. strike, whcn biting freely, at a flannel rag attached to thc hook, Editor KECKEA'I'ION : if cast when the water was rough. Ile is the one on the right in this group. The grand old tnan is For many springs we have packed our grips for the wooded the most noted angler in this part of the West. Although grow- lakes of the North, and for the past 8 years we have donc nlost ing old in years, he is the youngcst when fishing. 'l'lie days are of our fishing at Lake Osakis, Minn. 'l'he above pict~trcrcpre- never too long nor the sun too hot for him to have a try at the sents a day's catch there, but the gill net and ice-fishing, in win- bass. ter, are rapidly and surely destroying the bcauties of thc lake for John K. Kollins, or John, as they call him, was born on one the angler. of New Hampshire's stony farms, near the village of Wakefield, The other Iowan, the one on thc left, is A. H. Miles, a leading in 1824. Sawing wood winters, and piling stones summers, was druggist of Des Moines, who always finds a few wccks, every largely his childhood's introduction to the poetry of life. 'l'hirty year, to take a trip to the north woods for a whirl at the I)l;~ck years ago he retired from active business, though he is at present bass and the niuscalonge. Hut it is of the king of anglers I write. a director in 4 or 5 banks. The summer months find him fishing I will not go into particulars as to his ability. It has ricvcr bccn somewhere between Maine and the Dakotas, and his retiiini- questioned. Ile is a true angler, an ardent sportsniiln. a~~tl\vc all scences of fishing, in the earlier days, would niake interesting look to him as authority on cverything pertaining to fish or fish- reading to the anglers of today. ing. Many a night have I lain on my cot, in camp, by the bright The man in the center is I<. J. Pauli, of St. Paul. Ile is anothcr log fire, and listened to his stories of fishing, back in the OO's, true friend and genial companion who can always find timc to when you could catch black bass without bait in the Iowa lakes. enjoy the click and I~uzzof thc reel. This was before they became the fashionable resorts they arc to- II. I;. K1,ACKKlJKN day. Thi may seem strange to vou, but I have seen the bass 1;rom K /:(.'I< /<:I 7'10N .VI,,I(;.I ZliVI:', ,,A i)ril Ih'Y6 Book Review '/'FIE.' A ?'/.AN1'/(.' S,l /.MON 7'l New Slide Show and Photo Project Trustees Bernard (Lefty) Kreh and Boyd Pfeiffer set up their gear for the Museum's first slide show and photo project. Internationally known for their creative use of the camera lens, the two top outdoor writers have been featured in the best of our sporting magazines, are outstanding authors of sporting books and have worked for many years with sportsmen to further the causes of Conservation. Kreh conducts a popular outdoor column for the Baltimore Sun and Pfeiffer writes an equally popular column for the Washington Post. WOMEN'S STUDIES RESEARCH The Museum is commencing a program to include articles Charles E. Brooks of West Yellowstone has sent in his first about women in The American Fly Fisher. The project justifies progress report in the form of a section of horse hair line. Al- itself because women have been influential in the development though it may seem weird, during all the years fishing books of fly fishing. However, the subject deserves attention as a spec- have been offered the interested public, no author seems to ial project because, as in so many other areas of angling history, have felt it necessary to provide instruction as to how to make a information about women is scarce and not readily available. line from horse hair beyond the preliminary instruction by an Our goal is to reflect how women have been involved in the ancient Roman who told us to select white hairs from the tail of development of American fly fishing with an article in each a stallion. At the conclusion of Charley Brooks research, we issue. Hopefully, in this way, we can reflect more accurately the look forward to a basic knowledge regarding the historic way of entire spectrum of fly fishing history. fabrication. While persons working on women's studies will concentrate Dermot Wilson, of Nether Wallop, England, presented the primarily on the historical perspective, their efforts should gen- Museum with an English horse hair line while visiting the Mus- erate a greater sense of involvement and belonging in the sport eum in November last. It is the only line we know of in this among women who fly fish. country available for exhibition and study. Not knowing what Since a women's studies program fulfills its purposes more to study, the Brooks research will be of good value. Many, many fully if greater numbers of women are exposed to our efforts, a thanks to Dermot, not only for this fine contribution of a real campaign is being launched to recruit more women as members rarity but his informative lecture at the Annual Meeting. of the Museum. This campaign requires the assistance of the membership at large. Please take a few minutes to write down Information as to what may be the first synthetic or plastic the names and addresses of fly fisherwomen you know and fishing rod has been revealed through a brief note in The Ameri- send them to me. I will, in turn, send them a recent issue of can Angler, Vol. 1, 1881, in which its editor William C. Harris The American Fly Fisher, a membership brochure and a letter states a well known tackle maker of New York City has achiev- encouraging them to join. ed success in that direction. The rod is made of the new cellu- We also need the assistance of anyone who has information loid. Beginning experiments were not encouraging because the about an individual woman or group of women who have par- material tended to become soft in high or summer temperatures ticipated in the social or technical development of fly fishing. and brittle when subjected to cold. This call for information includes histories (or back copies of The information suggests a worthwhile research study as the minutes and other records) of women's fly fishing clubs. Please history of the American plastic fly rod has yet to be written. send me a description of any papers or other historial materials. The history of the impregnated rod which first came into being If putting the materials in a publishable format presents a prob- about 1911 (?) should also be researched. lem, I will help coordinate a solution. The oldest and one of the finest rods in the Museum's col- Those who have already taken an interest in the women's lections is the Furman rod of 1832. The date and the name of studies project have agreed that those who contribute will not its original owner G. C. Furman is engraved on the reel seat. The be categorized into a separate committee or auxiliary. Instead, name Furman appears as the owners of commercial trout ponds the project will involve all members who take an interest and located near Maspeth, Long Island in 1797. It's very probably can contribute. one of these Furmans was the original owner of our fly rod. A Your help is essential to the success of the women's studies valuable bit of research could be accomplished by simply fol- and membership recruitment projects. Please help - it will be lowing through and locating the original Long Island probable most appreciated. owned by the Furmans and recording whatever information is Susie Isaksen, Coordinator available relative to early fish breeding in the United States. Women's Studies Route 2, Box 286 Poynette, Wisconsin 53955 MEMORABILIA DONOR LIST 1975 - 1976 The Trustees of the Muesum of American Fly Fishing grate- LIBRARY fully acknowledge the gifts of rods, reels, books, flies and other The following books are not on our library shelves. Contri- rare and noteworthy items contributed during the past 1%years butions would be appreciated. by the following generous donors. Leonard Mayflies of Michigan Trout Streams Although every effort has been made to make this listing Ovington Basic Fly Fishing and Fly Tying complete, there is a possibility a name has been omitted. Please Raymond The Year of the Angler write us for a correction in a coming issue of this magazine. Overfield Famous Flies and Their Originators Veniard Fly Dressers Guide Gilbert Gordon Ackroyd Meadowbrook, 3 pc. rod w/extra tip Goddard Trout Fly Recognition Angler's Club of N. Y. Mr. Atherton's original drawing for Wilson Fishing the Dry Fly "The Fly and The Fish." Schwiebert Nymphs Mrs. Lawrence Babcock Kosmic Rod Schwiebert Salmon of the World Roger Baker Etching "Rival Fisherman" Atherton The Fly and The Fish Richard Bauer 1932 Vom Hofe Catalog. Vols. XVII Lynde 34 Ways to Cast a Fly and XVIII of "American Angler." Halsewood Ed. Book of St. Albans Original and Reprint Thomas Catalog. Combs Steelhead Trout William Boardman Hardy Salmon rod. Netboy The Atlantic Salmon Stanley E. Bogdan Edward Vom Hofe solidwood salt- Further listings will be contained in future issues of this water rod. Lancewood black bass or magazine. bait rod. Lancewood fly rod. Mrs. Frank L. Babbott Rod, 3 pc., black and yellow winds. 8 ft. 6 in. "Mohr" Rod. 3 pc. "Em- pire City" Rod. 3 pc. "Walton" Lea- ther Rod Case. Quenton Brewer Sportsmen's Pictorial Encyclopedia of Guns, Hunting and Fishing. D. C. Corkran Reel. Young "Windex." Frederick H. Clymer, Jr. Post Card (from F. H. Orvis 1873). Darrah Corbet Estate Pflueger Golden West Reel. Six flies tied by Tommy Brayshaw. Four or- iginal flies tied by Brayshaw from C. M. Gatley & Co. Three Ogden Smith THE MUSEUM EXHIBITS OF RARITIES Test dry fly trout casts. Three Hardy Bros. gut casts. Two Farlow's Hold- Since the Museum's inception, an exceptional number of fast gut casts. Two Bean's dry fly rarities have been given the Museum. The very finest have leaders. One Allcock Hercules gut been placed on exhibit in showcases guarded by heavy plate leader. Milward-Bartleet Red Loop glass and modern locking systems. Cast. Two Rainbow gut casts from We consider our exhibits to be a precious heritage and do Rainbow Fly Co. Envelope with everything possible to let our many visitors examine them, miscellaneous gut materials and tip- yet, make as certain as possible there is no chance for theft pets from Piper & Taft. or damage. In this way, visitors may see rods built long be- George R. Cook, 111 Salmon Gaff. fore there was any recognition that our waters could be John Engels Mills Waders. polluted or the abundance of game fish seriously depleted. Here in our Museum are yesterdays remembered, a history Mrs. Betty Fetter Max Rod. 9 ft. 3 pc. Bamboo Rod. 2 of fly fishing in America that is real, informative and enter- Reels. Senate 3 pc. Rod. taining. You will see the finest in craftsmanship, and the B. F. Fiery Rod. Reel. many steps in a developing technology that has made Ameri- Frank W. Fulereader Rod. Montague comb. can tackle the finest in the world whatever its age. Arnold Gingrich Edward Ringwood Hewitt Reel. Pres- You as a member on your fist or on one of many visits ton Jennings' flies. will be proud of what has been accomplished and most cer- Vernon S. Hidy "The Leisenring Source Book of Mat- tainly be proud that you are a member. Your continued erials for Trout Flies," Vol. 2. contributions will be appreciated. Please give your friends the opportunity to experience the same glow of satisfact- Morgan Hafele H. L. Leonard Reel. ion by soliciting their help through a financial contribution Jack Heddon Book "Fly Fisher's Legacy." that in turn will provide better exhibitsand a better Museum. George Huber 3 Reels (unidentified). Donald S. Keleher Spinning Reel, Bache Brown Spinster Dana S. Lamb Book, "The Salmon and the Dry Fly" MAGAZINE by George La Branche. David Ledlie Rod, "Rawling's Special." The pages of THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER are open Wells Morris, Jr. Pack Rod. to all those who have a healthy interest in the promotion of Luis Marden Small Brass Reel. Large Brass Reel. the Museum. Constructive criticisn~is welcome as are sug- gestions which you feel will make for better reading. If you William McCarthy Two Salmon Rods. Books. know of individuals performing research relating to the his- Alan P. Olson Fly Book with assorted flies. tory of fly fishing we would like to make their acquaintance Michael J. Penfold Hardy St. George Fly Reel. and if you have a question about the Museum, or historic J. R. Pobst Small framing of two early proto- fly patterns, or literature, or tackle development, it's almost types of the Keel Fly. a sure bet the staff will be able to provide just the right ans- Theodore Ryan Vernon Deluxe Reel, by L & S. Mfg. wer. Extra copies of the magazine are available with the ex- Company. ception of Vol. 1, No's 1 and 2 which are out of print. Paul A. Robinson Owis Fly Rod, 3 pc. - 2 tip - 9 ft. in leather rod case. Assortment of Salm- on Flies (Orvis). AVAILABLE FROM THE MUSEUM R. Preston Searle 10% ft. Adirondack Guide Boat with oars constructed by Sam Smith, The Museum has for sale the following unusual items by Long Lake, New York. members. All profits are contributed to the Museum. Elmer G. Sill Two section 9 ft. split bamboo spiral A Check List of American Sporting Periodicals, by Austin fly rod constructed by Letcher Lam- S. Hogan. A prime reference source over ten years in the buth, Seattle, Washington. writing, $5.00. Edward B. Shaw "Rainbow" steel bait casting rod. The Fishing In Print, by Arnold Gingrich. Destined to be- David B. Slohm Set of cassettes, "Come Fish With come a classic. Autographed. $12.95. Me," Vol. 1. Where the Pools are Bright and Deep, by Dana S. Lamb. A Dr. John E. Wallace Fishing Hook, Redditch, England. limited offering. Autographed. $8.95. Joe Weise Two letters of Ray Bergman dated Send check to the 1946. Treasurer, Museum of American Fly Fishing Edmund Whitney Rod, Lancewood (Pat. March 1873). Manchester, Vermont 05254 OFFICERS AND TRUS'I'EES President Arnoltl Ciligrich Vice Presidents Austin S. tiogan (Curator) Stcvc Raymond Treasurer Leigh 11. Perkins Secretary Mrs. Laura 'l'owslcc Registrar David K. 1,edlie Conservator (Consulti~ig) Charles Olin MEMORIAL CITA~I'ION Joseph W. Brooks, Jr. 1901 - 1972 HONORARY TRUSTEES D. C. Corkran Harry Darbec Herman Kessler The hluseunl of American Fly Fishing TRUSTEES ~Manchester,Vermont 05254 A. I. (Pal) Alexander Dana S. Lamb The Museum is a non-profit institution, chartered under the Robert Rarrett David B. Ledlie Joseph Spear Beck laws of the State of Vermont. As an educational organization it Leon Martuch is directed to the preservation and keeping of the traditions that Stanley Bogdan Dudley Mills bond the past with the present. The Museum offers a pernianent Ms. Kay Krotlney Carl Navarre Roy Chapin public repository where the historic fly rod, reel, book, art work Charles Olin and fly pattern may be expertly guarded against the destructive- Philip K. Crowe John Orrclle <:arroll C. Curtice ness of time. Contributions are tax deductible as established by Leigh H. Perkins the U. S. Revenue Service. Donald DuBois Mrs. Leigh Perkins Julia Fairchild G. Boyd Pfeiffer A descriptive brochure is available. Arnold (iingrich Steve Raymond Williarn A. <;lassford Rick Kobbins Willard <;odfrey Willard F. Rockwell, Jr. MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION Gardner I.. Grant 'Theodore Kogowski Dr. Alvin Grove, Jr. Ben Schley THE AMERICAN FLY FISHER is but one of the many George W. Harvey Berni Sehoenfield benefits received by participating in the Museum affairs. Also in- Austin S. Hogan Ernest G. Schwiebert cluded with your membership are the information publications, Charles E. Jones Col. Henry Siegel free research services, a direct line of communication to experts Poul Jorgensen Prescott A. Tolman in history, literature and technology, free appraisals for donors Martin Keane Bennett Upson of materials and an opportunity to individually promote a new Rayrnond A. Kotrli~ Ralph Wahl movement in the field of fly fishing that is completely unique. Rer~iitrtl(1.efty) Kreh Shirley Woods Your dollar support becomes far more than finiancial help. It is the keeping of an unspoken promise to future generations. A STAFF AND CONSULTANTS brochure will be forwarded on requests. 1.iI)rary A tie tac is presented with each membership of $25.00 or Mrs. Leigh Perkins, Librarian more. David K. Ledlie, Assistant Librarian Associate $ 10.00 Joseph Spear Heck Sustaining $ 2 5 .OO Stanley Kitchell Patron $100.00 and over Ms. Kay F. Erodney Life $2 50.00 Henry Hruns All membership dues, contributions and donations are tax Mark Kerridge deductible. Please forward checks to THE TREASURER, The Museu~n Public Relations Technology of American Fly Fishing, Manchester, Vermont 05254 with Donald Owens Charles E. Brooks your NAME, ADDRESS and ZIP CODE; type of nletnbership Dan Reid G. Dick Finlay desired and a statement of the amount enclosed. Upon receipt, a Tony Skilton George F. Grant magazine and menlbership card will be mailed immediately. Hen Upson Poul Jorgensen Martin Keane Tlv perrrln~~ci~te.~/~ihit.s at tl~rM l~sc~nrdisplay the world's f 711- John Orrelle cst c.ol1cction.s of'f1.y frshing tnckle. TO MR. JOHN BARTLETT WHO HAD SENT ME A SEVEN-POUND TROUT James Russell Lowell from The Atlantic Monthly, 1866 Fit for an Abbot of Theleme, For the whole Cardinals' College, or The Pope himself to see in dream Before his lenten vision gleam, He lies there, the sogdolger! His precious flanks with stars besprent, Worthy to swim in Castaly! The friend by whom such gifts are sent, For him shall bumpers full be spent, His health! be Luck his fast ally! I see him trace the wayward brook Amid the forest mysteries, Where at their shades shy aspens look, Or where, with many a gurgling crook, It croons its woodland histories. The unerring fly I see him cast, That as a rose-leaf falls as soft, A flash ! a whirl! he has him fast! We tyros, how that struggle last Confuses and appalls us oft. Unfluttered he: calm as the sky Looks on our tragi-corned-ies, This way and that he lets him fly, A sunbeam-shuttle, then to die Lands him, with cool APLOMB, at ease. The friend who gave our board such gust, Life's care, may he o'erstep it half, And, when Death hooks him, as he must, He'll do it handsomely, I trust, And John H---- write his epitaph! 0,born beneath the Fishes' sign, Of constellations happiest, May he somewhere with Walton dine, May Horace send him Massic wine, And Burns Scotch drink, the nappiest!