Maybe 40 years ago I bought my copy of Henry P. Wells, Fly-Rods and Fly-Tackle at a used book store somewhere in the greater Beantown area. I not infrequently re-read the book, and it was well read when I acquired it.
It bears the name of the bookstore it originally came from, Lauriat's on Washington Street in Boston and in somewhat youthful penmanship the name of the likely first owner of the book. "Otis H. Dana." I decided to find out if this Dana fished.
I learned that Otis Henry Dana was a graduate of the Harvard Class of 1907. In the so-called Third Report for the Class of 1907, published after 1912, I found Mr. Dana's report. He was then in the wholesale hardware business in Boston. He wrote, and I quote:
Spent one year in graduate school and two years in law school, which place I left because of eye trouble. Since then have spent five months of each year in the woods, trout and salmon fishing. Balance of each year spent in Boston.
Mr. Dana died in December, 1966, and I assume his bookshelves were then emptied. I now understand why it appears well read
's life. I have always bought from reputable dealers,
but I sometimes fear that these treasures must have been stolen. I cannot fathom how anyone would part with them otherwise.
