Letter from Alexander Grant, 3 Feb 1894, pages 6 & 7

Alexander Grant (1856 - 1942) was a native of Battangorm, Carrbridge, which gave rise to his familiar name - 'Battan'. As a boy he was exposed to what were to become his two great passions - fiddling and fishing. He went on to excel in both areas; as an angler by inventing his own unique fishing rod known as the 'Grant Vibration Rod', and as a fiddler by leading the Highland Strathspey and Reel Society for almost forty years and by becoming an expert in fiddle making techniques. He also invented a unique disc-shaped violin known as a 'Rondello'. An example of Grant's fishing rod, fiddle and Rondello can be seen at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery (IMAG).<br /> <br /> In May 1887 Grant moved his fishing rod and tackle business from Carrbridge to Inverness, initially at Glenalbyn Buildings, Young Street. He later moved to premises at 7 Baron Taylor's Lane, from where this (draft?) letter was written on 3 February 1894. The intended recipient is unknown but it may be a fellow angler or editor of a contemporary angling publication as Grant invites him to 'alter & amend' the letter as he sees fit. The bulk of the letter is taken up with Grant's opinions on current fly casting competitions which he finds 'unsatisfactory to practical fishers'