Up for auction is a remarkable piece of maritime and angling history: a handmade leather case once owned by Captain H. Fairfax, Royal Navy, Companion of the Bath (C.B.). Inside this beautifully crafted leather case is a bespoke oak wood box bearing a brass handle and lock, made by the esteemed C. Harlow & Company, 191 Strand, London. The box, dated from the late 1800s, is an exquisite example of craftsmanship and attention to detail.

The oak box houses six trays filled with a variety of fly-tying essentials and tools, including hooks, tips, Ferr-L-Tite, tar, ferrules, guides, and two hand-made tools, among other intriguing odds and ends. This kit, rich in provenance, was gifted by then Admiral Fairfax to Captain Victor Campbell, R.N., who later settled in the Harry’s River area on Newfoundland's west coast around 1924.

Captain Campbell and many Royal Navy officers were drawn to Newfoundland for its world-renowned salmon fishing, and they are fondly remembered by locals for their contributions to the community. Locations like Flat Bay Brook, Crab’s River, Black Duck, Island Pool, and Dump Pool became celebrated fishing spots, frequented by these passionate anglers.

This fly-tying kit is not just a toolset but a piece of angling heritage that holds immense historical value, recalling an era when Royal Navy officers, retired from service, embraced the rugged beauty of Newfoundland’s rivers and streams.