Orri Vigfusson, president of the North Atlantic Salmon Fund is pleased to announce that the world famous Christie's Auction House, London, England will hold the first auction of salmon flies and various other fishing items to benefit the Fund on April 30, 1997.

Flies are being donated by the world's finest salmon fly tiers. Leaders in the sport fishing community such as the house of Hardy, Farlow's and Orvis in England are donating fishing trips to be auctioned along with fishing accessories donated by many other leaders in the fly fishing industry such as Patagonia which will play a leading role in support of the auction.

The money raised will be used to continue the program of commercial net buyouts instituted by the Fund almost eight years ago. Christie's is donating their facilities and services and the Fund will be printing the catalogs and provide all the other necessary items to support this event. The auction, which has been endorsed by the Royal House of England and representatives of the major countries involved with the Atlantic Salmon restoration effort, will be held at Christie's: 8 King Street, St. James at 8:00 PM and will be preceded by a cocktail party beginning at 6:30 PM.

The Fund is seeking donations of items for the auction as well as advertisers for the auction catalog. Details and be obtained by calling Phil Castleman at 1-800-525-4866 and donations may be sent to: Castle Arms, P.O. Box 30070, Springfield, MA 01103. Each donor will be recognized in the catalog and receive a copy for their library.

For those of us who have seen the major increase in the Atlantic salmon returns in the past five years, the efforts of the Fund and its chairman, Orri Vigfusson cannot be overpraised. The net buyout program has been the major force for the improved salmon fishing both in North America and Europe.

If the money needed to continue this program is not available the advantages it has taken years to gain will be lost and the salmon populations available for sports fishing will be greatly diminished. Available for clubs, news media and TV stations is a 4 minute tape on the salmon restoration program sponsored by the Fund.