The Library of the University of British Columbia has an excellent collection of books on angling and fly-fishing, known as the Harry Hawthorn Collection. At present it totals more than 2200 books, including many rare and valuable items. This Collection came about as the result of a fishing holiday in 1953 by eight UBC professors and Roderick Haig-Brown at Upper Campbell Lake.
At the end of the holiday, the group, including the University President, Dr Norman MacKenzie, decided to start a Foundation at UBC with $13.50 accumulated from various bets and fines for alleged illegal or non-ethical fishing methods. At subsequent annual meetings (i.e. fishing trips) funds raised by fines and donations by members would be used to purchase books for the UBC Library on angling and game fish.
