The literature relating to wire flow from paper machine headboxes is extremely misleading. In Part I photographic examples of wire flow conditions are presented and identified and the elementary hydrodynamics of the wake effect provided. In Part II, in the next issue of PULP & PAPER CANADA, the wake effect equation is discussed for perforated rolls and a non-dimensional version is presented. The current headbox designs are then discussed with regard to this equation and some original experimental work presented. The outline of the direction of future work to elucidate the remaining details is provided.