160 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 
The “tag,” and the head of ostrich or peacock here 
usually added to Salmon and Grilse flies, are neither 
useful, nor, to my eye, ornamental. The latter more- 
over almost always gives way before the rest of the fly, 
and the space which it occupies tends to prevent the 
desirable strength being given to the “ fastening off.” A 
head finished off in the manner shown in the engravings 
of the above flies both looks neater, because more suit- 
able and workmanlike, and saves labour to the fly- 
dresser. 
It is seldom—I may say never, except in large waters 
like the Shannon—that two Salmon-flies, or one Grilse 
and one Salmon-fly can be used with advantage. The 
-bob-fly or dropper in lake Trout-fishing is often the 
most killing fly, because when properly worked it skips 
along the ripple like a real live insect endeavouring to 
rise after a partial immersion ; but the Salmon-fly, which 
is apparently not taken for a fly at all, kills best under 
water. If White-trout, however, are in the river, a White- 
trout fly, as the dropper, may often be used with advan- 
tage. A description of two new methods of attaching 
drop-flies has been already given. 
The collar should be of the strongest picked Salmon- 
cut, stained as already directed for Trout-gut, and the 
strands knotted ina single fisherman’s knot (described at 
p. 54), with a lapping of thin gut zzszde, or between the 
knots, instead of the ordinary silk lapping outszde. This 
mode of lapping relieves the knot itself of half its duty, 
