272 FLIES AND KNOTS. 
pheasant was heard of as one of the indispensable ingre- 
dients. A little practice will enable the angler to make 
flies himself, and add to his sport the consciousness of 
invention. 
Except in that way, and except for salmon fishing, the 
sportsmen of our country have no time to waste tying 
flies. The regular shops charge a heavy profit over the 
amount paid the workman, and if the purchaser is capa- 
ble of telling a good fly, the best plan is to go direct to 
the latter, explain what is wanted, and show an inter^t 
in the proceeding. A half dozen of each of the fore- 
going specimens, firmly fastened on strong, round, even 
gut, will last two months' daily salmon fishing in well- 
stocked streams. An average loss of four or ^ve a day 
would be by no means surprising, although a single one 
might kill a great many fine fish. Hooks are apt to be 
broken at the bend by striking against a rock, from care- 
lessness, or the awkward handling of too long a line. If 
you find a hook broken in that way, lay it primarily to 
this cause, and watch the sweep of your cast. 
After the fly is made, tying it on to the leader and the 
leader to the line is an important matter, and as it is 
always desirable to put the right knot in the right place, 
the following directions may do something toward ena- 
bling one to efi'ect that object, and after a little practice 
will be found entirely intelligible. The gut lengths of 
the droppers should be short, to prevent their fouling 
round the leader. 
'No. 1 and No. 2 are both good ties to fasten the 
leader to the line. No. 3 is a becket-hitch, and JSTo. 4 a 
double becket-hitch. No. 5 is a single water knot. 
