TYING FLIES. 387 



composed is evenly matched as to size, and evenly twisted. 

 If the angler makes his own casting lines, the two chief 

 points he must attend to are to pick the gut carefully, 

 and to soak it in warm water (or tea, if he wants to take 

 the shine out of it) till perfectly soft, before he manipu- 

 lates it. Every time the angler puts on his cast, he 

 should first soak and then test it. Many a fish is lost 

 by neglecting this precaution. 



We next come to the fly ; and before going any farther 

 I would say to all young fishermen, learn to tie your own 

 flies. It is easily learnt, clean work, and it adds very 

 largely to the enjoyment of fishing. The old-country 

 salmon fisher has other resources to fall back upon when 

 fishing is slack. The Canadian angler has nothing to do 

 but to fish, to think of fish, to talk of fish, and to make 

 flies. There is this difference between living in one's 

 own house or a friend's house, and being camped on the 

 rocky bank of a river. Tying one's own flies is not only 

 a most useful accomplishment, but it is also an agreeable 

 occupation that fills up many a slack half-hour's time. 

 There is scope too in tying salmon flies for originality and 

 for a display of artistic skill. Combinations of colours 

 will occur to the enthusiastic angler at odd hours of the 

 day or night, sometimes in his dreams, and to produce in 

 silks and feathers these creatures of his imagination is, to 

 say the least, a pleasure to him. 



As in most other piscatorial matters, opinions of experts 

 are divided as to the best hooks for flies ; whether the 

 round or the beaten hook. The opponents of the latter 

 maintain that from its shape it is more likely to wear out 

 its hold in a fish's mouth. There is an appearance of 



