422 AMERICAN ANGLER'S BOOK, 



should be one pocket for dubbing ; one for feathers, which 

 are kept most conveniently in envelopes, each kind separate ; 

 and another for floss, wrapping-silk, &c. Hooks should be 

 kept in different parchment parcels, each appropriately num- 

 bered, and slipped under a leather band stitched at intervals 

 to the inside of the wrapper of the wallet. Under the same 

 band there should also be loops for each tool. The leather 

 wrapper should be part of the wallet and wrap around it, and 

 should be tied with a leather string. This kind of wallet or 

 book of materials can be opened and spread out on a table, or 

 on the grass, or on a rock ; it is easily kept in order, and 

 when folded up is compact and occupies but little space in 

 stowing. A larger one than the size just described is required 

 for materials for Salmon -flies. 



It may be asked by the learner, What fowls of the air, or 

 water, or of the barn-yard, furnish these feathers ? What is 

 a hackle ? What part of the fowl is it plucked from ? What 

 feathers of its plumage furnish the Avings of the fly ? Where 

 do you buy tinsel and floss, and so on, and what kind of 

 hooks are most suitable, and what sizes of them do you use 

 for particular flies ? Patience, my dear boy, if you are really 

 anxious to know all about it, or all I can think of just now 

 on so momentous a subject, I will not put you off with the 

 hurried rigmarole I have just given you, but will commence 

 de novo, and tell you in a more orderly way what you will 

 want and how to get it. If we were in London or Dublin or 

 Limerick, we would step into a tackle store, and lay down 

 our money, and, presto, all we wanted, and more too, would 

 appear on the counter. But here we are thrown on our own 

 resources, and must do the best we can ; and the best we can is 

 quite as well as we could do in any of the old cities or towns I 

 have just named, as far as tying Trout-flies is concerned , 

 when we tie our Salmon-flies, we are to some extent dependent 



