84 MODERN SEA FISHING 



of a piece of flat silver tinsel about two inches long. Next 

 lay a piece of white worsted or floss silk down the shank 

 to make the body plump, wind the flat tinsel round the 

 body of the fly (3) up nearly to the loop, and take a couple 

 of turns round the tinsel with the silk, and hold it in posi- 

 tion (4). There only remains to tie on the wings and legs, 

 and here you will have a little difficulty. Not that there 

 are any special directions to be given, but the manipulation 

 is not very easy. Take some short strands of peacock harl, 

 hold them underneath the end of the shank and twist the 

 silk round them (5) ; then take some longer strands of peacock 

 harl (i), judging their length from the illustration, keeping it, of 

 course, in proportion to the size of the hook, and lay over it a 

 couple of strips of white swan's feather, introducing, if you 

 like, a strip of red on each side. Hold this between the 

 finger and thumb of one hand, place it on the end of the 

 shank, and with the other hand twist the binding silk round 

 firmly several times (6) ; then finish off in the manner shown 

 for whipping gut to hook (p. 67). Touch this binding with 

 the shellac varnish, and your fly is ready as soon as the 

 varnish is dry, which will be the following day. If you are 

 in a hurry to use it, melt a little bees' or cobbler's wax on 

 the binding and it can be wetted at once. 



The first fly may be somewhat of a duffer, but it will pro- 

 bably catch fish as well as any more highly finished production. 

 Beginners are very apt to make the mistake of not leaving 

 room enough on the end of the shank to tie on the wings. 

 They make the body too long, not only at this end, but also at 

 the other. 



Every man ought to know how to dress for rough, windy 

 cold work such as sea fishing often is. ' All wool ' should be 

 the motto of the sea fisherman. There is nothing better than 

 a loose-fitting sweater or jersey made not of the wool of the 



