FLY FISHING IN THE SEA 



157 



hook (without eye or flattened end) is softened and threaded on a 

 needle which is entered three-quarters of an inch from the end 

 of the tail and brought out at the thick end. The hook-shank 

 is then pulled up through the point of entry, and the thick end 

 of the tail firmly bound round with crimson silk above the end 

 of the hook shank to prevent it slipping. I have little doubt 

 that the trout look upon this bait as a very 

 small eel or worm of some kind. 



A capital artificial sand-eel, which can be 

 cast with the fly rod, can be made in the 

 following manner : Get a piece of copper 

 bell wire, or thick brass wire, 2\ inches or 

 3 inches long; tie a hook (No. 12 or 13) 

 firmly to one end ; slip the other end through 

 a piece of greyish-white rubber tubing, such 

 as is used for feeding-bottles, which can be 

 bought cheaply by the yard. The tail end 

 should be cut sloping, and sliced at side of 

 tail so as to make it vibrate ; the end of 

 wire coming out at mouth should be attached 

 to a small phosphor bronze, brass, or Ger- 

 man silver swivel. The back should be 

 coloured with two coats of Stephens' blue- 

 black ink, the first coat being brought one- 

 third of the way down the side also ; then 

 varnish the inked part, which makes it olive MOUSETAIL 

 green. The belly can have a line of silver 

 paint or strip of foil. The sides should be left white, and 

 if they get discoloured scraping with a penknife will freshen 

 them up. Two pink beads, with a black circle round each 

 drawn on the indiarubber in ink, represent eyes. The neck 

 should be tied in with greenish silk. One hook is better 

 than two in clear water and near weeds ; and if an occasional 



