98 HOW TO TIE FLIES. 



fly is floating, it is supported both by the shank 

 of the hook and the detached body, so that it is 

 the hardest to sink (as well as the easiest to 

 ft cock ") of all the types illustrated. It also, I 

 think, compares favourably with Form F as 

 regards the consideration of the hook being 

 hidden, especially when it is remembered that 

 any part of the hook that is under water must be 

 seen by the fish much more distinctly than the 

 part above the surface ; and, more than this, that 

 the part beneath the water will often be seen 

 double owing to reflection. 



Form D has its centre of gravity almost 

 beneath its wings, and, therefore, possesses 

 advantages similar to those of Form E, which it 

 even excels in effective concealment of the hook. 

 With Pattern C, however, it shares this disadvan- 

 tage, that, when it is in use, the wear and tear on 

 the wings is somewhat excessive, owing to the 

 slope of these towards the point of the rod. 



With regard to the " set " of the hackle of a 

 dry fly, the advantage of having the fibres as well 

 spread out as possible is more than ever apparent. 

 Indeed, to stroke and pull them out into a com- 

 pact bunch, is not merely to go out of one's way 

 to avoid a resemblance to nature, but it is to act 

 almost as. foolishly as would a furniture maker, 

 who would place the four legs of a table in a 

 straight line ; for some of the hackle fibres of a 

 dry fly should help to support it on the skin of 

 the water, much as the legs of a table support 

 the table. It is one of the advantages of cocks' 

 hackles for dry-fly dressing over the softer hackles 

 of the hen, that the fibres of the former do not 

 get drawn together as easily as do those of the 

 latter. 



Having now attempted to explain the general 

 principles upon which a dry fly should be con- 

 structed, and discussed the advantages of the 



