92 HINTS ON ANGLING. 



the wings, lay them along the shank with your right 

 hand, and hold them stiffly in their place to the hook 

 with the left hand. This done, tie the feathers tightly 

 at the point of contact with two or three turns; cut off 

 the superfluous ends of the feather, and, tying the head 

 of the fly very tight, you must carry the silk round the 

 hook, until you come to the knot which fastens the 

 wings. Divide the wings equally, and pass the silk 

 through the division, alternately, two or three times, in 

 order to keep the wings separate and distinct from each 

 other. 



Now prepare the hackle, by drawing back the fibres; 

 taking care to have two or three less on the but, on that 

 side of the feather which comes next to the hook, in order 

 that it may revolve without twisting away. 



Tie the but-end of the hackle close to the wings, 

 having its upper or dark side to the head of the fly. The 

 Scotch reverse this, and tie the hackle with its under side 

 to the head, and also strip the fibres entirely from that 

 side which touches the hook. Take the dubbing between 

 the forefinger and the thumb of the right hand, twist it 

 very thinly about your silk, and carry it round the hook 

 as far as you intend the hackle or legs to extend, and 

 hold it between the forefinger and thumb of the left hand, 

 or fasten it at once. Then, with your pliers, carry the 

 hackle round the hook, close under the wings, down to 

 where you have already brought your silk and dubbing; 

 continue to finish your body, by carrying over the end 

 of the hackle ; and when you have made the body of 

 sufficient length, fasten off, by bringing the silk twice or 

 thrice loosely round the hook, passing the end through 

 the coils to make all snug and tight. 



Some finish the body of this fly thus: when the 



