262 FLY-FISHING. 



accurately to the line and rod, will be found cheaper 

 and more satisfactory than those usually sold in the 

 shops, and may be tapered to any degree of fine- 

 ness. 



The fly-book in which the sportsman collects his 

 treasures the fairy imitations of the tiny nymphs of 

 the waterside and which is the source of so much 

 delight in inspecting, replenishing, and arranging 

 during the season that the trout are safe from hon- 

 orable pursuit, is at present one of the most un- 

 gainly and inconvenient things that he uses. It is 

 either of mammoth size and filled with flannel 

 leaves in which the moth revel, but in which the 

 hooks will not stick, or it is so ingeniously arranged 

 that the flies on one page entangle themselves in a 

 remarkably complicated manner with those on the 

 other, and whenever the book is opened do their 

 best to tumble out and carry with them such leaders 

 as may be within reach of their obstinate barbs. It 

 has places for articles that are not wanted, and none 

 for those that are ; the disgorger, an instrument 

 about as useful to the angler as a jack-plane, is 

 always present, while a piece of India-rubber to 

 straighten gut, or even silk and wax, is never to be 

 found. The pockets and slips are so arranged that 

 the flies cannot be got at without much difficulty, or 

 else fall out with perfect ease, and are invariably, 

 when released, found with the gut so curled up that 

 it cannot be straightened for some time. In fact, 

 the present style of fly-book is a disgusting mon- 

 strosity. The true plan is to so arrange the pockets 



