THE HOME-MADE FLY 3 



amateur, who is a practical salmon fisherman, 

 which the fly dressed by a non-angling pro- 

 fessional not infrequently lacks. I have heard 

 this peculiar quality rather neatly referred to 

 as " soul." A precise explanation of what is 

 meant by " soul " is one of the impossibilities. 

 The term is incomprehensible to the uninitiated, 

 but is completely understood by the experienced 

 man. Salmon fishing is full of these incom- 

 municable significances. 



Then again, it is a distinct advantage to be 

 independent of the shop-tied fly when away on 

 a fishing expedition. You may be many miles 

 away from civilization say in Norway and dis- 

 cover that a certain pattern or (more important, 

 perhaps) a certain size of a certain pattern is 

 not to be found in your fly-book. It is un- 

 necessary to point out how easily and quickly 

 the gap can be filled by manufacturing the 

 desired article oneself on the spot, or, on the 

 other hand, how precious days may be wasted 

 by having to wait for its delivery by your 

 tackle maker, prompt and reliable though he 

 may be. 



Lastly, though not least, we must not forget 

 that inasmuch as dressing salmon flies is an art, 





