16 SALMON FLIES 



As regards the manner in which the 

 wings are put on and the influence this 

 has upon the general effect, the accom- 

 panying diagram (Fig. 2) may perhaps 

 help to make things clear. Imagine that 

 a transverse section of the hook -shank 

 has been made at the point where the 

 wings are to be tied in, and that this 

 section, being roughly a circle, is divided 

 by vertical and transverse diameters, AB 

 and CD respectively, into quadrants. 

 The vertical diameter AB represents the 

 " middle line " of the hook, and will be 

 referred to again on several occasions 



it will be as well to explain here what is precisely implied 

 thereby. 



If you take the centre tail feather of any bird (say a 

 common Pheasant) and hold it in front of you for exami- 

 nation by the stem with the tip pointing upwards and the 

 "best" side towards you as you naturally would do you 

 would regard the fibres to the right of you as being " right 

 side" fibres, and those to the left as "left side" fibres. 

 Although, zoologically speaking, I believe this is incorrect, 

 nevertheless for fly-dressing purposes it is most convenient, 

 and I will therefore assume that every mention of the 

 terms " right " and " left " in speaking of fibres for 

 winging will have reference to this incorrect but con- 

 venient interpretation in respect of all feathers, whether 

 tail (centre or otherwise), or wing, or body feathers. 



