52 SALMON FLIES 



the quality, for he is bound to waste a good 

 deal of material ; and it is better to spoil stuff 

 for which a great price has not been paid than 

 that which has cost a considerable sum of 

 money. Afterwards, of course, he cannot be 

 too particular as to the quality of his materials, 

 feathers especially ; but for a start almost any- 

 thing will do, for, after all, first attempts are 

 merely by the way of educating the fingers 

 into fine and unfamiliar movements. 



Materials for salmon flies are perhaps not 

 so difficult to procure good as are those for 

 trout flies, but they are, of course, a good deal 

 more expensive. 



A few friendly words with a poultry dealer 

 will as a rule result in the acquisition of a 

 stock of hackles, though, of course, riot very 

 many of these will be of first-class quality, 

 and there will be the additional trouble and 

 difficulty of getting them dyed. Again, a 

 sporting friend is invaluable for supplying you 

 with desirable birds which are the victims of 

 his fowling-piece viz., Woodcock, Grouse, 

 Partridge, Landrail, Teal, Mallard, Widgeon, 

 and so forth ; but these come more into the 

 province of the trout fly-tyer, and there are 



