86 SALMON FLIES 



dressed ; but, of course, in every case it should 

 be shaded from the eyes. It will be found, 

 however, that under any circumstances the use 

 of a vice with an artificial light is rather trying. 



A white linen apron though it may look 

 ridiculous is a great convenience. Coarse 

 linen, by the way, is an excellent material 

 on which to wipe the fingers clean from such 

 sticky substances as wax and varnish. An 

 apron, forming as it does a lap, is extremely 

 useful for intercepting various small articles 

 that seem to have an irresistible attraction for 

 the floor, and frequently elude the grasp of 

 the fingers. People who like myself have 

 spent many heated minutes searching for a hook, 

 a small feather, or a hackle pliers which has 

 dropped on to the carpet, will not be disposed 

 to belittle the importance of the linen apron 

 in this capacity of "long-stop." (Hackle pliers 

 are particularly irritating things to drop on to 

 a carpet they bounce so.) 



A saucer in which is a piece of cotton- wool 

 soaked in methylated spirit will be necessary 

 for the cleansing of the fingers from wax. (In 

 dressing a fly it is most important to have the 

 fingers always clean.) 



