96 SALMON FLIES 



middle of the dressing. There are other 

 methods of waxing silk, but after trying most 

 of them, I have come to the conclusion that 

 the method indicated is the most satisfactory 

 from every point of view. 



After waxing a sufficient quantity of silk, 

 the wax must be got rid of from the fingers. 

 You will have to do this as best you can. It 

 clings on some fingers and on certain days 

 more tenaciously than on others. There is, 

 however, always the saucer with the piece of 

 cotton-wool soaked in methylated spirit at 

 hand, and this, together with the linen apron 

 or a duster, will enable the fingers to be 

 thoroughly cleansed of all adherent wax. It 

 is most important to keep the fingers always 

 quite clean. 



Now take the hook in the left hand, and 

 holding it bend upwards, make a few wide spiral 

 turns with the waxed silk on the shank towards 

 the head up to about ^ inch from the end. 

 Lay the doubled twisted gut upon the shank 

 so that the neck of the loop already referred 

 to exactly coincides with the tip of the shank 

 and the plane of the loop is at right angles 

 to the plane of the bend of the hook (Fig. 21). 



