CHOICE OF STRIPS 127 



ticularly so in this one. That is why it is 

 an advantage always to take the strips from 

 the opposite sides of the central tail feathers. 

 A further point to bear in mind and a very 

 important one in strip-winged flies generally 

 is that the strips should be of a length propor- 



FIG. 48. 



tionate to the size of the hook being dressed. 

 For instance, the " set " of strips which are 

 disproportionately long for the size of the hook 

 is not attractive to the eye, as the natural 

 curve of the fibres is lost. Apart from this, 

 and because they have to be tied in some dis- 

 tance from their bases, they disintegrate very 



