8 HOW TO TIE SALMON FLIES. 



some minutes. The finest only should be used. 

 The tinselled kind are very effective, but tarnish 

 quickly. Both kinds are used more for the bodies 

 of grubs than for winged flies. 



Tinsels. Under this heading are the following 

 varieties : Flat tinsel, oval tinsel, thread, twist, 

 cord or lace, and embossed tinsels. All these are 

 made of gold or silver. Flat tinsel is very thin 

 sheet metal cut into strips of different widths : the 

 broader ones are used for forming bodies, the 

 narrower for ribbing bodies, but they are not so 

 strong or effective as the oval tinsels, which are 

 made up of a silk centre closely rolled over with 

 very narrow flat tinsel. They are oval in section, 

 and are made of different widths. Thread is very 

 fine wire. Twist is floss silk closely wound over 

 with the finest flat tinsel, and has the appearance 

 of a very fine thread. Cord or lace is two or 

 three threads of twist, twisted together so as to 

 form one thick strand. Embossed tinsels are flat, 

 with raised patterns, and made in different widths. 

 All tinsels should be kept on reels, wrapped up in 

 soft paper, to keep them from light and air as 

 much as possible. They are easily cleaned with 

 plate-powder if tarnished. It is most important 

 that only the best tinsels should be used. Cheap 

 tinsels tarnish and lose colour almost immediately. 



Feathers. I begin with hackles, being, in my 

 opinion, the most important. These are obtained 

 from cock's necks or saddles. The following are 



