MA TERIA LS, IMPLEMENTS, ETC. 19 



pairs of embroidery scissors, one of which should 

 have the points ground as fine, flat, and sharp as 



Fig. 6. 



possible : this pair is for cutting off feathers and 

 silks closely ; the other pair should be kept for 

 cutting tinsels, gut, etc. 



Hackle Pliers. Of these, also, I advise the 

 fly-tyer to have two pair one light and one 

 heavier, as shown. The reason for this will 

 appear later on, when we come to the chapters 

 on tying. These pliers can very easily be made 

 at home with a file from a piece of brass wire, 

 care being taken that the whole of the nipping 

 part will grasp anything placed in it. 



Picker. The best for this is a stiletto, as used 

 for embroidery, and as shown. It should not be 

 very sharp, or silk, etc., will be liable to be cut. 



Cobblers wax is the best for fly- tying. It 

 should be obtained fresh frequently, for it rapidly 

 loses its strength, and then clogs on the silk. It 



