GUT LOOPS, ETC., TAGS, AND TAILS. 29 



should the tying silk be visible, except the 

 head. If most of these details were not attended 

 to, in all probability the fly would not swim 

 straight in the water, and a salmon fly that 

 1 wobbles' or swims crookedly is useless. 



Now, the first thing to do is to lay out on a 

 table (which should be placed in a good light) 

 everything that will be required, except the 

 feathers for the wings, which can be left for the 

 present. Fix the vice firmly to the right-hand 

 corner of the table, and secure the bend of the 

 hook in it shank to the right, barb downwards. 

 Learn to tie on a good-sized hook, not smaller 

 than a No. 2/0. You will find it easier than if 

 you began on a smaller one say a No. 3 or 4. 

 We will begin with an ordinary hook, to which 

 a gut loop must be attached. Take a piece of 

 gossamer silk about two feet long, double it, 

 place it so doubled over the hook attached to 

 the pillar of the vice, holding the four strands in 

 your left hand, and rub some cobbler's wax along 

 it a few times above and below. Take the silk 

 off the hook, pass it once or twice between finger 

 and thumb to get the twist out. Next, select 

 three strands of good sound gut (which should 

 have been previously well soaked in water), twist 

 these tightly and evenly together for about two 

 inches, double this treble piece so as to form a 

 loop. If the gut has been properly soaked, the 

 strands will not untwist when laid down. Hold- 



