down, then close and press tight, at the same time 

 drawing the silk very carefully down (or it will break) on 

 to the roots of the wing. Take two more turns of silk 

 in the same manner, keeping all the time a gentle strain 

 on the silk or the wings will twist round. Pass the silk 

 securely round the screw of the vice, and release the left 

 finger and thumb to see that the wings set properly. If 

 so, draw your gut carefully on one side, avoiding the 

 shank end of hook, as it will sometimes fray it. Trim 

 off the roots of wing neatly with a sharp pair of fly- 

 dressing scissors; then take two turns of silk on the 

 head, holding the wings as before, not allowing the silk 

 to slack or the wings will draw out. (I always try the 

 wings to see if they are firm.) Pass the silk behind the 

 wings ready to tie the hackle in, which should be pro- 

 portioned to size of hook and tapering. Strip the fluff 

 off the hackle, and take it in the right harid, root down- 

 wards, the outside part of hackle to the right ; tie it in 

 sideways, close up behind the wings, with two turns of 

 silk, taking care not to disarrange the wings. Cut off the 

 quill end of hackle, not too close, or it will pull out. 

 With the tweezers lay hold of the point of hackle, keep 

 it well on the edge, and put two or three turns behind 

 the wings, bringing the hackle well forward underneath. 

 Secure it with one wrap and two hitches before taking the 

 tweezers off ; cut off the silk and point of hackle ; press 

 it well back from the head ; open and adjust the wings 

 with the scissor points, and cut out any stray fibres. The 

 fly is now finished ; and made this way will last much 

 longer, and is much neater, than when finished at the 



