FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



BY JOHN HARRINGTON KEENE. 



Author of "Fly-Fishing and Fly-Making," etc. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



THE desirability of self-help is more conspicuous in re- 

 gard to angling than any other sport. Very few fisher- 

 men are quite unable to help themselves, it is true; 

 but imagine the plight of the would-be angler by the 

 side of some splendid trout pool, wherein he ever and 

 anon catches sight of incarnadined and gleaming fish- 

 forms, without the least idea of tying a hook, or 

 making a fly, and with only some twine and loose 

 hooks in his possession! Or suppose him to be scores 

 of miles from the nearest town, with broken rod, reel 

 full of sand, leaders used up, and Mies of the wrong sort all 

 of which may happen, together or separately and observe 

 what a benefit the few envelopes of feathers and silk, or the 

 hank of gut, screw-driver and oil-can, and loose hooks, with 

 the knob of wax, are to the sportsman who knows how to i\x 

 his own tackle. That man who has taken the trouble and 

 to the true angler it should be a pleasure to learn to make 

 his own tackle, is alone worthy the name of "Senior angler," 

 and to him assuredly come the highest guerdons of the 



445 



