FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 479 



quill-like, but unlike quill it softens right down when wet, 

 becoming more pliant than feather, and yet retaining 

 in fact increasing its toughness. Both the body and wing 

 of this fly are of this material; the legs are of hair, and I 

 need scarcely say it is almost indestructible. No wonder the 

 tackle-makers do not care to make these flies and it is a 

 fact that they are slow to take them up. 



P. Yellow May Fly. This beautiful and favorite fly is 

 found very plentifully on northern streams, during summer 

 and the "counterfeit presentment" on plate 2 is an exact imi- 

 tation. The wings are stained Tarpon membrane, the legs are 

 horse-hair, and the body is of horse-hair wound round with 

 horse-hair. The tail consists of two fibers of the mallard 

 breast-feather. I leave it to the unprejudiced reader to say 

 if a nearer imitation of an actual insect is possible. 



Q and R are two forms of the favorite "brown hackle." Q 

 is the palmer hackle and R the brown hackle. 



S. Grasshopper-Fly. Why this is so called I do not 

 know. Orvis & Co. (tackle-makers), figure it in their 

 elaborate catalogue, "Fishing With the Fly," but it certainly 

 resembles no grasshopper of this sublunary sphere. All the 

 same, it is a good Trout-fly, and with it I have taken some 

 big fish. It is thus dressed: Tag, silver tinsel and green silk; 

 tail, yellow swan and wood-duck (the black-and-white-tipped 

 feather) ; body, brown silk; hackle, cardinal; wing jungle- 

 cock feather, with over-wing of red ibis and yellow swan 

 (dyed) ; head, peacock herl. 



T. Adjustable Bass or Lake Trout Fly. There is 



a peculiarity about this fly which demands close attention. 

 It is made in two sections, on a system new to fly-makers. 

 The body and tail are formed on the hook, and a thin tube 

 of brass, or even quill, is inserted, after the fashion of the 

 female ferrule of a rod. The hackle and wings are tied 

 securely on a pin, which, when inserted into the aforesaid 



