494 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



design, in that separate rings are crowded together on a rod 

 confined at the ends. Both are good, but the "Bray" 

 arrangement is best. 



The fly-book of the future will not be arbitrarily arranged 

 for the four-and-one-half-inch snell, for the reason that the 

 snell of the future will probably be as long as possible with- 

 out a knot. When the fish of this country become educated 

 to the height of culture exhibited by their European cousins, 

 the farther the loop of the snell is from the hook the better. 

 There is an inevitably bad feature of all the fly-books, as at 

 present made, also in that they crush the fly, and if it should 

 be of the "roofed" or flat-winged species it is entirely put out of 

 shape every time. I am getting up a book which isn't a 

 book, for it is made of tin or zinc. The flies extend beyond 

 the top in a kind of wooden case, and each one can 

 be drawn out without disturbing its fellow. There is nothing 

 so attractive to a shy fish as a brand-new fly, floating with dry 

 buoyancy along the crystal stream, with the sunbeams filter- 

 ing through its lace-like wings, and glinting on its gay- 

 colored body and opalescent hackle. 



I am also parfecting a fly-fisher's hat, the description of 

 which may thus be shadowed forth: A hat having a belt- 

 attachment instead of band encircling it, with books, etc., for 

 the attachment of flies and leaders. Under the helmet- 

 shaped peak, fore and after, are pockets for spare leaders, 

 etc. , and on each side an attachment for spare flies. If the 

 angler wants to go to church in this hat he can do so, after 

 removing the attachments, leaving it a respectable-looking 

 chapeau enough anyhow, good enough for a truth-pervert- 

 ing angler. 



[For "Rods and Rod-making," see chapter under that head- 

 ing] 



