S8 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 



the three flies which I recommend as fulfilling the 

 conditions indicated. They can be made of any size, 

 from that used in the smallest and clearest of our Derby- 

 shire streams to the largest sized lake-fly : nothing being 

 required to be varied but the size of the hook, the 

 length of the hackle, and the thickness of the silk with 

 which the fly is tied. These flies are both simple in 

 construction, and more easily and quickly tied than any 

 flies hitherto made public, so far as I am aware. For 

 the construction of an ordinary " March brown," for 

 example, at least two feathers and three silks are 

 required : in the brown fly shown in the plate, which 

 is quite as good an imitation of the insect in theory, and 

 a better one in practice, only a single strand of coloured 

 silk, and a single hackle feather is used ; and the other 

 flies are made in the same way. The principle of their 

 construction is as follows : — 



A strand of common coloured sewing;- silk (not floss), 

 of the required thickness having been waxed in the 

 manner presently described, take two or three turns over 

 the end of the hook-shank and gut ; lay the hackle on 

 the back of the hook, hollow side upwards, with the 

 large end towards the hook-bend ; lap over it with three 

 or four turns of the silk ; spin the hackle on over these 

 turns {the same zvay ronnd as tJie silk), leaving some of the 

 hackle over ; then fasten the hackle off with the silk, 

 continuing to work upwards towards the bend of the 

 hook, and lapping over the hackle until the body is 

 of sufficient length ; then fasten off the silk and cut the 



