AMERICAN TROUT-STREAM INSECTS 



it ; a thin body wherein the material is wound simply 

 around the hook ; and a detached body, when the tail 

 is made separate from, or raised above, the body yet 

 is part of it. 



Before giving a description of the making of 

 bodies, which will be understood better from the 

 diagram sketches, I deem it wise to mention a few 

 important features concerning the method em- 

 ployed. 



It is most important that the tying silk be well 

 waxed, so that it will not slip, but will hold fast and 

 solid when you tie up the tinsel, raffia or any other 

 material at the head or tail. 



If the body is light in color, it requires a light, 

 delicate yellow or pale blue tying silk ; and it should 

 be waxed with transparent wax that will not dis- 

 color the silk. If the body is to be dark, and dark 

 silk is used for tying, the black shoemaker's wax is 

 the best. 



If you get used to working without a vise the 

 thumb and first finger of the left hand must be 

 trained to grasp, firm and tight, the hook, the body, 

 and the wings. This would seem a trivial matter; 

 but at first you will constantly be dropping and slip- 

 ping the fly unless this firm grasp is attained. The 

 thumb and forefinger nails of both hands should 

 be long enough to pick up readily small single 

 hooks, then bristles, and delicate wisks used for the 

 tails. I have said this before ; but the matter is so 



116 



