37 The Trouts of America 



large markets you will find at least one employee 

 who saves all the hackles he can obtain, as he 

 has probably long since learned their value to 

 fly-tiers, and often makes quite a tidy little sum 

 over his weekly wages at the expense of very 

 little time and trouble. The feathers you will 

 need for a beginning are inexpensive ; a few cents 

 is all they should cost. Red and white hackles, 

 those from the neck of capons and game 

 cocks are the best, but it is advisable to get as 

 many varieties as possible, as no fly can be made 

 without these hackles. You will also need some 

 colored tail feathers from turkeys and pigeons, 

 while the mallard duck will furnish you with 

 some desirable feathers from his gray breast and 

 a few dark brown shaded ones that grow on the 

 body just back of the shoulders. All these will 

 be found useful, as well as some from the guinea 

 hen, and some white and assorted chicken tails. 

 Now that your stock of feathers is in hand, it 

 would be well to visit your fishing-tackle dealer 

 and ask his assistance in getting some gold and 

 silver tinsel and mohair in various colors. The 

 latter you will not need at the start, but will find 

 use for it later on. These, together with a small 

 piece of shoemaker's wax, will be all that is 



