PLY MAKING. 461 



As before stated, I have also found Judson's dyes very good, and as 

 they are very commodious and compact I have no hesitation in recom- 

 mending them. The only thing to remember is that they are chiefly 

 aniline, and are apt to destroy the fibre if used too strong. The direc- 

 tions contained on each bottle may with advantage be regulated by one' s 

 own experience after this has been bought but at first the tyro had 

 much better adhere to them. 



Perhaps one of the most useful flies to the flyfisher in almost all 

 seasons is what is termed the palmer, and a specimen, of this kind, 

 with the reader's permission, we will construct together. 

 First, however, lest some hypercritical friend should 

 feel disposed to find fault, I had perhaps better remind 

 him that the prototype of our palmer is not a fly, but a 

 caterpillar. Thus the "red palmer" is the larvae of 

 the garden tiger moth, and is presumably so fastidious 

 as to dress that, as Cuvier asserts, it changes its skin 

 ten times during its growth, slightly changing its colour 

 the while. This is, of course, by the way. 



Now for the actual process. Let it be supposed 

 that the tyro has around him his materials necessary to 

 complete the fly. These will be a No. 6 hook of whatever 

 pattern he may select, a length of gut, a length of well 

 waxed silk of about 12in., two fibres of peacock herl, 

 about 4in. or Sin. of gold twist, and the red cock hackle, 

 which may be varied by dyeing it a ruby colour for some 

 rivers. After tying the gut to the hook, as before 

 directed, the hackle should be taken, and the down 

 which is usually found near the quill should be stripped 

 off. The tiny feather may now be drawn between the 

 finger and thumb until it presents the appearance shown in Fig. 68. It 



should now be 

 taken, holding 

 the hook as in 

 Fig. 11, p. 

 387, and, to- 

 gether with 

 the herl and 

 gold wire, 

 should be 

 whipped on 

 the end of the 



hook nearest the bend, as shown in Fig. 69. The top end of the hackle 



GG2 



FIG. 68. 



HACKLE STRIPPED 

 FOR TYING. 



FIG. 69. HERL AND HACKLE ON HOOK. 



