196 ROD AND RIVER 



again been able to obtain silk equally fine and 

 even stronger than this. It is most irritating for 

 the silk to break, as bad silk always elects to do, 

 just at the most critical moment. Such a con- 

 tretemps causes endless trouble, and is calculated 

 to drive a beginner clean out of his wits. When- 

 ever I see a specimen of extra good, fine tying 

 silk, I purchase it. If such silk is not carefully 

 preserved it soon becomes rotten ; it requires to 

 be kept perfectly dry. 



It is a great mistake to suppose, as beginners 

 are very prone to do, that fine silk is not strong. 

 On the contrary, a fly tied with fine silk will not 

 only be neater, but will, by reason of the materials 

 being thereby capable of being laid more closely 

 together, be firmer, and last longer, than if tied 

 with coarser silk, which, from its very thickness 

 intervening between the feathers, etc., induces a 

 tendency in the wings to wobble about, and lie 

 sideways instead of upright ; when this is the 

 case the whole work falls to pieces. 



Some practice and tuition are also requisite to 

 learn how to wax fine tying silk without breaking 

 it, and making the fingers sticky and to the 

 last degree unsuitable for handling the delicate 

 materials which have to be used. It is an utterly 

 hopeless task to attempt to tie a fly with waxy 

 fingers. Floss silk must be kept spotlessly clean, 

 and is easily soiled. The feathers adhere to the 



