35 8 ROD AND RIVER 



wings. Every feather in the latter must be true 

 and correspond with its fellow ; one twisted fibre 

 will cause a ' blur ' in the water, and spoil the effect 

 of the whole fly, and cause it to swim untruly. 



The materials used in the manufacture of 

 salmon-flies are expensive and numerous, but 

 none but the very best should ever be used. It 

 is impossible to construct a salmon-fly properly 

 with bad materials. The strips of feathers for 

 right and left wings must correspond in length, 

 colouring, and curve. Hackles must be dyed the 

 exact colour, and the same remark holds good as 

 regards seal's fur, pig's wool, mohair, etc. The 

 birds from which many of the feathers are taken 

 are often rare, and consequently costly ; but not- 

 withstanding all these, the fisherman will find it 

 true economy to learn to make his own flies, and 

 also a very pleasurable and fascinating employ- 

 ment, to say nothing of his being able to be 

 independent of tackle-makers. He can, more- 

 over, exercise his skill in designing fresh patterns 

 for himself. But even should he prefer purchas- 

 ing his flies to making them, the knowing how 

 to make them will very materially assist him in 

 his purchases. Every tackle-maker professes to 

 make or sell salmon-flies, but far too often the 

 latter are absurd monstrosities, and altogether 

 unlike the patterns they are intended to represent. 

 The materials are cheap, ill-dyed substitutes ; the 



