362 ROD AND RIVER 



It is sometimes a difficult matter to make a 

 golden-pheasant topping lie in the required direc- 

 tion. It will twist over to one side or the other. 

 If the butt is twisted and pinched with the thumb- 

 nail, this perverseness can easily be rectified. 



The head of a salmon-fly should not be made 

 too long or too thick. It is a good plan when 

 finishing it off to touch the silk with a little 

 varnish now and again. This will serve to 

 materially strengthen the work. 



I would urge the reader, if he should attempt 

 to make his own flies, never to be content with 

 any work which is not as perfect as it should be, 

 but unhesitatingly to pull to pieces what may 

 have been perhaps the labour of hours. An ill- 

 tied fly is useless, and will soon fall to pieces ; but 

 experience will have been gained, and the time 

 spent in acquiring it is never wasted. The next 

 effort will be more successful. 



If when a fly is finished the wings are easily 

 moved from their position to either side, it may 

 be assumed that it is useless, and the sooner it is 

 demolished the better. It is a good plan to test 

 bought flies in this manner, for if the wings 

 wobble the whole fabric must soon collapse when 

 put to hard work. 



Floss-silk is very apt to get rough and woolly. 

 Its gloss may very readily be restored if it is 

 smoothed down with the point of a pin. It is 



