THE SIZE OF ARTIFICIAL FLIES 121 



with the artificial flies in the student's fly-book, until 

 he has finally determined on the correct fly to use.* 



One of the difficulties which the beginner will ex- 

 perience is to determine the size of the flies he wants 

 when ordering them from the makers. The new 

 number of flies which commences from 000, 00, 0, 1, 

 2, 3, and 4 are those commonly used. To facilitate 

 the correct ordering of the flies, I have engraved these 

 exact sizes in facsimile on the side of the knife pre- 

 viously mentioned on page 67. When, therefore, a fly 

 is caught by the brookside, if it be placed exactly over 

 one of the engraved hooks on the knife handle, the 

 student will see at once which sized fly he has to order. 

 This will enable him to order the correct fly by wiring 

 the number and name of the fly to the maker who 

 supplies him, thus : " Send me by first post one dozen 

 Red Quill size " 



THE CAP AS A FLY-HOLDER 



A good place to keep the fly which you have just 

 taken off your line is undoubtedly the cap. In this 

 position the flies dry quickly, are secure, out of danger, 

 and always very handy. The flies placed in the cap 

 during the day can be sorted and replaced in your 

 fly-book or fly-box when you get home. The only 

 drawback to this plan is that in wet weather the 

 hooks, if allowed to remain in the cap as it dries, are 

 likely to rust. Flies in the cap are also apt to excite 

 * See the Ephemeridae Fly Net, page xvi. 



