A Dry -Fly Purist's Advice to a Bee/inner. 23 



the fingers mutually moving over each other in a 

 circle, so as to do away with all chance of kinking. 

 Keep the line fairly taut all the way to prevent it 

 sagging, and fasten the other end securely to 

 another wall ; it may, with advantage, fee supported 

 midway if conveniences offer. This done, now 

 pass a soft fibreless cloth, rag, or sponge all along 

 the line, very, very lightly, in order to wipe off the 

 surplus dressing, and then back again. Leave it 

 for a few hours, then carefully repeat the wiping 

 process ; tiny half -congealed drops formed along the 

 under part of the line will thus be smoothed away, 

 and a surprising number of almost microscopic flies 

 (caught and held prisoners on the varnish) will also 

 be wiped away, leaving the line clear and in the 

 first stage of drying. Choose a morning of soft 

 airs and warm rays, say in April, when the 

 weather-glass points to set fair, so that the line can 

 be left out all night without much risk of rain, and 

 in a few days it will be dry enough to wind on to 

 a winch, from which it can easily be run off again 

 and again on favourable days, to complete the 

 drying. It is, of course, more conveniently 

 manipulated if dressed in short lengths, of 25yds. 

 for instance, which are usually long enough for a dry- 

 fly fisherman's trout line. 



A line thus dressed will last for years, and always 

 be smooth, waterproof, buoyant, and pliable, never 



