A Dry -Fly Purist's Advice to a Beginner. 41 



can be utilised they often then kill as well as 

 new ones. 



The other articles you need are a pair of pointed 

 scissors, in a sheath for safety ; but without a sheath 

 is less bother, as one is continually losing it. 

 There are several modern inventions of fly scissors, 

 some combining gut clips, but I prefer a small, sharp 

 ordinary pair. 



A brass steelyard it is advisable to carry to weigh 

 by Jib. up to 51b., or to weigh by loz. up to 41b. 

 is better if you fish water where weight is the hard- 

 and-fast rule as to the size a fish may be killed. 

 But if length be the rule (which in my opinion is 

 far better), you may save yourself the trouble 

 of carrying a special measure by marking the 

 length on your landing-net handle. 



Paraffin oil, in a small bottle, with a tiny camel's- 

 hair brush inserted into the cork, is now often 

 carried, but experts in drying their flies by the old 

 method have no necessity to use it, and it may be 

 thought to derogate from their skill. In fact, the 

 beginner who desires to learn to dry his fly properly 

 had better do so without the aid of oil. It is of 

 doubtful advantage at any time, save perhaps on a 

 drenching wet day, or when the air is saturated 

 with moisture. And it is ordinarily a nasty- 

 smelling, greasy thing to use, soiling one's fingers, 

 and from their grip the cork butt of one's rod. 



