98 SUMMER ANGLING 



sometimes, as I have said, over a foot long. The 

 arbitrary length is on account of the fly-hook 

 being just so long ; and though not to be rec- 

 ommended, because the fish are liable to see the 

 double loop of the snell and leader when it is not 

 over four and a half inches away, the tyro can 

 follow it for the present on account of its being 

 convenient for the fly-hooks in general use. 



Sometimes the snell is " re-enforced " by doub- 

 ling the gut at the hook end. This is done by 

 tying a large loop, and, after stretching, cutting 

 through it (Fig. 49). Another good way is to 

 have three strands for re-enforcement (Fig. 50) ; 

 and whereas I have found two inefficient at times, 

 I have never found three to fail with the biggest 

 fish. The re-enforcement is also a preventive of 

 the accident known as "cracking" off the fly, due 

 to a clumsy cast, as will be shown farther on. 



We now arrive at the daintiest art of all arts 

 whatsoever, fly-making. I must beg your close 

 attention, and will at the outset promise you to 

 give the easiest and plainest of tasks for you to do. 



First, let us make the easiest of all artificial 

 flies together, a " Pennell Hackle." Take a snell 

 of gut, and a feather (hackle) from the neck of a 



