THE HACKLE. 467 



is tied in, at its proper place, and then left to hang (fig. 4). 

 The tying silk is then wound on up to the shoulder, and 

 there hangs also until required. Now, having clean fingers 

 (for floss easily discolours and loses its gloss if handled with 

 soiled digits), smooth the floss out and pull it so that it lies 

 perfectly even and flat, and then. wind it carefully round 

 and round the hook, so as to make one round, even, shining 

 body of floss silk. Simple as this may seem, it is not at all 

 easy to turn out a first-rate silk body. The body should 

 gradually, but imperceptibly, increase a little in thickness 

 towards the shoulders ; when it reaches the tying silk tie 

 off the floss and then lay on the tinsel, which should be 

 wound on in good bold spiral rings up to the shoulder, 

 where that also is tied off (fig. 5). Next comes the hackle, 

 and that is wound on, following the course of the tinsel y . 

 and lying side by side with it (on the upper side of the 

 tinsel, of course). Tie the hackle off, and then pass the 

 silk round tightly four or five times, and finish with a 

 hitch (fig. 6). Touch the silk with varnish to keep all 

 secure, and lay the fly aside until dry, when the hackle 

 can be pressed down into its place, and the wing can 

 subsequently be tied on as in fig. 7. 1 



At this stage it often occurs that another hackle is used, 

 and two or three turns of a different colour are employed 

 to add contrast to the fly. The length of the fibres must 

 here be attended to : these must be property matched, and 

 if the fibres of the lower part of the supplementary hackle 

 be too short, they must, of course, be broken off. A piece 

 of hackle sufficient for the purpose is then tied in, two 

 or three turns are taken, and it is fastened off, and touched 

 with varnish as before mentioned. 



If two or more hackles be required, either to thicken 



1 If you do not varnish the tying off, and let it get hard and dry before 

 putting on the wing, it is apt to work loose and lack firmness. Even if the 

 fly be needed fur immediate uso, still varnish the tie. 



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