THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. 99 



showing the veins in exact imitation of nature, have been 

 lately introduced by a London firm of tackle makers. The 

 wings are prepared by a patent process, and are most life- 

 like copies of aquatic flies. Quills, when used for bodies, 

 must be steeped a considerable time in water before they 

 are pliant enough to wind. It is claimed for these floating 

 flies that they are much closer imitations of the natural fly 

 than the ordinary wet ones. They require to be so, as they 

 are generally used in very clear water, and, no doubt, 

 undergo a severe scrutiny from the wary, watchful trout. 



Floats are made from cork or quills, or both combined, 

 and are attached to the line a certain length from the hooks 

 and bait, so as to keep these the desired distance from the 

 bottom, according to the studied plan of the angler, learnt 

 by experience. The float by its movements serves to give 

 notice to the angler when a fish is attacking his bait, and 

 allows him the opportunity of striking. These floats can 

 be obtained all sizes, shapes, and colours. (See " Corks.") 



F1OSS Silk is employed to form the bodies of many 

 artificial flies found in either a salmon or trout fisher's 

 book. As it is fine in the fibre and not hard twisted, it can 

 be manipulated to form very even taper bodies. It may be 

 had of almost any colour, and as the dyes are good, it stands 

 the water well without bleaching. Floss silk is also used by 

 the angler to form his " blow line," which he uses for fine 

 daping for trout principally in lakes or large sheets of 

 water from a boat. A short casting line of very fine gut 

 is attached to one end of it ; the other end is fastened neatly 

 to the main reel line, so as to appear a continuation of it. 

 The rod used is long and light, and the angler raising it up 

 allows the blow line to be wafted nicely by a breath of air 

 over the spot where a fish is supposed to be. The lure 



