THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. 103 



Furs of sorts are used to form the bodies of artificial flies, 

 and may be obtained of a furrier. Those most useful are 

 taken from the lug of a hare ; and the large reddish-coloured 

 hare of the midland counties of England gives fur of the. 

 most desirable colour. The poll of the hare also affords a 

 nice fur. Then the badger's fur, also that of the sable, 

 martin, rabbit, and squirrel ; that taken from the belly of 

 the hedgehog and the flank and belly of the water-rat is 

 greatly used. Seal's fur is also in demand, and is, as a 

 rule, dyed to colour required. All these should be picked 

 up as chance offers, and laid by separately ; they will all 

 come in handy for fly dressing. 



Gaff, sometimes called a "clip" or "cleek," is the imple- 

 ment used to land salmon or other large fish when played 

 and ready for the operation. It is a sharp steel hook, strong 

 and well tempered ; sometimes slightly barbed, oftener 

 plain. This is fixed to a strong ash handle of different 

 lengths either by a screw joint or by being well lashed on 

 with waxed twine. There are several varieties of these. 

 Some fold up, others open and shut with a spring ; many 

 have telescopic handles, but the simpler they are the better. 

 The points of the gaff should be kept sharp, and to protect 

 these when not in use they may be inserted in a wine cork. 

 After use they should be wiped dry and oiled, to prevent 

 rust forming on them and destroying the temper. (For 

 illustrations of folding gaffs see following page.) 



Gentles are flesh maggots, and may be procured as 

 follows : Hang up a liver or portion of one in some shady 

 place, where the blue bottle or blow fly can have access to 

 it. Make some deep gashes with a knife in the liver ; in 

 these the eggs of the fly will be deposited, and in a few 

 days they will hatch out. In a week the maggots will be 



