43 



formation of the artificial fly, which will 

 therefore first claim attention. 



Whether a common hackle, or a dubbed 

 winged fly is to be manufactured, it is inva- 

 riably necessary to have the whole of the 

 materials which are to compose the imita- 

 tions properly adjusted previous to the com- 

 mencement of the operation. — 1st. The 

 Hackles stripped, or divested of the soft 

 downy feathers which grow nearest the root, 

 and turned back ready for twisting on the 

 hook; see plate i\. fig. 7 8c 8. — 2d, The 

 Gut carefully examined, and trjed by mode- 

 rately pulling it in proportion to the weight 

 expected to be held by it. This precaution 

 will frequently save the Angler much dis- 

 appointment,* by discovering defects not a?> 

 parent to the eye.— 3d. The Dubbing pro- 

 perly mixed to the exact colour of body 

 of the natural fly, a small proportion of 

 which should be moistened, and litiu up to 



