ARTIFICIAL FLIES. 113 



colored aquatics of the day, and small hackles, with a mag- 

 got at each, cast into the short runs and ripples of stony 

 streams, are irresistible. Towards the end of autumn they 

 verge into the deeps, where they remain until spring sum- 

 mons them away, when they offer good sport all along 

 their line of march to salt water. A shoal will straighten 

 the flyfisher's line at every cast, when the kicks and flings 

 of these tiny sportlings may suggest the furious tugs and 

 struggles in store for the angler, when he holds at bay the 

 full-grown king of the fishes. 



The sizes and situations of the component parts of an 

 artificial fly must be the same as those of the natural ones, 

 or as near as materials will allow. If a drake fly be hatch- 

 ing, and the fish watching and feeding upon it, in order to 

 deceive them the wings, legs, head, shoulders, and body of 

 the artificial drake must be the same in sizes, situation, and 

 outline, to those of the natural fly. The length of the fly 

 gives the length of the shank of the hook required. Arti- 

 ficial flies are winged with slips or cuts from the inner web 

 of the large feathers. They are hackled by winding the 

 stem of the feather tightly over the shoulders, keeping the 

 fibres free. The flies in the list are divided into seven 

 classes, being of seven different shapes. The same shape 

 of the natural flies in each class must be given to their arti- 

 ficial imitations. 



The Browns require the cylinder-like form of head, shoul- 

 ders, and body, in their proportions, for they are the bulk 

 and substance of all flies, from which the wings and legs 

 are but shades and offshoots. Body, half length, of eight 

 or nine rounds of suitable sized silk, which is the number 

 of joints. Winged on the middle shoulder, and legged at 

 the breast. Hackled on the second and third shoulder, the 

 fibres of the feather to lie down flat at the stem, by the 

 action of the water, and close over the back and sides in 

 the wire-like form of the closed wings of the flies. 



