10 THE FLY FISHER'S GUIDE. 



play properly in the water. The mottled bright 

 feather from the back of a well grown grouse, 

 and the wren's tail, are on no account to be 

 neglected. 



Of silks it will be necessary to have three 

 degrees of strength, and as many varieties of 

 shade as the fly dresser may deem necessary for 

 his purpose. The first, which is commonly de- 

 nominated strong barber's silk, must be used 

 double, for splicing the tops of rods. The se- 

 cond, of a finer quality, for fastening the rings to 

 the rod, and also for casualties. The third, for 

 whipping hooks and dressing flies, should be 

 the finest netting silk. It is rather difficult to 

 meet with the latter of a sufficiently delicate 

 texture in any towns far distant from the metro- 

 polis ; there, however, every shade and colour 

 which can possibly be required, may be had at 

 a reasonable rate. 



Ostrich and peacock harls are also indispen- 

 sable requisites. The former, of every possible 

 colour, is useful in flies for salmon fishing ; and 



