LESSONS 



FLY-MAKING. 



75 



fixed in your vise), wind the hackle round the shank 

 of the hook, stroking the fibres of each coil towards 

 the bend of the hook as it is made, to make room 

 for each succeeding one. Do this till the appearance 

 shown in Figure 34 is reached. Then, taking the hackle 



Fig. 34. HACKLE ATTACHED AND TIED. 



butt in your left hand, pass the silk once or twice 

 round over the hackle midrib and secure with two half 

 hitches. This done, cut off the loose end, and pressing 

 the fibers all back towards the bend, take one more turn 

 and half hitch to secure any of the loose fibers, that may 

 possibly be out of place, in their proper position. It 

 ought to look like Figure 34, but if it doesn't, try again. 



Fig. 35. BUNCH OF PEACOCK HERL. 



It is purely your own fault that it doesn't, and there is 

 no difficulty in the matter that practice will not over- 

 come. Indeed, this is a cardinal axiom, and I must insist 

 on it as of ever present force in fly-making. 

 Now, take the curled fibers of a peacock's eye-feather 



