96 FLY-FISHING AND FLY-MAKIISTG. 



rate and clearly labeled, somewhat thus: "Mallard 

 wing under feather right," so that when the wings 

 of a fly are to be selected, the right and left sides may be 

 ready to your hand. Sometimes the right and left fiber 

 can be picked from one feather, but that is the exception. 

 Tinsels must not be handled, but kept in air-tight boxes 

 a clean, dry, wide-mouthed bottle is a very good re- 

 ceptacle. 



REMARKS ON PLATES OF ACTUAL MATERIAL. 



No. 1. Flat silver tinsel. This tinsel is sold in seven- 

 yard lengths, of about five- eighth inch tinsel braid, by the 

 gold lace makers ; it is comparatively inexpensive, but if 

 not kept from the air and damp soon tarnishes. Be- 

 fore using it on a fly it is not a bad plan to varnish it 

 over with a thin coat of collodion. This preserves it some- 

 what from climatic influences. If tinsel tarnishes in keep- 

 ing, it can be cleansed by rubbing a little alcohol over it. 



No. 2. Flatworm tinsel. This is far to be preferred 

 to the wholly metallic tinsel where it can be used, but 

 the flat is far more brilliant and scintillating in the 

 water, and hence for immediate use far preferable. These 

 remarks, of course, apply to the same pattern of tinsel 

 in gold. 



No. 3. See remarks on No. 1. 



Nos. 4 to 15, inclusive, are ordinary embroidery silks, 

 and can be procured at any dry goods store. Pearsalls 

 are the best and fastest colors. Of course, in using, it 

 should be split or untwisted, one or both strands being 

 used, according to the size of fly, etc. These silks 

 should be kept from the light, for even the natural 



