no Fly-rods and Fly-tackle. 



that it present to the fish no unusual or unfamiliai 

 appearance. That in or on smooth water, at least, 

 the leaders in present use fill neither of these con- 

 ditions, unless my experiments deceive me, I cannot 

 doubt. 



Take this case into consideration from the Forest and 

 Stream of February 28, 1 884 : " Near us we have a stream 

 in which fish trout are scarce and wild. They are ex- 

 ceedingly suspicious of any kind of tackle. ... I had 

 repeatedly cast the most tempting flies, with a mist-col- 

 ored leader, without effect. A soliloquy followed : * That 

 leader is not natural to the every-day life of the fish.' 

 I adjourned to a neighboring meadow and cut three or 

 four long leafy timothy stalks, which I very loosely 

 whipped to my leader. There was no casting, but sim- 

 ply letting the line float with the current over the most 

 likely places. Complete success was my reward. ' Forty- 

 Niner: " 



" Forty - Niner " leaders, prepared as described, did 

 comply with one of these conditions, and the " complete 

 success " which attended its use is replete with instruc- 

 tion to all such as, in the picturesque language of the 

 Orient, are willing to be admonished. 



The ink-dye consists simply of "Arnold's Writing 

 Fluid," diluted with an equal bulk of cold water. In 

 this the gut, washed as before directed, is immersed 

 from one-half to three or four hours, according to its 

 thickness, or until the desired color is obtained. 



Before introducing the gut the entire contents should 

 be poured from the ink-bottle. Should much precipitate 

 be found the ink should not be used, since possible de- 

 composition and the presence of free sulphuric acid is 

 thus indicated. 



