112 Fly-rods and Fly-tackle. 



success will attend a change to logwood procured from 

 another source. 



In streams where floating grass and weeds are not un- 

 common, the following may give better results; for 

 though more visible, it presents a less unusual appear- 

 ance. I borrow it from Francis Francis's book on "An- 

 gling :" " Boil green baize in water, and when this is 

 well charged with color, and still warm, immerse the gut 

 therein until sufficiently dyed." Then wash as before. 

 All these boiling operations should be conducted in 

 earthenware vessels, since most dyes are sensitive to 

 metallic salts or oxides. 



Having dyed and washed the gut, while still soft bind 

 it to a stick that it may dry straight. Then proceed to 

 sort it, selecting first and placing by themselves all the 

 thickest strands, rejecting altogether such as are flat and 

 irregular in form ; for these are not only deficient in 

 strength, but, giving more reflection, are consequently 

 far more conspicuous in or on the water. Throw these 

 away without hesitation, for they are worse than useless. 

 When doubt is experienced whether any of the remain- 

 ing strands should be classified with those first select- 

 ed, begin at the other end of the scale, and proceed in 

 the same manner to select and separate all the thin- 

 nest strands. Thus make three bundles of large, me- 

 dium, and small gut. You are now ready to tie your 

 leaders. 



First, however, the proposed length must be deter- 

 mined, and this should be such that when the tail -fly 

 is hooked upon one of the posts separating the side plates 

 of the reel, the leader will extend to within eight inches 

 or a foot of the tip-end of the rod. Make the upper 

 third of the leader from the bundle composed of the 



