Flies and Fly-fishing. 391 



took place. It certainly did seem that when the leader 

 was moved towards the light it shone the most, and by 

 the refraction of transmitted light, and I attributed the 

 better result given by the darker leader to its greater 

 opacity to such light. A piece of iron binding - wire, 

 black in color, and of course totally opaque, and of about 

 the same diameter as the leaders, was, however, plainly 

 visible in all positions, though not more so than uncol- 

 ored gut. Indeed I incline to think that at all times the 

 least conspicuous leader that can be made may be plainly 

 seen from some directions, while at the same time invisi- 

 ble from others. 



Here, again, I was impressed by the great difference 

 in result caused by varying, the diameter. This dimen- 

 sion appears in the water to be much enlarged, and my 

 experiments are emphatic as to the utility of fine tackle. 

 This was demonstrated beyond question by the drawn 

 gut, i.e., gut drawn through a plate, which, as before 

 stated, was quite dark in color and hair-fine. 



The various samples of line were all equally visible 

 "plain as a pikestaff" and not the slightest difference 

 in favor of one over the other could be detected. 



It is to be understood that the appearances described 

 are those shown by reflection in the mirrors, also that all 

 the gut used was of the same diameter. 



But these experiments, conducted in-doors as they nec- 

 essarily were, and therefore with the light coming from 

 but one direction, were not satisfactory. 



A tin -lined tank was therefore constructed, five feet 

 long, fourteen inches wide, and fourteen and a half inches 

 deep, measured on the inside. Where the bottom met 

 one end, the wood was cut away to form an aperture 

 three inches high and the width of the tank, and a plate 



