ON FLY MAKING. 129 



thirds of this quantity for the olire dun order, and one 

 half for the iron blue duns. After securing the wings, 

 which should be about the length of the hook, thus a 

 little longer than the body, they are placed in their cor- 

 rect position. The hackle, with which it is intended to 

 form the legs, is then turned or wrapped into position 

 underneath the wings, the whole being well supported by 

 a few well-planted tarns of the tying silk, which done, 

 all that remains is for the silk to be knotted or looped 

 off in the usual way, and your up-winged fly is complete. 

 With reference to the first stage of its construction, much 

 necessarily depends upon the precise nature of the mate- 

 rial to be used and worked up. The best and most reli- 

 able way of reproducing the varying tinges of the bodies 

 of the flies is by the use of raw silks and natural furs. 

 The foundation of the body of the fly is formed as fol- 

 lows : The hook is taken in the forefinger and thumb of 

 the left hand (point downwards), the tying silk in the 

 right. A few turns of the silk are now given round the 

 shank of the hook. Meanwhile, as a preliminary ar- 

 rangement, the gut is slightly indented with the teeth at 

 the extremity to be secured. This lessens the chances of 

 drawing, especially in the hands of the tyro. The tying 

 silk should now be untwisted, so as to take all turn out 

 of it, preparatory to wrapping on. This done, the artist 

 works the textile round, leaving a fifth of the shank end 

 of the hook bare to fit on the wings, the gut and hook, 

 in so doing, straining the silk to its utmost tension. If 

 whisks or tails are used, they should be secured by a 

 couple of turns of the silk when the bend of the hook is 

 reached, the fur (if any) to be in readiness. A minute 

 portion is taken by the thumb and finger of the disen- 

 gaged right hand, and twisted or rolled with the tying 

 silk so as to adhere to that part of it near the hook, 

 which done, the silk thus prepared may now carefully 

 retrace the body, to form the ribs of the fly. These 



