ON FLY MAKING. 141 



structing a salmon fly, is the shine through the feathers, 

 wool, mohair, etc., when held above the head, and thus 

 viewed from beneath. 



Some dressings are almost of one universal dull shade, 

 or no shade at all, when held in the posture seen by the 

 fish; others will have the color rightly seen shining 

 through in a few patches; but the correct thing is to get 

 the whole of the legs, tail, and body to shine brilliantly 

 through, as well as when looked down upon, and the 

 fault will be not of the fly if it be refused by the fish. 

 The materials used for salmon flies are especially picked 

 with a view to their effect when seen from below; as for 

 instance, the hard-to-be-procured pig's wool, which for 

 transparency of shade stands well nigh unequalled; also 

 mohair, which, though of finer texture, possesses the 

 same characteristics. These, when well placed upon the 

 hook shank, shine most effectively when wet, and viewed 

 from below. Another feature in the arrangement of the 

 salmon fly, the enormously large, and in many cases 

 heavy hook, has to be floated as long as it is possible, 

 and that in a right position. The old arrangement was 

 best calculated to meet this difficulty, large wings being 

 attached so as to preserve the side posture of the lure as 

 it rested upon the water. 



We give a few odd salmon flies for general use, that 

 are not at present generally known. Prefixed to these 

 are a few of those most commonly in use: The Spanker, 

 the Rob Roy, the Spartan, the Tarn o' Shanter, and the 

 Mac Sporren. 



Description of the Spanker. Tag, flat single tinsel and 

 cerise floss silk; tail, golden pheasant's topping; a few 

 strands of scarlet flamingo's quill feather; body, orange, 

 light and dark, and cerise floss silk bound over an old 

 cock's hackle stained slightly sky-blue, the latter being 

 palmered from the head to the tail, another of these 

 forming legs; wings, turkey, with several side strands of 



