156 ANGLING. 



on, the tinsel is wound over it in open spirals, and tied off 

 at the shoulder similarly. 



There is one more process, and that is in case 'of a fur 

 body being required, pick out your fur enough and to 

 spare, lay it along the palm of your hand, as if you were 

 depositing the tobacco for a cigarette ; then roll it to and 

 fro in just the same manner until it incorporates in a long 

 thin roll Then lay this against the waxed thread, and 

 twirl the thread so as to whirl the fur round it, roll on 

 silk and fur together up to the shoulder till the body is 

 formed, when pull off the refuse fur, and fasten off the 

 silk as usual. Then, with the dubbing needle, pick off all 

 that is not needed, and work the body to the proper size 

 and form. If the tyer wants his fly to be lightly legged, 

 he can, by stripping one side of the hackle, and rolling on 

 the other, have it as light as he pleases ; but he must be 

 careful to strip the right side of the hackle. A little 

 experience, however, on all these points, and a few bungles, 

 which he is sure to make, will soon teach him the right 

 method, and there is nothing else he will learn so quickly 

 or so soon from. The only lesson I ever had in fly tying 

 was seeing a schoolfellow tie a palmer (such as it was, and 

 it was rough enough in all conscience) hard on fifty years 

 ago all the rest I puzzled out myself. There are other 

 ways of tying flies ; some tie the wings on first, and work 

 down to the tail, Ac. <tc. ; but this is the simplest. Since 

 I knew how to tie flies particularly salmon flies I have 

 picked up a hint here and there, but the general method 

 is much the same throughout. The great skill quick- 

 ness and precision of professional tyers is acquired from 

 the habit of tying large orders of particular flies. For 

 example, a man has an order for three or four dozen of 

 " clarets." First he looks or fits out three dozen hooks 



