160 ANGLING. 



a very eminent sticker. I've known him stick for two or 

 three hours over a fish, and work him with fly after fly till 

 the fish, in desperation and to get rid of the nuisance, took 

 it at last. My old friend was particular about colour and 

 size, however ; moreover, he used a long stretch of single 

 gut, and that was all that he required, and I am inclined 

 to think he was not far out. 



Having got your wing on to the best of your ability, 

 you may, if you please, mount it with a topping, or even 

 two or more, and you may put what are called ribs, horns, 

 or feelers of macaw points, or you may put cheek or 

 shoulder feathers which are short feathers of kingfisher, 

 blue chatterer, or jungle cock at the side ; all these are 

 mounted after the bulk of the wing is on ; all these aids 

 are more difficult to tie on straight and true than the 

 other part of the wing, and nothing but practice will 

 enable a fly tyer to put his wings on neatly. Having 

 bound your wing on firmly, varnish the tie well, and lay 

 it aside till dry; then take a bit of harl, crewel, or chenille, 

 the last is the strongest, and preserves the fly best, tie the 

 end on, wind it round over the stump of the wing once or 

 twice, and tie it off to last fragment of hook, and this 

 forms the head ; take a turn or two on to the loop to make 

 all secure, fasten off, and, finally, cut off the silk, varnish, 

 and lay the fly by till it is wanted. If by that time the 

 wing stands pretty firmly on the fly, and cannot be 

 wobbled to and fro when handled, you may be satisfied. If 

 you want to see how any particular salmon fly is tied, you 

 must cut it up, beginning with the head, and having got 

 to the silk under it, cut by cut until you work down to the 

 tail, and you will then see pretty clearly how it is done. 

 These directions on reading them over appear to me so 

 clear and understandable, that I think the reader, if he 



