FLIES AND KNOTS. 275 



other end under the last few turns, and drawing it close. 

 No. 25 is called a cat's paw. These knots will probably 

 be sufficient without adding the hangman's knot, with 

 its seven professional turns, and a choice among them 

 will often be found convenient, while a glance at the cut 

 will refresh an imperfect recollection. 

 - In tying flies or hooks, it is well to use varnish occa- 

 sionally, in fact wherever it can be done without injur- 

 ing the appearance of the colors ; no fly will last well 

 that has not been varnished. In making the wings of 

 salmon flies, it is usual to put on numerous fibres, often 

 of different feathers, and tie them on separately. This 

 renders the wings more pliable, but destroys their beauty 

 and harmony. A number of inconsistent colors will 

 injure the effect of one another; the contrast between 

 body and wings should be decided, and the unity and 

 coherence of the latter should be preserved. If the tip 

 of the feather is used and fastened by the stem, it will 

 slip unless firmly secured. There is great difference in 

 the adhesion of the fibres of different feathers, but a lit- 

 the practice will determine the selection. 



Black bass flies are generally made with a red body, 

 gold twist, and wings of ibis and white, or black and 

 white, or peacock's herl and white ; but a beautiful and 

 effective fly is made as follows : wings, two plumes of 

 the silver pheasant with two smaller ones of ibis over 

 them ; body, blood-red mohair ; furnace hackle ; blue 

 floss tip ; gold tag, and ibis tail. 



In salmon fishing it is customary to use but one fly, 

 as two sixteen-pound fish would be troublesome to 

 handle ; but occasionally a dropper is added at the 



