30 THE SALMON FLY. 



light can freely pass through, viz. : the tail, hackles, and upper outline 

 of the wing, translucent feathers are better at times than those which 

 are opaque ; the superiority of the former consisting in colour radiated 

 all round, and this we see in greater extension when looking through 

 them. They are, therefore, far preferable for places where the sun 

 can shine through the fly-material. (Of course, it is not necessary 

 always to use special flies when the sun "shines.) Opaque feathers can 

 be seen by reflected light only ; semi-transparent feathers often by both 

 reflected and refracted light. 



The location and distribution of colour give scope for study as a 

 matter of taste on the part of the fish. The usual fly-'dressing traditions 

 of colour demand that when the body of a fly is parti-coloured, the 

 lightest colour shall be at the tail-section. One prominent exception 

 is found in " Benchill " the first and best invention of Malloch. The 

 head section of this " successful creation," to quote early criticism, " being 

 of light sky blue, tradition is reversed." 



Then as to distribution, the general character of the fly has to be 

 consulted, and the laws of colour enter to warn us that an equal division 

 of any two colours in a fly by no means leads to a necessarily harmonious 

 result. For instance, a smaller portion of blue or of yellow, in opposition 

 to a larger one of yellow or blue, may establish a harmonious combination 

 much more apparent than two exactly equal portions of these colours. 

 We must decide, in view of general effect, what colours shall go side by 

 side, and how much of each, in proportion to the whole. There is a 

 harmony of balance and a harmony of contrast. The alteration of the 

 colour of the silk of the " tag " will often strongly effect the appearance 

 of the whole fly, especially when viewed from the fish's usual point of 

 view from the rear. 



The kind and amount of tinsel, gold or silver, put on a fly materially 

 modifies the effect of its colours as a rule, enriching and stimulating 

 that effect. Black Ostrich herl as a butt, aids definition and enhances 

 colour, especially yellow, vide " Jock Scott." 



Despite the advance made in dyes and dyeing, and in the substitution 

 of certain naturals, to wit, Chatterer for Kingfisher, it must by no means 

 escape the memory that a fly thoroughly wet exhibits to both man and 



