STANDARD COLOURS. 31 



fish far different colouring from that of its dry state ; and that, in this 

 regard, certain dyed silks suffer very much in comparison with others. 

 Bad results in the silks themselves can only be detected and avoided 

 by the test of experiment. However, Pearsall & Co. (who, through 

 personal influence and direction, brought out our matchless Gossamer 

 tying-silk) have, at length, effectually overcome all difficulty; not only 

 are their body-silks perfect in quality, but the dyes are perfect also. 



In forming the body of a fly one defect is commonly due, not to the 

 silk itself, but to an undue economy of the material. A. certain thick- 

 ness of silken layer in such work is absolutely requisite, to prevent 

 extra discolouration of its surface by the effect of cobblers' wax, however 

 sparingly the latter has been applied to the tying-silk beneath. This 

 wax, if used in its pure state, though productive of some slight trouble 

 to the novice, has special virtues. It must on no account be messed 

 about with any mixture whatever, and, except at the head of the fly, 

 must not be varnished. 



As my name has been publicly connected with a table of Standard 

 Colours, it may be expected that I shall have something to say 

 here on purity of colour and nomenclature as well. It has been 

 suggested, and with much reason, that a practical code of colours 

 might be constructed on a natural basis instead of an artificial one. 

 Amongst other advantages, a natural code would easily win favour 

 and would not be subject to change : for " lemon," " red plum," 

 "yellow," "apple-green," "violet," "primrose," "orange," and the 

 like (supplied by common and unvarying natural objects) need only 

 such supplementary epithets for skilled hands as "medium," "light," 

 and "very light," " dark," and "very dark." But to meet a fly-dresser's 

 want for some accurate and fixed expressions of colour, indeed, to 

 secure absolute precision all over the world, our best means seem to 

 consist in a correct arrangement of lettering on a copy of a solar 

 spectrum. 



To this idea I have not given enough study to be able to attempt any 

 system at present ; besides, the expense is too much for me. But to 

 give it an airing here may help to do a real service to the Salmon-angling 

 world generally. 



