44 THE SALMON FLY. 



are useless. They, moreover, need careful handling, but are strong 

 enough when made up, and, by being longer at the point than at the 

 butt, want no reversing to meet the object in view. 



Comparing natural (ordinary) hackles with the dyed, we claim for 

 the former that they fade but little, do not change their tone in water, 

 and do not tarnish tinsel by contact, as some dyed feathers are liable to 

 do. Good ones are difficult to get. 



For dyed hackles we must claim, on the other hand, that they can 

 be fairly well shifted from a "hospital " fly to a new one. (N.B. Always 

 keep a hospital for broken down flies, they frequently serve as materials 

 if not wanted as specimens.) This shifting is chiefly owing to the fact 

 that less material is used to produce a desired effect. Dyed hackles are 

 easily obtained at any tackle shop. 



Doubtless the art of dyeing is much improved, and will continue to- 

 improve ; but hitherto it is far from perfect, particularly with regard to 

 the blues. The best blue I know of, No. 3099, and the best yellow, called 

 " Best Yellow," are easily obtained with Woolley's dye (Market Street, 

 Manchester). 



However well hackles may be dyed, with the exception of fiery 

 browns, they never look so well, even when fresh, or are so effective in 

 the water as natural ones. Take, for instance, the hackles of a Golden 

 Bird of Paradise, the best dyed orange hackle in creation would be simply 

 nowhere in competition with it. Where, again, is there a dyed blue 

 hackle to compete favourably with the Jay, or, when no great amount of 

 colour is needed, with the Vulturine Guinea fowl? This condition of 

 depth of tone being conceded, mention also must be made of both the 

 orange and red hackles of the Golden Pheasant. 



I know of no dye or method of dyeing that will hit off to our liking 

 that metallic lustrous sheen, which is a conspicuous feature on some of 

 our best natural feathers, such as those on the back of the wild 

 Turkey. The apparent resemblance produced by chemical combinations 

 is a complete failure for practical purposes. When Seal's fur became 

 more fashionable than Pig's wool, I accidentally produced this lambent 

 sheen, and made a large stock of flies with various wing materials ; but I 

 soon found them to be utterly useless, except in discoloured waters. 



