72 THE SALMON FLY. 



ever, before beginning this, to tug the twist gently upwards and against 

 the last made turn of the tying-silk, in order to dispose the first coil of 

 twist to start in a direct line. Proceed to place it upon the silk 

 foundation in four close, neat coils headwards. (I use the "STOP" on the 

 coils to prevent them unwinding, but recommend the beginner to use the 

 tweezers throughout the process.) Eelease the tying-silk, bring it to the 

 twist close to the last coil, give one turn over the twist, and put it in 

 " CATCH " ; pull twist so as to tighten the coils ; and, after releasing from the 

 "CATCH," give another turn, or perhaps two, over the twist and "make 

 off," but do not allow the silk on its way to bind the waste of twist. 



Compress the coils of silver twist together, evenly all round, with the 

 nails of the thumb and middle finger of each hand, working each pair of 

 nails against the other pair. Cut the twist, leaving about a quarter of an 

 inch, from which the silver wire is now removed, and bind it down with 

 say ten close turns of tying silk. 



Section III. Prepare the floss next, thus : (Here I would remark 

 that, in smoothing floss silk by stroking it between the right fore-finger 

 and thumb, care should have been previously taken to make sure of the 

 way to smooth it, whether to hold it at this end or that. That way is the 

 right way, which, on trial cut a small piece off to try puts up in the 

 stroking fewer loose ends of fibre than the other.) Take, then, to begin 

 with, one end of it in the left fore-finger and thumb, stroke it with the 

 right forefinger and thumb " the right way," and put it down as ready for 

 use. 



(The student will now understand that, in constructing both tags and 

 bodies with floss silk, the " stroking " business is carried on during each 

 and every turn made with it, so that, in putting it down as ready for use, 

 he must remember which end is for tying on. I find it handy to take it 

 from the left hand, with the right catching hold at the end which is held 

 by the left, and with a sweeping motion towards the right, I drop the 

 floss on to the piece of card-board. In taking it up to tie on the shank, I 

 catch hold of it at the same place as before, and, with a yet quicker 

 sweep to the left, bring it steadily back again, and let it drop into its 

 place, the hook being held in readiness, of course, by the other hand.) 



Lay the length of floss upon the left hand, which is now holding the 



