102 THE SALMON FLY. 



which are separated with the stiletto. But it is in respect of the wings 

 that some knowledge and much practice is needed. Take two strips, 

 say, of Mallard, both from the same side of the feather ; place one over 

 and upon the other, so as to form one strip. Hold the fly in the left 

 fingers by its loop. Place the strips so arranged on their backs, that 

 their roots reach the throat hackle, with their points extending beyond 

 the loop. Bind them down, headwards, from the throat hackle to half 

 way along the space left for the wings. Now turn the fly round, and 

 holding it in the usual way, bend the strips back over the work and body, 

 pass the silk to the end of the shank, and with it make close coils, tail- 

 wards, up to and just on upon the bent part of the wings. The object is 

 to make the wings " sit up" in use. Put silk in CATCH ; divide the strips 

 into two equal parts, and work the silk first between them, and then 

 round, in and out, in a figure of eight fashion, and finish off with a double 

 half-hitch on the body side of them. Varnish. 



No. 7. Topping winged flies (six toppings). Put on these feathers 

 in the following way. 



Take two of equal length, indent, and tie them down together on the 

 far side with two turns of silk. Take two more of similar length, and 

 after unwinding one of the former turns, fix them in like manner on the 

 near side. Put on the final two feathers singly, one at the top of the 

 work on the far side, the other likewise on the near side. Give four 

 turns ; put silk in CATCH, now pull and coax with the left fingers into 

 order all the toppings together, while gently holding them close to the 

 head between the right thumb and fore-finger ; release silk ; shift left 

 thumb and fore-finger towards head, so as to hold the feathers close to 

 it. Unwind one or two turns of silk, and finally tie down and varnish. 



No. 8 brings me to the final items in the count namely, chenille, etc. 



But before entering into details, I would remind novices at this work 

 that it is easier for an entirely uninstructed man to acquire a correct 

 method, than a misinstructed one, who has to shed bad habits and un- 

 learn. Perseverance is required, too, in order to quite master the 

 subordinate branches of fly making " doubling hackles," " getting the 

 fingers under control," "marrying strips of feathers," etc. The student 

 should not over-burden his mind with " too much at once " ; he should 



