STREAMCRAFT 



many small duns and spinners, number 12 or 

 smaller. 



In handling fish-scales, first sort them, dis- 

 carding those too small or imperfect for use, 

 and then separate the remainder into three 

 classes, first and second selection and what is 

 left. The largest and best formed will go into 

 the A-l class. They are readily sorted by pick- 

 ing up a mass of them with the left hand from 

 a shallow dish of water in which they have been 

 soaking (just water enough to cover them well), 

 separating them by sliding between the thumb 

 and fingers, and then by picking them up one 

 by one with thumb-forceps and laying them 

 dov/n 011 a sheet of paper to dry. They will curl 

 up in drying without pressure, but are easily 

 flattened just before use by wetting them again 

 and then re-drying between sheets of blotting- 

 paper, with a weight on them, or by ironing 

 them between cloths. 



Harrington Keene even separated the delicate 

 inner portion from the outer and hornier part of 

 the scale and used that. (The late John Harring- 

 ton Keene, noted American angling author, was 

 born in England, his father being Queen Vic- 

 toria's professional fisherman in Windsor Great 

 Park.) Python scales have been used. 



We illustrate a pike's scale in its natural 

 shape, and indicate by the dotted lines how to 

 cut and trim it with scissors for use as a pair of 

 168 



