and other Materials for Fly-dressing. 131 



near as possible to the appearance of the natural insect, 

 for stiff or harsh fibred feathers will not do this; also 

 that the feather should have a fibre very little longer 

 than the shank of the hook. Never, by any means, cut 

 the thin ends of your feather, else your fly will be use- 

 less, but have it of proper length before tieing on, except 

 it be to represent a case-winged fly. 



The gut, weed, or hair, on which you are going to dress 

 your fly, should next be carefully examined and tried by 

 moderately pulling it, in proportion to the size of the fish 

 it is expected to hold. If gut is much curled and stiff, 

 drawing it over a piece of India-rubber will straighten it ; 

 be careful not to press too hard, for fear of making it 

 rough and pulling fine strands off it. Taking the pre- 

 caution to try his gut before using it will save the Angler 

 much disappointment, and enable him to discover defects 

 not discernible to the eye. 



Your dubbing should be mixed to the exact colour of 

 the body of the natural fly which you are going to repre- 

 sent ; and a small portion of it should then be wetted 

 and held up to the light, or you may dress your fly too 

 dark, since camlets, furs, &c. are several shades darker 

 when wet than when dry, and in some instances have a 

 totally different hue. For the same reason the floss silk 

 which you use should also be lighter than the natural fly. 



Next, the hook should be tried as to point and temper, 

 and properly selected as to size. If it is a winged-fly you 

 are going to dress, the feather for the wing is to be stripped 

 from the quill-feather of the bird selected, by an even 

 but sudden pull in the direction of the quill ; or you may 

 cut off sufficient of the feather for your purpose with your 

 scissors, keeping close to the stem of the feather. (See 

 Plate vn. Nos. 9, 10). The downy part near the quill is 

 always to be rejected. You should be particularly careful 

 to have all the fibres even at the points, and as little ruffled 

 as possible. 



