MATERIALS. 105 



tying, consequently wings are put on straighter, and in 

 every way it is easier and more pleasant to handle, 

 when really fine. The second quality is strength ; 

 some might put this first, but with a very fine silk an 

 extra turn or two may be employed, which compen- 

 sates for any moderate failure in strength. Some colours 

 seem to be stronger than others, and in consequence, 

 orange has established itself as our favourite, and we 

 now seldom use any other colour. 



The best way to wax very fine silk is to take a 



small portion of good wax about the 



Waxing size of a pea, and warm this between 



Silk. the finger and thumb, then run the 



silk once through it, when a good 



coating is left on the silk, which should at once be 



wound on to a narrow bobbin. 



It increases the usefulness of this bobbin if a small 

 hole is drilled through one flange. When tying a fly, 

 the end of the silk is passed through this hole, and 

 without unthreading the silk from this hole, any length 

 can be looped off as required. 



If the centre of the bobbin be filled with lead, it 

 keeps the tying silk on the fly taut during intervals of 

 the tying operation. 



With regard to the hooks used in fly dressing, it is 



better to keep them on the small 

 Hooks. side, fine in the wire, smooth in 



in the eye ; and before t}dng, 

 examine the barb and the temper by pulling the point 

 moderately. 



