Ahtimcial Flies. 25'i 



The Japanese are, perhaps, the most artistic and expert 

 fly-tyers in the world. Some of their creations in this line 

 tire indeed marvelous. They excel particularly in the 

 smallest flies, which have short, plump bodies, and hackles 

 that stand nearly at right angles to the body. They are 

 mostly red, brown, black and gray, are tied on needle- 

 pointed, barbless hooks, and with a minute gilt head ; they 

 are remarkably life-like when cast on the water. They also 

 tie flies on barbed hooks, and with wings, but mostly for 

 export. 



At the Chicago Columbian-Exposition I was much im- 

 pressed with the display of artificial flies in the Japanese 

 exhibit in my department. One day, as I was judging their 

 exhibit of fishing tackle, accompanied by the members of 

 the jury of award and a number of Japanese officials, I 

 called their attention to a case of artificial flies that were 

 tied in bunches and hung in front of the exhibit. The 

 case was open to inspection at all times, not being covered 

 with glass. I remarked: 



" JSTow, here are some flies that are very life-like. They 

 look as if one could squeeze the juice out of them ; as if 

 they might take wing and fly away." At that I lifted up 

 a bunch with my lead-pencil, when, lo and behold, one flew 

 out from the bunch, balanced itself on its wings a moment, 

 and then took an upward flight, disappearing in the sky- 

 light of the building. My auditors stood open-mouthed 

 with astonishment, thinlring, doubtless, that I had per- 

 formed some trick of legerdemain. I was startled ipr a 

 moment, myself, until I saw that it was a moth that h^d 

 been having a feast of feathers while hiding behind the 

 buneh of flies. 

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