e22 angi-ing. 



Fur and hair are used for the bodies of flies, urider the 

 name of " dubbing." These are wanted of every shade, 

 and are usually obtained at the furrier's. A hare's ear, 

 the fur of the water-rat, the fur of the bear, of various 

 . shades, badger's hair, the fur of the squirrel, and field- 

 mouse, are also in request. Hog's down is the best hair, 

 and should be obtained about Christmas. It may be dyed 

 any colour. Mohair is sometimes used, and coloured 

 worsted is only used for salmon and pike flies. 



For tying the flies, fine marking silk of difi^erent colours 

 is necessary, some hard shoemaker's or saddler's wax, some 

 colourless wax, of which we give the recipe, a variety of 

 hooks, with a little gold and silver twist, and the fly- 

 dresser has all the materials for making flies of any 

 pattern. 



Before commencing to make your flies, arrange all your 

 materials in the handiest possible way under your eye. 

 Let your gut be of the finest description, the hooks adapted 

 to the size of the fly, with the wings, hackles, dubbing, 

 and sUk assorted. The flies are generally divided into 

 two varieties — hackles, variously called " palmers " or 

 " spiders ; " winged flies, dressed with dubbing, or with 

 hackles, in imitation of gnats, midges, and other flies, 

 while " spiders " represent caterpillars and other embryo 

 flies. 



The first process, that of " arming the gut," is thus per- 

 formed. It is essential that every angler should learn to 

 arm his gut and tie his hook, as it is the foundation of the 

 bottom-fisher's, as well as the fly-fisher's, art. The gut is 

 first coiled, and the end flattened and softened between the 

 teeth, so as to make it broad and prevent it slipping. The 

 hook is then taken in the left hand between the forefinger 



