204 FLY-MAKING. 



with the right hand, hold the hook in the left and 

 press the second finger on each turn as it is passed ; 

 this is called stopping it or using the stop. After 

 covering about one sixteenth of an inch, seize the 

 end between your second and third or third and 

 fourth fingers, and hold it firmly while you bring 

 down the tying silk and pass three turns ; holding 

 the silk in that way is called using the catch, and is 

 difficult to acquire with facility. Cut the floss off 

 neatly, and selecting a feather from the golden 

 pheasant top-knot, lay it on its face, — the side of the 

 feather which lies nearest the bird from which it is 

 taken, is the inside or back, and the contrary side 

 the outside or face, — and secure it firmly. Stop the 

 tying silk and take up your hackle, which should 

 have been previously prepared by stroking back and 

 pulHng out a few fibres toward the point, and hold- 

 ing it by the point with the right hand, lay it on its 

 face with the butt towards the left so that the bare 

 spot shall come at the upper end of the floss silk tip, 

 and pass two turns of the flying silk ; insert a piece 

 of tinsel in the same manner parallel to and just 

 over the hackle, and having fastened it, hold the 

 tying silk \\ith the catch ; take ujj the dubbing of 

 mohair with your right hand and spin it over the 

 tying silk towards the left, having again taken the 

 latter into the right as soon as you have caught the 

 end of the mohair with the stop. Shape the mohair 

 so that the body shall taper and twist it evenly 

 together with the tying silk towards the shoulder, 

 using the stop all the way, and do not carry it too 



