30 THE DRY-FLY MAN'S HANDBOOK 



modern ones made to-day and are far smoother 

 softer, and wear better than most of them. The 

 dressing of Hnes by at least ten successive coats of 

 the boiled oil rubbed down, as advocated by 

 Mr. Hawksley, is in effect the same principle as and 

 similar in manipulation to the methods employed by 

 the modern manufacturer. I am under great obliga- 

 tions to the editor and proprietors of the " Field " for 

 permission to give in extenso an article on the subject 

 by my good friend Mr. Martin E. Mosely, published 

 in the " Field" of May 4th, 191 2. 



DRESSING A TROUT-LINE 



"When the first of October arrives and rods and 

 flies have been packed away in winter quarters, the 

 angling enthusiast who loves to keep his fishing by 

 him, year in year out, might well do worse than turn 

 his hand to dressing his own trout-lines instead of 

 buying them ready made from the tackle-shop. He 

 who would dress his own lines, however, must possess 

 an unlimited supply of patience, as the work entailed 

 extends over many months. In fact, the longer the 

 time given to each successive dressing the more 

 durable and lasting will be the resulting article, and 

 in practice it will be found that a line cannot be turned 

 out in much less than a year's time from the date 

 when the first immersion in water-proofing fluid was 

 made." 



" The secret of successful line-dressing is contained 

 in the three words — 'time 'and 'elbow-grease.' Ex- 



