32 THE DRY-FLY MAN'S HANDBOOK 



"The frames as shown in Fig. 17 may be made of 

 two slips of wood connected at each end with a thin 

 iron bar. I have found it an advantage to have these 

 bars nickel plated, as the iron sometimes rusts and 

 discolours and rots the silk. The larger these frames 

 Fig. 17 are made, compatibly 



with easy handling, 

 the better, as there 

 will be fewer points 

 of contact of the silk 

 with the bars. As 

 eleven or twelve coats 

 of oil are often re- 

 quired to dress a line, 

 it is a convenience to 

 fix a like number of 

 very small brass hooks 

 at equal distances 

 along one side of the 

 frame, and the end of 

 the line can be fixed 

 to these in succession 

 after each coat of oil 

 has been applied, thus 

 ensuring a new place of contact with the bars each 

 time the line is placed on the frames. To protect the 

 Hnes while the oil is wet, I have found it useful to 

 have covers to fit the frames of fine gauze, which 

 allow the air to penetrate, but prevent dust and hairs 

 sticking to the line." 



