Author	Kelson, George M.
Book	The fishing gazette: On the description of salmon flies, Major Traherne's Patterns
Book Edition	N/A
From "The fishing gazette" - September 13th, 1884 FROSTED thread, manufactured and sold by Mr. George Kenning, Little Britain, E.C., has won considerable favour, and is one of the most acceptable of our modern novelties. I was pleased to see it had found its way to the Standard Works, Redditch, where I noticed a goodly share of flies in readiness, nicely dressed with a few of the varieties. Messrs. Allcock and Co. are well-known wholesale manufacturers, and have a first-class superintendent at the head of this department, one whose name has been familiar for many years; his work is always good and true - not to be wondered at, perhaps, as he hails from the right school at Sprouston. All Major Traherne's patterns may be obtained here now at short notice; but application must be made for them through the fishing-tackle shops. I may add that under this supervision, this special care, of Mr. Robert Wright, even the "Chatterer," the most delicate fly in creation to make properly, can be satisfactorily dressed and supplied in all sizes. Referring to these threads, the first that I introduced for this work some six or seven years since was that more intimately known by the name of copper-coloured tinselled chenille. Endurance, perhaps, is not one of their special qualities; but, at any rate, they provide us with a thorough change; and, perhaps, for grubs, there are few, if any, that are preferable to this one. We are all aware that salmon soon become accustomed to anything fresh, and that which they may favour most one year is often treated by them with utter contempt the next; like ourselves, they want change sometimes - why not? - that confounded test, "Toujours," is as galling to them presumably as it is to us. However, fishermen generally look to the present, and leave the future to take care of itself. Still, some "thorough change" does work wonders at times in every salmon river in Europe. I believe the tricoloured is best for bright low water during the day time, and the steel assortment in the evening. The former, gold, silver, and copper, on three threads, makes rather a robust body; but in low water time, there is very little hackle used, and in some rivers, then, no wings at all - a fashion well worth a trial everywhere. A body, say half of silver tinsel, with King Paradise above and below, completed with any of these chenilles, having the throat of scarlet Tanager and Jay, and Peacock's herl wings, would be something sombre, and fresh and pretty sure to kill in bright or in coloured water. The network of tinsel on these threads being concrescible, is naturally easier to manage on those that are single; but it can be massed to suit one's fancy on any of them with care by cutting off a little extra in length, and leading it along the thread as you progress in making up the body, taking the supply from the opposite end. While, on the other hand, a little divesting process is sometimes advantageous; for instance, the "Glowworm" is entirely of copper but when this sortis used for very small flies, unravelling is necessary instead of coalescing the tinsel into a closer mass. The hackle should be wound along the body before you press and shape the chenille, and when this is done, pay attention not to hem in and thus imprison the fibres, which are always to be allowed their freedom. The only secret in managing the oval tinsel for bodies is simply to wind each lap very tightly. But the embossed kind will not bear this hauling, neither can it be beveled. Still, it makes a useful fly - "Dunkeld" was, and is, a great favourite here and there; but this dented tinsel is not one to dote on - it is dreadfully brittle, and cannot be touched with the silicon tablet. Some of the coloured samples of the plain make splendid bodies. "Birdbody" and "Canadian Wonder," the former of ruby, the other of aqua marine, are old and valued specimens, and kill anywhere; the brilliahcy, though, does not survive long, and the dye disappears altogether after a certain amount of work. There was a "sovereign remedy" not long ago - some sort of white-hard varnish; but I am sorry I have lost sight of the directions for making it I hear of a waterproof glue which would probably serve pretty well, but have not tried it, And here again the silicon tablet is not only useless, but injurious. The Japanese tinsel we should never use at all; it is a mistake altogether. In alluding now to this week's illustration, I need not quote old, hackneyed, and threadbare dictums, which derived their origin from some similar combination to this used in tailing worn-out old Scotch patterns. Perhaps the mixture of these two Indian birds was not seen to quite so much advantage in those days; neither were novel attractions so keenly sought after. But, just now, anything and everything is useless. Having no water and no fish, anglers are weary of waiting for work, and many of them are flown to forests of heath and heather, or to the eternal calm of mountains for other exercise, and for other enjoyment. After the great heat of an unparalleled summer, a short spell among the grouse in wild, romantic scenery, which ever lends a delightful charm to this health-giving pursuit, will brace them up for the "Blackberry fish," which, now that the barometer is falling, and depressions foretold, there is still a hope of seeing. Anticipation is robed in infidelity in such dry angling seasons; and when the turnips are thin and patchy, and when even that famous low water catch on the Tweed, the Sycamore PoOl, with its trees "spreading in gentle pomp their honeyed shade," holds no rod; we may, indeed, pack up - we may well seek other amusements to exhilarate the spirits, as all anglers ever can. Now, if we could dip into the future, "far as human eye can see," we might tell that sooner or later we shall be provided with other and still more suitable materials for our fly cabinets. If this vision ever be realised - and I earnestly hope, in the interest of fishermen, it may - I, for one, should give my whole vote for some serviceable provision for low water. We have, in all conscience, all we require if we make the most of it for favorable times; but though there is much skill required in "travelling" with a worm or a prawn, and even some fun, still the enchantment is gone, and one cannot enter into such kind of sport with so much spirit. "The most" certainly appears to have been made in all of these patterns, and it seems to me there has not been one single iota overlooked. Some people with the same materials we know build palaces - others, only hovels; but who knows - I do not - how we could billet these feathers to greater advantage, for every point seems to have been mastered - every problem probed? It has been suggested that inventors must be born, like the poets, the painters, or the sculptors; well, even so, like them, study alone makes them perfect. Inspiration may lead us in a moment to the truth in any art; but effect is the mechanical part which only long application will acquire, even as the very best actors may take a lifetime before they can command that wonderful instrument - the human heart - and strike its chords into merriment and laughter, or into sorrow and sympathy. Nevertheless, do not let any such passing remark dishearten us. "Rouge-et-noir" takes my fancy very much - we should always have one with us; but size is everything. It is described:- Tag: Silver twist and topping coloured silk. Tail: Topping. Butt: Black herl. Body: In five sections, butted; fhte first and third, four red crows as illustrated over and uder the same coloured floss silk; the second and fourth jungle cock, as shown over blue rock coloured silk (the blue rock is the medium coloured chatterer), and the fifth division of red claret silk. Ribbed: Fine oval tinsel. Throat: Two jungle top and bottom as before, but placed over two red crow, teh points of the latter in advance. Wings: Toppings. Horns: Blue macaw. Head: Black herl.
Tags	traherne, kelson, fishinggazette,

Material

• Tag: Silver twist and topping coloured silk
• Tail: Topping
• Butt: Black herl
• Body: In five sections, butted; fhte first and third, four red crows as illustrated over and uder the same coloured floss silk; the second and fourth jungle cock, as shown over blue rock coloured silk (the blue rock is the medium coloured chatterer), and the fifth division of red claret silk
• Ribbed: Fine oval tinsel
• Throat: Two jungle top and bottom as before, but placed over two red crow, teh points of the latter in advance
• Wings: Toppings
• Horns: Blue macaw
• Head: Black herl.