Cock Hackles
Not long ago I took to tying my own flies and making a collection of furs and feathers, silks and tinsels that go to make such things as a March Brown, a Black Gnat or I Pheasant Tail, and found myself considering the problem of hackles. The hackles of I cock or hen are an essential part of a fir tier's stock. Without cock hackles many of the common trout flies just cannot be made. It is hard to come by cock hackles because the best hackles are obtained front older birds. The poultry-keeper begins screwing necks long before his birds are old enough to please the tier of flies. It is II great temptation to become the owner of s mandarin once fly-tying gets, in the blood or, for that matter, to possess the feathers c1 an Ibis. As a woman finds her head being turned by the prospect of a new hat, till apprentice fly-tier is lured by the chance of owning something like a giant feather duster which he will hide away in a box alread1 bulging with the hair of dogs and badgerS• the fur of seals and mice I
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