The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-15
MAKING TROUT FLIES.
He Is an Up-to-Date and Educated
Fish, Is Fastidious and suspi-

He Is an Up-tO-Date and Educated
Fish, Is FastidiOus and suspi-
ciOus.
New York, Dec. 1s.-The making OF
trout-fiies is novel and rather I'M
usual occupation for women. For
many years Mrs. e. @. Chatfeld OF
New York is, so far as / know, the first
woman to take up the work and carry
IL on in a business-like manner with
view to permanency.
1t is a curious fact that the first
book on fiy-fishing and fiy-making was
written by a woman, one Dame Ju-
Llama Bernes, in the year 1896. 1t is
entitled "Fysshynge With An Angle"
This feminine Walton advises fishing
for trout in clipping TYNE" with a
"dubbe," I. e., a fly. At the conc1u-
sion of the treatise she gives direc-
tons for making twelve sorts OF
"dubbes for trought and graylynges."
which directions are still followed by
ny-makers of the present day-os
course with Improvement and modifi-
cations.
How did come to think of taxi
ing up the manufacture of trout
flies as a business?',' said Mrs. Chat
field. Necessity, to whom we owe
50 much, was my friend. After my
husbands death / found myself Joined
to that great army Of feminine wage
earners. To educate my children I
must work. l tried one or two things
In an amateurish sort of way, which.
while they were not failures, did not
promise that degree of success which
I knew must follow my efforts II I
would care for my family as I wished.
A friend visiting me in one of my
busiest days said: Why not try fiy-
making? My needs were such that
was willing to entertain any propo-
sltion, and although absolutely ignor-
ant of the subject, I looked into the
matter and found that IL was work
which a woman could do and that it
could be done at home with a fair
margin Of profit.
THE most difficult thing was to find
some one to teach me, for the secret OF
successful hy-making is guarded as
carefully as that of glass-making in
the old Venetian days. At last
found a nian who, partly out OF friend
ship and partly because he admired
my pluck, agreed to give me instruc-
tions provided / would promise not to
teach any one else. / progressed slow
ly at first, and time and again was in
CllTtQ 10 uIOD II dilOBtIneI. Inlnk Il
would have dong So but for my dislike
of having anything get the best OF
me. This feeling spurred me on to re-
newed efforts and finally when had
learned to profit by my mistakes and
to take the advice of old anglers, be-
gan to prosper.
Now, my business is on a paying
basis and my flies stand well in the
market as being strong and durable.
OF course. I still have much to learn.
but feel that I have at least laid a
firm foundation for future business.
what special qualifications must
one possess to succeed in fiy-makingy
Patience, perseverance and nimble
fingers are absolutely necessary; Moth
ing can be done without a delicate
touch. Beyond these one must pos
sess the same qualifications that make
success in any walk of life. Punctuai-
ity in filing orders; honestly in keep
ing the goods up to the standard ana
prompt payment of bills carry one well
along the road to success, 1t is pleas
ant work that may be done at home,
which is a great desideratum to wo-
men not accustomed 10 face the busi-
ness world; IL is one which gives a lib
eral education, too, for almost uncon-
sciously one gains a knowledge of en-
tomology and ornithology. All the
birds OF the air contribute their quota
to the material which / use and never
before did / realize the great variety
Of their plumage and its wondrous
beauty. ! am compelled to study the
insect manufacture, that may du-
plicate II as nearly as possible. else IL
will never be able to fool the sagacious
trout.
The American trout. / know no
others. are educated and thoroughly up
10 date. In well whipped streams they
are tantalizingly fastidious and refuse
to rise to any but the best make of
files, so / am compelled TO put forth
my supremest efforts.
81 have grown to love my work 70
that extent that now am always try
ing 70 see how artistic a fly I can
make. not how many dollars II viii
bring me-" Laura b. Starr.