"FLIES FOR TROUT."

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 57, 8 March 1934, Page 14

"FLIES FOR TROUT."

YOUNG GIRL'S INDUSTRY. With golden feathers plucked from the heads of pheasants from China, satiny down on the Blue Chatterer of South America, hackle won from the dory of peacocks' tail*, varicoloured plumage from the Indian jnnglc cock, finest silk and soft seal's fur, a brighteyed young Australian girl, Miss Elsa Garrett, is building an industry in the manufacture of "flies" for trout fishing. Thousands of 'them each year, every one on the -end of its gut cast, like a captive wild tiling, pass from her studio to the trout streams. Anglers, most expert, have pronounced them excellent for beguiling wary fish. For what trout, unless he paused to listen, would suspect a mosquito, which will do all but buzz, of harbouring a hook ? "I was 10 when I lirst began to tie flics," said Miss Garrett, herself a practical angler. "I was studying entomology and I think the secret of my success is that I tried to copy nature. I employ two permanent assistants now, and three others when there is a rush." Figures show the growth in popularity of trout fishing, and the greater care that is being taken to spare the feelings of the trout, by fishing him as a "gentleman." In 1931, Miss Garrett tied 1300 flics, in 1032 17,000, last year 3.'?.000, and she has hopes of reaching 50.000 tliis year.

Immense pains must he taken if the really undetectable deception is to be produced. Accordingly, havii;g critical eyes to please, Miss Garrett works "from life." 500 Varieties. An ant, a dragon-fly or a cricket is imitated with the aid o£ a profusion of colourful 6craps, filched from Nature's paint box. "For almost anything can bo used for making some kind of trout ffy," says Miss Garrett. There are difficulties in plenty to be overcome. Customs duties were an early worry, for the materials mnst be imported from the four corners of the globe. "There are about 500 different kinds of fly," says Miss Garrett. "And what was the greatest difficulty that had, and has, to be overcome?" "Prejudicel" says the young manufacturer. "Some business houses, although their number is decreasing, arc still biased in favour of English flies, although the Australian is more durable and more brilliant." But Miss Garrett is sure that there is a great future before the manufacture of trout flies. It is an industry, too, in which she lias no fear of machinery (says an Australian paper). Every fly must be arranged by hands, and produced with a care that is loving.