55/458/1-23

This tin box contains 23 fishing flies. It has a glass panel in the lid, showing the flies in 10 compartments within. There are a variety of fly types inside: Black Gnat, Hare's Ear, Badger Hare's Ear, and Tup's Indispensable, along with other unidentified wet and dry flies, and one described as a 'mayfly'. They are flies designed for stream, lake and sea trout fishing.

fishing flies

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'A group of modern trout flies for stream, lake and sea-trout fishing. // 458/1 Tin case divided into ten compartment to carry flies. A glass panel in the lid enables easy inspection. // 458/2-12 Black Gnat. Dry Fly. An imitation of a natural insect which is used largely on lakes. Usually it has no tail but floats better when it is added. Not all dressings have wings like this particular pattern. // Tail - Two strands of Black Hen's hackle // Body - Black silk // Hackle - Black hen's // Wings - Starling wing feather tied small // 458/13 Hare's Ear. Dry fly. // Tail - Partridge // Body - Hare's fur, ribbed gold tinsel // Wings - Pale feather of starling // Hackle - A few larger strands of the body picked out // 458/14-15 Hare's Ear. Dry fly. // Tail - Partridge // Body - Hare's ear // Wings - Pale feather of starling // Hackles - Badger cock's // 458/16 Tup's Indispensible Dry fly. // 458/16 (continued) // Tail - Fibres of honey dun hackle // Body - Two sections: - // 1) Yellow floss // 2) Pink tup wool // Hackle - Honey dun cock hackle // 458/17 - Hare's Ear. Dry fly. // Body - Brown squirrel ribbed with gold wire. // Wings - Starling wing // Hackle - Fibres picked out from body. // 458/18-19 Wet fly // Tail - Golden pheasant tippet. // Body - Green floss silk ribbed with gold // Hackle - Black cock's // Wing - Maybe a varient of the American 'hair wing' // 458/20 Wet fly for sea trout or salmon. // Body - Silver tinsel ribbed with black // Hackle - Golden pheasant crest // Wing - Hair wing of yellow // 458/21 Wet fly for sea trout or salmon // Tail - Red ibis // Body - Oval silver tinsel // Hackle - Red cock's // Wing - Hackle point wing // 458/22 Fly for sea trout or salmon // Body - White silk varnished // Wing - White duck // Hackle - White cock // 458/23 Dry fly. // Body - Hare's fur // Hackle -Brown cock at shoulder and ribbed along body. // Wing - Grouse. // 458/24 Mayfly // Tail - Black cock fibres // Body - Black silk and gold tinsel ribbing // Wing - Brown duck breast // Hackle - Light brown cock from shoulder to tail.', MERL ‘Associated information’ form – 'Container a tin case with glass panel in lid and 10 sections. The bottom of the case has a design stamped on the surface. // Property of late Colonel E. G. Cheke, R. F. A.'

Fishing fly, Box, tin

Feather, Pelt, Fibre, Metal