A year or so ago someone on the list asked for the oldest dressings for a black gnat. Its a bit late but heres -
Charles Cotton's dressing from 1676.
March - From the tenth of this month till towards the end is taken a little BLACK GNAT. The dubbing either of the fur of a black water-dog; or the down of a young black water-coot. The wings; of the male of a mallard as white as maybe; the body as little as you can possibly make it and the wings as short as the body.
James Chetham's dressing from 1681 from his book "The Anglers Vade Mecum".
BLACK MIDGE OR GNAT. Made of the down of a mole dubbed with black silk; wings of the light grey feather of a shepstares quill. (Starling quill)
Richard and Charles Bowlker from 1747 from their book "the Art of Angling".
The BLACK GNAT comes about the same time as the spider fly; and continues till the latter end of May; to be fished in cold stormy days; seldom seen in warm weather. His wings are made of a dark blue hackle; and the body of an ostrich feather.
iain
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