SILK-WORM GUT. 281 



the figure, a round knot is made in the end of the snell 

 of the fly, and is put through the open loop between the 

 two halves of the water-knot, which latter are then drawn 

 together close and snug, holding the snell tightly and se- 

 curely. By using this mode of attaching droppers to tlie 

 leader, they stand at right angles to it, and may be changed 

 as often as desired, and with but little trouble, by simply 

 sliding the water-knots apart, taking out the snell of one 

 fly and inserting another. The flies can not pull out, as 

 might be supposed, for the strain and struggles of a fish 

 only serve to make the knot draw more closely together. 



Fig. 10 is the " reef-knot," or common square knot, and 

 is a very safe and strong knot for many purposes ; it never 

 slips or jams, when properly tied, and is easily loosened; 

 but in tying this knot, if the second turn or hitch is not 

 made exactly right, it forms a "granny-knot," than which 

 there is no worse or more uncertain knot made, and yet 

 nine persons out of ten tie a " granny-knot." The novice 

 will do well to study this common knot, and learn to tie 

 it correctly. It is sometimes used for tying the lengths of 

 a leader, in which case, as also with the single water-knot, 

 the ends should be cut oif closely, and neatly whipped with 

 fine sewing silk and varnished. 



Fig. 11 is the form of knot generally used by manufac- 

 turers of leaders, or casting lines, for tying together the gut- 

 lengths ; it is a very simple knot to tie, though it looks 

 somewhat difficult in the figure, and in the way that I 

 have seen some attempt it, is a difficult knot. I have 

 drawn the two lengths of different colors, one white, the 

 other dark, so that the construction of the knot can be 

 more easily seen. The ends of two gut-lengths are passed 



by one another, or in other words lapped, sufficiently to 

 24 



