FISHING. 37 



break in the process of twisting. The most secure 

 method of joining them is with the single slip 

 knot, and lapping the ends over with well waxed 

 thread, a little spirit varnish, makes all secure. 

 The fly-cast should be joined to the casting line, 

 by four lengths of picked gut, tapering in thick- 

 ness to where the fly-tackle is attached. 



In making up a fly cast, lay the ends of the 

 threads of gut side by side, and simply knot the 

 one round the other ; in the right direction it will 

 hold together, but may be separated by pulling 

 the short ends. The above is the single slip knot. 

 The double slip knot is so far the same, but in 

 knotting the threads round each other, the ends 

 are passed twice through instead of once ; this, if 

 properly done, makes by far the neatest joining, 

 and can be drawn asunder, a dropper taken off 

 and another substituted in its place. A single 

 knot, not more than two inches from the hook, 

 inserted between the closing ends, will hold the 

 dropper quite secure. The distance between the 

 flies should be twenty -two inches. 



And here, I wish to call the attention of the 

 angler to the most important subject connected 

 with his tackle ; and that is the gat. For angling 

 in clear water, inhabited by cunning cautious trout, 

 fine tliln gut is absolutely necessary for success. 



