NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLY-FISHING. 449 



gut varies in strength and size, from that required for the 

 salmon, to the finer sizes used in grayling or small trout- 

 fishing. The single gut portion is generally about two 

 yards long, and terminates in a fly, which is called the 

 stretcher, and which is either dressed on a length of gut, 

 or has a fine loop left at its head, by which it may be 

 attached to any fresh length of gut. About three or four 

 feet from this stretcher another fly, called a dropper, is 

 attached by means of a short length of gut, usually about 

 three or four inches long ; and at the junction of the single- 

 gut with the twisted portion there is another dropper, with 

 a somewhat longer length of gut. If more than two 

 droppers are used, the single-gut length is increased to 

 eight feet, and the third dropper is then introduced mid- 

 way between the two already described, with a length of 

 gut of about six inches, while that of the highest is 

 increased to eight ; by which gradual increase of length 

 the stretcher and the droppers all ought to touch the 

 water at the same time, while the foot length of the 

 casting-line extends in a gentle sweep from the stretcher 

 to the point of the rod. The mode of attaching these 

 droppers to the casting-line is by opening the water-knots, 

 and then introducing the dropper-gut between their two 

 portions, after having previously knotted its end. This 

 should be done as neatly as possible, to avoid making an 

 unsightly projection. Most anglers whip the ends of the 

 water-knots with white silk waxed with white wax, and 

 also take a few turns round the dropper-gut to make all 

 secure. The artificial flies have been already fully de- 

 scribed above. 



