THE TREATISE. 21 



the weak ends (most excellent advice, for it 

 prevents the weak ends being accidentally 

 twisted into the line) and twist it on a machine 

 of which a figure is given. When you have 

 twisted enough links to make your line, join 

 them together by a water-knot or a duchess 

 knot, whatever that may be, and cut off the 

 waste ends, but not too short, leaving a straw's 

 breadth. This again is excellent advice, and 

 as useful now for gut as it was four hundred 

 years ago for horsehair. 



Hooks are the most subtle and hardest part 

 of your craft. You want a whole armoury of 

 tools, of which a really admirable figure is 

 given. For small hooks use the smallest 

 square-headed steel needles that you can get; 

 for larger ones embroiderers' needles or 

 tailors', or shoemakers' awls, which are 

 specially good for large fish. Heat your needle 

 red hot in a charcoal fire, cool it, make the barb 

 with your knife and sharpen the point. Then 

 heat it again and bend it into the shape of the 

 very excellent figure which is given; test the 

 temper of the point, flatten the shank and file 

 it smooth so that you can lash your line to it, 

 heat it again and plunge it in water ; thus will 

 it be hard and strong. 



To fasten the hook to the line, take fine red 

 silk, for small hooks single, for large ones 

 doubled, but not twisted. Another excellent 

 piece of advice : the best modern book on 

 dressing salmon flies, Hale's How to Tie 



