55 



coloured differently, but beyond these four 

 there is no choice. For our own parts we 

 invariably use the two first. The colour of 

 our lines is darker when on or in the water. 



Casting-line: This line is that to which 

 your flies are attached, and which is cast upon 

 the water. It must be composed of carefully- 

 chosen silk-worm gut, of the roundest and the 

 finest that can possibly be procured. Every 

 link must be carefully examined, to see that 

 there is no crack or flaw in it. The ends of 

 each link, particularly the finer end, being 

 generally rotten and worthless, must be un- 

 sparingly rejected. The whole line must be 

 taper, and it is rendered so by knotting toge- 

 ther the thicker links of gut at the top nearest 

 the reel-line, and diminishing by degrees their 

 thickness until you end with a link as fine, or 

 nearly so, as a hair. The links must be 

 knotted, not tied together or whipped, and 

 the sort of knot to be used is the slip-knot, 

 or the old angler's knot.* This knot is, we 



* Though it is extremely easy to make this knot, we 

 question whether we can by writing teach the mode of 

 tying it. If the reader once saw the operation performed, 

 he could do it himself immediately afterwards. We will 

 try, however, if we cannot by plain speaking communicate 

 this very important piece of information to our readers. 

 Hold one piece of gut firmly, at the distance of an inch and 

 a half from its end, between the fore-finger and thumb of 



