84 THE ANGLER'S KNOT. 



the next size smaller, and so on, gradually lessen- 

 ing to the bottom end, the last yard of which 

 should be fine and round. The front fly, or 

 stretcher, as it is called (in contradistinction to 

 the other flies, which are called droppers), must be 

 fastened at the extremity with the same kind of 

 knot as that employed for joining the lengths of 

 gut which form the collar, and it should never, 

 on any account, be looped on for loops at the 

 point, besides being clumsy, streak the water in 

 fishing. The best knot for the purpose is called 

 the old angler's or the slide knot, which, though 

 so simple as to be learned on witnessing a single 

 performance of the operation, is somewhat difficult 

 to describe. We will, however, make the at- 

 tempt : One end of each of the two pieces of gut 

 required to be united is held in each hand, be- 

 tween the forefinger and thumb, and projecting 

 two inches beyond their tips. The end thus pro- 

 jecting in the right hand is then placed side by 

 side with that in the left hand, both being then 

 held between the tips of the thumb and forefinger 

 of the latter, one pointing to the right, and the 

 other to the left* Holding the two in this posi- 

 tion, take with the right hand the end pointing 

 to the right, and turn it over the other piece of 

 gut in the form of a ring, bringing the end through, 



