WATER KNOTS. 81 



as a homely poet has said, 



*' Once on a time, 



I'd sing could I rhyme, 

 How I hooked a fine fish, twenty pounder ; 



Alack, for strength I relied, 



On a knot I thus tied ; 

 And I lost fish and fly, with one flounder]" 



Therefore I never recommend its use for joints of 

 any kind, unless " small fry " be the only prey 

 sought for. A tied loop, even, being better. 



The last knot I have to, mention is a better sub- 

 stitute for, though not unlike to the knot Fig. 7. 

 That knot being effected on the fly-head-loop, the 

 short end of the gut, instead of being whipped 

 down, is tied in a plain knot round the long end 

 of the gut ; thus, when loose : 



Fig. 13. 



This, where whipping cannot be performed, is the 

 best for looped fly heads but once for all, re- 

 member, that my knot Fig. 9, is of all others the 

 neatest and safest. 



As to flies, for my own use, I have enough to 

 answer my purpose for to-morrow, and plenty to 

 supply your wants, and so I shall not trouble 

 your cranium about them at present. But do not 

 flatter yourself that I will trust you with any I 

 consider worth the value of a "dump," at your 

 first throw. No, no ! flick ! away goes the fly ; 



G 





