TROUT FISHING. 63 



Two feet from the first knot, have a similar knot. The ends of all the 

 other knots, except the one which secures the tail-fly, tie neatly with 

 waxed silk, as near the color of the casting-line as you can. The knot 

 should be the 'water-knot.' Let the first dropper or drop-fly be tied 

 on gut three and a half or four inches long, the second a shade longer. 

 Upon the end of each link upon which the drop-fly is tied, let the knot 

 be that in the cut. The slip-knot on the casting-line, as depicted in 

 the plate, can be pulled open by catching the little projections on each 

 side, and pulling them apart. I insert the knot end of the drop-fly 

 between the opening or two links, and then pull the knot together, and 

 the dropper hangs perpendicular. There is no more secure or neater 

 knot ; every cast tends to increase its security ; and there is no con- 

 trivance whereby the drop-flies can work, or hang so well. The reason 

 why we whip or tie the ends of all the knots save those for the drop- 

 pers and tail-fly, is, that when fishing in stream or pond, if the projec- 

 tions of the knots are exposed, the casting-line will constantly become 

 foul and heavy, by every floating piece of grass or stuff, which will ad- 

 here to the sharp projections of the knots. 



" Objections may be made to knotting the tail-fly to the casting-line, 

 and thus making it a fixture. The answer to this is, that the advan- 

 tage is far greater than the disadvantage. One can in a moment slip 

 out either or both his droppers, by drawing apart the knot, and in- 

 sert other flies ; or he can, as every man should, when fishing, have a 

 perfect mounted casting-line ' all round his hat; 7 and it is only the 

 work of a moment to cut the discarded casting-line from the stationary 

 link attached to the reel-line, and tie on the substitute. Or one may 



