20 



ANGLING IN SALT WATER. 



r^ )Bl^^= 



Fig. 15. The Strongest Knot 

 FOR Tying Lengths op Gut 

 Together. 



advantage is tliat it can be tied at any time. The illustration 

 hardly requires explaining ; but it may be useful to say that the 

 first process in tying the knot is to lay the ends of the gut 



over each other for about Ifin., 

 tie them in a simple knot, and put 

 the ends through a second time 

 before pulling tight. In Ireland 



the common reef-knot is a good 

 deal used for tying lengths of gut 

 together, but I am absolutely cer- 

 tain that it is not to be relied 

 on. The two knots illustrated are 



safer and better than any that have yet been invented. Fig. 17 



illustrates the simple method of tying a loop at the end of a 



gut cast or collar. 



The fisherman's 



knot can be used 



for this purpose, 



but it makes, when 



finished, almost the 



same knot as the 



one shown, and 



takes rather more 



time to tie. 



There are several 



methods of attach- 

 ing the running line 



to the gut or gimp 



tackle, but the knot 



shown in Fig. 18 is 



about the best. It 



is known to sailors 



as the common 



bend, and is a very 



useful knot for 



Fig. 16. 



Another Method of Joining Lengths 

 OF Gut. 



many purposes con- 

 nected with matters outside fishing tackle. 



Gut must always be either well soaked in cold water, or 



