HOOKS AND KNOTS 91 



ciently large to admit two strands of salmon gut, 

 is to permit the end of the gut to pass under 

 the main strand in finishing the figure of eight 

 knot, 1 and so allow it to come in direct line with 

 the shank. These eyed hooks may be tied on 

 in the same way as an ordinary gut-looped fly, 

 and assume exactly the same form and position 

 in fishing, so that anglers who prefer metal eyes 

 to those made of gut may now indulge their 

 fancy, without destroying the shape or movement 

 of the fly in work. 



The question, as to whether single or double- 

 hooked flies are best, is difficult to solve, as, after 

 all, our opinion can only be a hypothesis. We 

 once lost a great fish in Norway when using a 

 large double hook. On this occasion he evidently 

 got his nose against a rock, and the free hook 

 projecting, got caught ; using it as a lever, he 

 wrenched himself free of the other, which when 

 recovered, was much bent. Of course, if both 

 the hooks had been in his mouth, he could not 

 have done this ; but it is also probable that had 

 a single hook been used, he would not have been 

 hooked at all. Small and medium salmon flies, 

 say Nos. 8 to 1, are better double, and this may 

 be carried up to 3/0, if desired ; but beyond that 

 they get heavy, and are difficult to cast. The 

 angle at which double hooks are placed to each 



1 See Plate 20. 



