56 THE SCIENCE OF DRY FLY FISHING. 



watchmakers' glass in my eye. Yes, it is all right, smooth 

 and free from glints. So I pass it through my lips, close the 

 box again, place two inches of the broken end of the cast in my 

 mouth to soak, and, taking the point I have selected, make an 

 overhand knot in the extreme end. I take the broken 

 end out of my mouth, run it through the overhand knot, and 

 make another knot of the same kind in the end of it, only en- 

 closing the gut point in this knot.* I draw both overhand knots 

 firmly but completely taut. Each knot now encloses the 

 gut which has formed the other knot. I draw the two 

 knots firmly together by pulling the cast and the point, 

 and, taking out my knife, I open the scissors and snip off each 

 end fairly close. Place this quite new Blue Quill, which 

 I have taken out of my fly box, on the end of the fresh point, 

 oil it carefully, take off the superfluous oil, replace oil 

 brush. Try again. This time it is a small one which we will 

 put back. Now continue to fish the run right up beyond the 

 ripple at its head. Ah, I thought so ! You are into a big one 

 this time. Reel up ! Reel up ! ! Walk back, man ! ! Keep 

 your point up and line taut, or you will lose him. Keep 

 him out of the dark corner " an you love me." Steady, drop 

 your point if he leaves the water as he goes up stream again. 

 There you have him at last after a splendid fight. Why, you 

 have beaten my fish. Let us see ! One pound nine ounces ; 

 and in every respect a beauty. If you take my advice 

 you will send him up to London by this night's train to your 



See diagram 6B, page twenty-six. 



