The Fishing-Book. 1 1 



long dropper then comes in contact, and even gets 

 entangled, with the line, and deprives the trout, 

 which has risen to feed, of the proper facility for 

 working its own destruction. Prejudice also exists 

 against the system of fixing the droppers by means 

 of loops, on the ground that it is a clumsy and 

 inartistic method. But if fine gut is used, and the 

 loop drawn tight, the connection can be formed as 

 securely and as neatly as in any other way ; and 

 when occasion requires that one fly be replaced by 

 another, the dropper can be immediately detached 

 by inserting the point of a pin between the loop and 

 the line. 



The Fishing-Book. I recommend a full-sized 

 fishing-book, well provided with pockets and divi- 

 sions. In addition to the ordinary tackle of cast- 

 ing and gut lines, the book should contain a small 

 pair of scissors, pins, white wax, two or three 

 varieties of silk thread, and some spare gut. The 

 angler will also provide a spare fly-cast or two and 

 some spare flies, similar to those on the gut-cast, so 

 that damage to tackle may be repaired without loss 

 of time ; for every moment is valuable, and should 

 be utilised to the utmost when the " take " is on. 

 Of course, several bait-lines and hooks, with some 

 sinkers and swivels, should also find a place in the 

 book. Some authorities, or would-be authorities, 

 evidently of the opinion that if trout refuse the 



