44 ANGLER'S TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT. 



while wet, and before losing its pliancy. And as to 

 gut casting-lines, they ought always to be constructed 

 of long, choice gut, carefully assorted. Every separate 

 length should consist of three threads, equal in thick- 

 ness, I mean as regards that individual length ; for, to 

 regulate the tapering of the line, lengths of various 

 thicknesses are required to be spun, and a careful selec- 

 tion made from them before joining. 



The triple gut casting-line ought to extend fully six 

 or seven feet, and is intended either to succeed the hair 

 casting-line, in salmon fishing, or to be appended imme- 

 diately to the winch-line, by the trout fisher. Linked 

 to it, is the single gut casting-line, composed of three or 

 four successive strands of picked material, carefully 

 knotted, and if intended for large fish, tied over at the 

 joinings with silk thread. Of course, by salmon fishers, 

 this addition is dispensed with, when triple gut is found 

 necessary or more useful. In fine waters, on the con- 

 trary, it is often expedient to add to the length of this 

 portion of the casting-line, as well in salmon as in trout 

 fishing, in order to keep up the deception and not alarm 

 the fish. 



But I think it unnecessary further to enlarge upon the 

 subject of lines, in the present chapter, as various 

 instructions respecting them lie interspersed through- 

 out the treatise ; and as to the knotting together of the 

 threads or strands, I deem it proper merely to mention 

 one or two of the most approved methods of joining. 



THE WATER KNOT, SINGLE AND DOUBLE. This 

 knot is completed, simply by laying the ends of the 

 two threads, links, or strands, required to be joined, 

 alongside of each other ; then, doubling the one round 

 the forefinger of the right hand and passing one of the 

 links and its corresponding end through the loop thus 



