1 8 BOTTOM OR FLOAT-FISHING. 



the knot I am at a loss to explain the origin of 

 this custom, which must be as troublesome to the 

 maker as it is objectless to the user. Indeed it is 

 worse than- objectless: it is distinctly mischievous. 

 It adds weight, so far as it goes, and clumsiness to 

 what ought to be as light as possible ; and it dots 

 with opaque " splotches," at regular intervals, what 

 would otherwise be a transparent, gossamer-like 

 strand from end to end. Indeed, in bright clear 

 weather I have frequently seen both Trout and 

 Grayling rise at the knots on a fisherman's line 

 when they showed no inclination whatever to 

 meddle with his flies. It is hardly necessary 

 to point out that for practical purposes the 

 lapping of the short end of the gut outside the 

 knot adds nothing whatever to the strength of the 

 line. 



For all fishing where exceptional strength is not 

 required, the common single fisherman's knot, un- 



S INGLE FISriERMANS KNOT 



lapped, is sufficient for every purpose, and the 

 neatest and strongest that can be used. It is 



