THE CASTING-LINE. 47 



be had in any fishing-tackle shop. Only the longest 

 threads should be selected for this purpose, and 

 they should be as nearly as possible of one thick- 

 ness. Before attaching them to the machine, they 

 should be soaked in cold water for half-an-hour, or 

 they will be certain to break. After the lengths 

 are twisted, they may be joined together according 

 to the angler's taste, taking care that they taper 

 from one end to the other. The most secure method 

 of joining them is with the single slip-knot, lapping 

 the ends over with well- waxed silk thread ; a little 

 spirit varnish makes all secure. Another way of 

 joining them is by whipping the ends together with 

 silk ; this is the neater plan of the two, but it is 

 continually giving way, and requires to be done 

 over again ; so that, unless the angler makes up his 

 own tackle, he will find it exceedingly troublesome ; 

 anglers practising this method should always keep 

 the joinings well varnished. After the triple-gut 

 line, there should be four or five lengths of picked 

 gut, tapered in thickness to where the fly or bait 

 tackle is attached ; these should be joined together 

 by a common knot. Instead of fastening the fly or 

 bait cast to this by a loop, as is usually done, it is 

 better to fasten it by a knot, as it is neater, and 

 makes less show in the water. 



There is nothing so apt to slip as gut, and there- 

 fore the knot by which to tie the threads together 

 is of some importance. The water knot is made by 

 laying the two ends together, rolling them round 



