io SALMON AND TROUT. 



knot at the end of the gut, and then passing the knotted end first 

 through the loop from below, and, after giving it one turn round 

 under the hook shank or loop, finally passing the knotted end 

 under the central link, and drawing the latter tight. It is in 

 fact the same fastening recommended farther on for attaching 

 gut to turned eyed trout flies, plus the knot at the end of 

 the line. Excellently well as this knot answers for hooks of the 

 smaller sizes, as hereafter described, it does not and never can 

 make a thoroughly ' ship-shape ' knot for a salmon fly, inasmuch 

 as the latter when thus fastened invariably hangs and therefore, 

 of course swims out of the horizontal : in other words head 



FIG. 9. FACSIMILE OF KNOT TO GUT LOOP OF FLY COMPLETE. 



downwards. If, on the contrary, the gut is passed through the 

 loop from above and the turn taken over the hook shank, 

 an opposite but equally inelegant effect is produced ; the fly 

 'cocks up,' and might swim in almost any position conceivable, 

 except the horizontal. There are several variations of this 

 fastening ; but I cannot say that I ever met with one entirely 

 satisfactory for salmon flies. The best knot for gut loops, 

 twisted or single, is that shown in the diagram (fig. 8). 



Neither this nor any other knot, however, tied on loops of 

 twisted gut as commonly used is so small and neat as that 

 tied on a properly constructed loop of metal. This will be 

 readily seen by reference to diagrams io and 1 1, which contrast. 



