TACKLE AND FISHING GEAR. 39 



called ' water knot '), varied in the case of salmon gut in the 

 way that I will describe. 



I think the method of tying this knot in the case of trout 

 gut is so thoroughly well known as hardly to require an expla- 

 nation ; still in view of these pages falling into the hands of 

 an entire novice in angling matters, a diagram of the process is 

 appended. 



B 



B 



FIG. r. SINGLE FISHERMAN'S KNOT. 



The two ends of gut, A, A, are laid parallel to each other 

 being held in that position between the first finger and thumb 

 of the left hand at the point and in the position in which they 

 are to be joined. A half-hitch knot, B, B, 13 then made by the 

 right hand with the end of each strand alternately round the 

 strand of the other, and each separately drawn tight. In the 

 case of trout lines and other casting lines for light fishing the 

 two half-hitch knots are then drawn closely together and the 

 ends cut off. If a drop-fly is used for trout or grayling fishing 

 it is a very good plan to pass the end of the gut link of the fly 

 between the two strands of the joining gut before drawing the 

 knot close. This will make the drop-fly stand out at right 

 angles to the main casting line, a result which it is very desir- 

 able to obtain. A single knot tied at the required distance in 

 the link of the fly, and the gut nipped off close, will make it 

 impossible for the fly to slip out of its place. This, as I say, 

 makes a very neat knot for drop-flies on the whole, perhaps, 

 the neatest. 



Another simple way, and one that will be found to answer 

 every purpose when flies are being changed at the river-side, is 

 simply to lay the drop- fly along the casting line, fly upwards-, 

 and make a double half-hitch knot with the end of the fly link 

 round the central casting line. On this knot being pulled tight, 

 and slipped down as far as the next knot of the casting line, it 

 will be found to answer exceedingly well in practice, although 



