64 FLY-FISHING AND FLY-MAKING. 



gram ; then the gut being first thoroughly soaked push 

 the end, within a couple of inches or so, down through 

 the eye, b, towards the point of the hook ; then pass it 

 round over the shank of the hook, and again from the 

 opposite side downwards through the eye in a direction 

 away from the hook's point (the gut end and central link, 

 c, will now be lying parallel) ; make the double slip knot, 

 a, round the central link and pull the said knot itself 

 perfectly tight ; then draw the loop of gut together with 

 the knot, A, backwards (towards the tail of the fly) un- 



Fig. 25. KNOT FOR SALMON F1IES. 



til the knot presses tightly into and against the metal 

 eye of the hook, b, where hold it firmly with the fore- 

 finger and thumb of the left hand, while with the right 

 hand and "humoring" the gut in the process the 

 central link is drawn tight, thus taking in the slack of 

 the knot. When finished, cut the superfluous gut end 

 off close. 



All other kind of hooks, the O'Shaughnessy and 

 Sproat, made by Allcock, of Redditch, England, seem 

 to me far and away the best. Allcock's Sproats in 

 particular, are free from that vice which the other makers 

 seem unable to get rid of viz., breaking short off be- 

 hind the barb. 



