I I 2 SALMON FISHING. 



loop from above ; then over the loop ; then up 

 again through it from below ; and finally tie with 

 it a half-knot round the main line, in the form 

 shown in the diagram, fig. I. Then draw the 

 last-made knot tight, and slip it up to the loop, 

 drawing the main line also tight, as shown in 

 fig. 2, which is a facsimile of the knot as tied on a 

 small Grilse-fly. In fig. I the loop is exaggerated 

 in length for the sake of illustration. 



The gut should always be- well moistened before 

 the knot is tied. 



THE ROD. 



Salmon-fishers have almost all their peculiar 

 fancies about rods. Some pin their faith to the 

 swishy, spliced, and somewhat top-heavy weapon 

 which takes its name from Castle Connel ; whilst 

 others, going to the opposite extreme, will fish 

 with nothing more pliant than the old-fashioned, 

 untapered, four or five ferrule-jointed rod of the 

 past generation of London makers. The latter 

 would doubtless bring against the swishing rod the 

 charge of top-heaviness, whilst its owner would 

 consider that the extra top weight and " play" of 

 his rod did duty instead of muscular effort. He 

 might probably put his argument thus : " In 



