Leaders. 121 



the eye, may be first passed to one or the other side of 

 the shank. While each of these methods will give the 

 same ultimate practical result, the various steps, though 

 identical in principle, seem different in execution. Ob- 

 viously, if one tried to tie the knot in all these different 

 positions, choosing first one and then another at hap- 

 hazard, the knot is not mastered for practical use until 

 the manipulation incident to each of these positions is 

 fully acquired. In other words, the learner inadver- 

 tently charges himself with mastering a dozen or more 

 knots when one would fully answer every practical pur- 

 pose. The objection most frequently urged against the 

 eyed hook is the difficulty of knotting it to the leader. 

 This difficulty is really unnecessarily self-created, and 

 would cease if the hook and leader were always handled 

 in precisely the same way. 



For these reasons the beginner is earnestly advised 

 always to hold the hook and always to pass the leader 

 as shown in the following cuts. 



Fig. A. 



It will be seen at a glance that the knot is identical 

 with that shown in Fig. 26, and that the remarks made 

 in connection with that figure apply. It is also clear 

 that after use the knot may be loosened and untied 

 with the greatest ease by merely pushing the leader 

 farther through the eye in the direction of the bend of 

 the hook. 



