" The Angler's Equipment" 173 



ferrule at each end, the top ferrule to take 

 the screw of the net ring. I consider that 

 the best nets are those that are tanned 

 provided only that they are made of thin 

 and hard, rather than of loose and soft, 

 cord ; provided, also, that the knots them- 

 selves are tightly and closely pulled together, 

 and are quite small. It is a great point to 

 have small, hard knots, as the flyhooks do 

 not stick into them so readily. Next to 

 these are the prepared silk nets. 



I attach my net to the ring, with copper 

 or zinc wire, ribbing it regularly along till, 

 at last, I have got the net hanging quite 

 evenly all round the ring itself. It makes a 

 very neat fastening. Long ago I discarded 

 jointed folding rings as being unsuitable for 

 my plan of carrying the net, and I have 

 never regretted doing so. I do not expect 

 all the world to adopt my method of landing 

 trout in midstream, etc. 



Let me now enter into a detailed 

 description of the method I have alluded 

 to. 



I am, as I mention in the preface, much 

 indebted to my friend Mr. Andrew Smith, 

 W.S., President of the Trout Anglers' Club, 

 Edinburgh, and who at one time (as a hobby) 

 edited that excellent monthly the Scots 



