260 



THE ANGLER-NATUEALIST. 



males assuming a browner or more golden tinge, and the 

 cheeks being marked with orange- coloured stripes ; the 

 lower jaw elongates, and a gristly projection or horn turns 



turns of light-coloured silk, as shown in fig. 1 of the accompanying 

 engraving ; and the effect of this arrangement will be found to be that 

 the casting-line at that point is trebly stiffened, with scarcely a per- 

 ceptible increase of thickness or clumsiness. Over the central knot 

 the loop of the drop-fly should be passed in the usual manner and 

 drawn close (fig. 3 -e-). 



For the tying of these loops, and all others used in fishing, I have, 

 I believe, succeeded in hitting upon a new and considerably improved 

 form of knot, the ordinary loop being both clumsy and crooked (a 

 serious drawback to the perfect set of the fly), and, in thick gut, very 

 difficult to manipulate. My knot (fig. 2, and x in fig. 3) is simply a 

 new application of the principle of the ordinary single fisherman's-knot, 

 thus : a half-knot is made, about an inch and a half or two inches 

 from the end of the gut of the fly, but not drawn quite tight j the end of 

 the gut is doubled over and passed back again through the opening on 

 the same side from which the end issues j and then again, with this 

 end, a further half-knot (embracing the main link) is made below the 

 first. Both half-knots are then pulled tight, and drawn together. 

 This produces the smallest possible knot, and one which will never 

 draw and is perfectly straight. 



Of course the foregoing knots, so far as regards flies, are only appli- 

 cable to those used in Salmon or Sea-Trout fishing, or where very fine 

 tackle is not essential. 



