282 BOOK OF THE BLACK BASS. 



allow of their being tied by a single hitch and drawn 

 tightly, just like tying a single knot in a double string 

 (as in fig. 1). Usually the knot is made double by pass- 

 ing the ends of the gut through twice, instead of but once, 

 in tying ; that is by simply tying what is known as a 

 "surgeon's knot" (for ligating arteries) with a double 

 thread. The short ends are then trimmed off* closely. If 

 a leader is made with loops for attaching drop-flies, this is 

 the best knot to use in making the leader itself, being, 

 like fig. 10, secure and unyielding. 



Where knots like figs. 10 and 11 are used in construct- 

 ing the leader, and no loops are provided for attaching 

 droppers, the latter must be secured by a half-hitch, just 

 above a knot in the leader, as shown in figs. 10 and 11, 

 which is a very good plan. It must be borne in mind, 

 that in tying lengths of gut together, or in tying loops or 

 knots in gut-snells, the ends must first be soaked in water 

 until quite soft and pliable ; this must also be observed in 

 bending or tying a hook on a gut-snell. 



