Silk-Worm Gut. 287 



gut together to form the leader; it consists of half-liitches 

 at the ends of the gut lengths, which are formed around 

 the opposing gut-lengths, as shown in the figure; this 

 forms a sliding knot for securing the end of the snell of a 

 drop-fly. 



Pig. 8 is the " double water-knot " for the same purpose 

 as fig. 7; it is more secure, but not so neat, as double 

 hitches are used in its construction, as plainly shown in 

 the figure. 



Fig. 9 shows the method of fastening the snell of a 

 dropper by the single or double water-knots. After the 

 two parts of the water-knot are drawn tight, as shown in 

 the figure, a round knot is made in the end of the snell 

 of the fly, and is put through the open loop between the 

 two halves of the water-knot, which latter are then drawn 

 together close and snug, holding the snell tightly and 

 eeeurely. By using this mode of attaching droppers to 

 the leader, they stand at right angles to it, and may be 

 changed as often as desired, and with but little trouble, by 

 simply sliding the water-knots apart, taking out the snell 

 of one fly and inserting another. The flies can not pull 

 out, as might be supposed, for the strain and struggles of 

 a fish only serve to make the knot draw more closely to- 

 gether. This plan, however, is not much used now, nor are 

 the water-knots; the more modern plan of using leaders 

 and snells with loops, as described on page 233, having 

 superseded them. 



Fig. 10 is the " reef-knot," or common square knot, and 

 is a very safe and strong knot for many purposes ; it never 

 slips or jams, when properly tied, and is easily loosened; 

 but in tying this knot, if the second turn or hitch is not 

 made exactly right, it forms a " grann^'-knot," than which 

 there is no worse or more uncertain knot made, and yet 



