SiLK-WoEM Gut. 229 



nine persons out of ten tie a " granny-knot." The novice 

 will do well to study this common knot, and learn to tie 

 it correctly. It is sometimes used for tying the lengths 

 of a leader, in which case, as also with the single water- 

 knot, the ends should be cut off closely, and neatly whipped 

 with fine sewing silk and varnished. 



Fig. 11 is the form of knot generally used by manufac- 

 turers of leaders, or casting lines, for tying together the 

 gut-lengths ; it is a very simple knot to tie, though it looks 

 somewhat difficult in the figure, and in the way that 1 

 have seen some attempt it, is a difficult knot. I have 

 drawn the two lengths of different colors, one white, the 

 other dark, so that the construction of the knot can be 

 more easily seen. The ends of two gut-lengths are passed 

 by one another, or in other words lapped, sufficiently to 

 allow of fheir 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 " sur- 

 geon'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 

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

 bending or tying a hook on a gut-snell. 



