NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLY-FISHING. 449 
gut varies in strength and size, from that required for the 
salmon, to the finer sizes used in grayling or small trout- 
fishing. The single gut portion is generally about two 
yards long, and terminates in a fly, which is called the 
stretcher, and which is either dressed on a length of gut, 
or has a fine loop left at its head, by which it may be 
attached to any fresh length of gut. About three or four 
feet from this stretcher another fly, called a dropper, is 
attached by means of a short length of gut, usually about 
three or four inches long; and at the junction of the single- 
gut with the twisted portion there is another dropper, with 
a somewhat longer length of gut. If more than two 
droppers are used, the single-gut length is increased to 
eight feet, and the third dropper is then introduced mid- 
way between the two already described, with a length of 
gut of about six inches, while that of the highest is 
increased to eight; by which gradual increase of length 
the stretcher and the droppers all ought to touch the 
water at the same time, while the foot length of the 
casting-line extends ina gentle sweep from the stretcher 
to the point of the rod. The mode of attaching these 
droppers to the casting-line is by opening the water-knots, 
and then introducing the dropper-gut between their two 
portions, after having previously knotted its end. This 
should be done as neatly as possible, to avoid making an 
unsightly projection. Most anglers whip the ends of the 
water-knots with white silk waxed with white wax, and 
also take a few turns round the dropper-gut to make all 
secure. The artificial flies have been already fully de- 
scribed above. 
