ROD AND TACKLE 43 



in the end will be defective drawn gut ; on the other 



hand, if none but the choicest qualities are used, the 



product will be gut of the finest quality." 



The knot shown in Fig. 18 is the one generally used 



for makinp" 



'^ Fig. 18 



Knot for gut casts. up a cast or 



other tackle 

 from a number of strands of gut. 

 It has been adversely criticised by 

 some modern authorities, but I 

 find no practical disadvantage from 

 its use. 



Gut must be thoroughly soaked 

 before knot- 

 Cast damper. ting, and a 



cast requires 

 also to be softened in water before 

 being fished. A number of boxes have been made for 

 the purpose, but to my mind the very best gut 

 damper is an ordinary indiarubber tobacco pouch 

 with sufficient water in it to just damp the inner 

 surface. This was suggested to me some years since 

 by Mr. H. T. Sheringham, and, as in the celebrated 

 soap advertisement, " since then I have used no other." 



The upturned eyed hook is, to all intents and pur- 

 poses, the only one used at 

 Hooks and their at- the present time by dry-fly 

 tachment to the cast. men. For attaching the fly to 



the fine end of the cast the 

 "Turle" knot is the very best, and the successive 



