46 SALMON AND TROUT. 
way to the Fishing Gazette office to unfold my secret. My 
friend Mr. Cholmondeley-Pennell happened to accompany me on 
a different business, and on my letting him know what mine was 
turned round and said, “ My dear fellow, I am very sorry for you, 
but I brought that out years ago in the ‘Modern Practical Angler,’” 
and as we were passing Farlow’s shop at the time he took me in 
and soon convinced me that he was right, and that his principle 
and mine are the same, although differently carried out. There- 
fore, although I can lay no claim to be the inventor of the “ buffer 
knot,” I can honestly say that I had never seen or heard of it 
before. 
‘It is impossible to invent a better method of fastening gut 
together than that which makes the fastening the strongest instead 
of the weakest part of the casting line, and it is surprising to me 
that this method has not been adopted.’ ; 
I am glad to see that this knot 7s at last being adopted, 
after being some twenty years before the angling public; and 
though ‘I say it that should not say it,’ Major Traherne’s 
frank testimony in favour of its superiority as applied to extra 
stout salmon casting lines (or fur gut spinning traces where 
extra strength is required) does not go at all beyond the 
fact. Ifsalmon fishers reading this chapter acquire nothing 
in return but the knowledge of this one apparently trifling 
piece of information, their time will not have been wasted. 
The difference between my original knot, as above described, 
and the variation of it alluded to by Major Traherne is very 
trifling ; such as it is, however, I am of opinion that as regards 
neatness and simplicity of manipulation my knot is distinctly 
preferable, and I have lately had letters from Major Traherne 
saying that he has come to the same conclusion, 
Except for salmon, and then not when they run decidedly 
small, no lapping of any sort is required in any part of the 
casting line. The lapping that used to be applied at the tackle 
shops gives no additional strength whatsoever, whilst the effect 
is to exaggerate that which must always be a disfigurement. 
For casting lines of all kinds single gut, tapered, is the 
only material that I ever think of employing, and I find it 
