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with a small round knot in the end of the line to prevent its working loose.

Fig. 5 is another method of fastening reel-line to loop of leader, or snell; it is a very safe and secure knot, and is a modification of the "reef-knot," (fig. 10).

Fig. 6 is similar to fig. 5, with the end of line fastened. on itself by a half-hitch; it is very secure, but a little more difficult to untie than fig. 5. Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are all good knots for bending the line to loop of leader, or snell; they draw up close and snug, will not slip, and are easily loosened. The angler can take his choice, but he should never tie his line and leader together by the common knot (similar to fig. 1), or the square knot (fig. 10). The leader should always be provided with a loop in each end, neatly seized with good sewing silk, and varnished. In bait-fishing, a loop may be formed on the end of the reel-line, by which it may be fastened to one ring of the swivel, when it is desired to pass the loop of the snell through the opposite ring.

Fig. 7 is the "single water-knot," for tying lengths of gut together to form the leader; it consists in half-hitches 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 dropfly.

Fig. 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

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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 securely. 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 together.

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 "granny-knot," than which there is no worse or more uncertain knot made, and yet 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 manufacturers of leaders, or casting lines, for tying together the gutlengths; it is a very simple knot to tie, though it looks somewhat difficult in the figure, and in the way that I 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 their 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 passing the ends of the gut through twice, instead of but once, in tying; that is by simply tying what is known as a "surgeon'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 constructing 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 until quite soft and pliable; this must also be observed in bending or tying a hook on a gut-snell.

CHAPTER XIII.

HOOKS.

"For in the Prophet Amos, mention is made of fish-hooks; and in the book of Job, which was long before the days of Amos, for that book is said to have been written by Moses, mention is made also of fish-hooks, which must imply anglers in those times."-IZAAK WALTON.

THE best fish-hooks are made in England, that country supplying the world with hooks of all sizes and styles, for all kinds of fishing. The town of Redditch has been famous for its fish-hooks for at least two centuries. There, are located the celebrated makers, Harrison, Hemming, Alcock, and others, whose familiar names are almost synonymous with hooks and needles, both articles being usually made by the manufacturers mentioned.

The following brief account of the process of making fish-hooks will doubtless prove interesting to most of my readers. It is an extract from a letter in the Forest and Stream, written by Miss Sara J. McBride, of Oswego, New York, the well-known, skillful tyer of artificial flies; and whose writings are as charming and attractive as her artistic imitations of the insect world. The letter is one descriptive of a recent visit to the celebrated factory of Alcock, at Redditch, England:

And this is Alcock's! How familiar the name! What a host of reminiscences rise as we enter the doors-"Round Bend Kendall,” "Kirby," "Sneck Bend," "Alcock's Best; " all spring up like phantom forms. Through the kindly courtesy of Mr. Alcock we were

shown through the different apartments and saw the various manipulations the wire taken from the coil undergoes, until the delicately pointed, japanned hook is ready for the market. In one corner of a room there was a large pair of upright scissors; with a quick snap two hundred or more pieces of the required length were cut from a bundle of wire; six to ten of these pieces are taken, held firmly against an iron bar, and an incision made with a sharp knife, for the barb. Next the filer takes each one separately with a pair of pliers, holds it in a vise, and with a few deft movements of a file, the embryo hook is pointed. Now they are bent on different forms. This is the christening period. They come forth, Sproat, Limerick, O'Shaughnessy, Kirby, Kendall, Sneck Bend, Hollow Points, and Round Points. The hardening process is the next in order. As we enter this department our nostrils are assailed by a fearful stench of burning fish-oil. We would like to retreat-an instant's consideration— we decide to ignore the olfactory nerves and keep on. Here we are shown rows of ovens, all filled with pans of burning, blazing hooks. They are kept in this fiery furnace from fifteen to twenty-five minutes, then taken and thrown into the bath of oil. We were informed they formerly used water for cooling, but now they considered oil the best. True to Yankee instinct, I queried why. The workman did not enter into a learned discussion on the molecular construction, or atomic properties of steel, and the consequent differentiation of the particles in cooling, as a Boston girl might have done, but with a wise nod and a firm pressure of the lips said, "The oil is the best." I thought the oil was used to keep visitors from intruding. The hooks taken from the oil are quite brittle. To remedy this they are reheated. During this process, which lasts but a few minutes, they are stirred briskly in sand.

We next visited the scouring room. Here were eight small barrels, all filled with hooks and fine sand, revolving and turning round and round with a deafening clash and clang. In this room the workmen escaped quizzing. The noise was too much for me. Now for the finishing touches—the japanning. The japan is a black, tarry liquid made in Birmingham, the composition of which seems to be a trade secret, as I failed to learn it. Two coats of japan are applied; they are heated moderately in an oven and thoroughly mixed after each heating.

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