i06 SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOOK OF THE BLACK BASS. 



polyphemus strands nearly as long ; and the color was perfection, 

 i. e., delicately tinted either green or pale brown, according to the 

 variety. But alas, our hopes were vain ; for tlie next day, when 

 they had dried, we found that they had but little strength com- 

 pared with the product of the Chinese worm. I^ could hardly 

 have been in the drawing, for we had previously drawn gut from 

 the Chinese worm, proceeding in the same manner, and it was 

 hard and strong. We drew many strands, but all with no better 

 success." 



It will be observed that Mr. Orvis placed the larvfe, be- 

 fore drawing, a " few hours " in " weak vinegar," Avhile Dr. 

 Garlick (page 272, '' Book of the Black Bass "), Avho claimed 

 to have produced strands equal in strength to Spanish gut, 

 drew the worm without any kind of preparation. 



The practice in China and Spain is to soak the worm in 

 vinegar of full strength for from two to twelve (accounts 

 vary) hours, according to temperature, the time required 

 being less in hot weather than in cool ; and, as Mr. Orvis 

 states that he had previously drawn gut from the Chinese 

 worm, " hard and strong," by the same treatment that he 

 applied to the American worm, it would seem that either 

 the foreign method is not well understood, or that the 

 American silk-worm requires a different mode of treatment 

 in this respect, or, according to Dr. Garlick, no treatment 

 at all. 



It is hoped that experiments in this direction will con- 

 tinue to be made, until the native gut can be produced fully 

 as strong as the best Spanish gut. If it can be done there 

 is a fortune in it for somebody, for a leader in a single 

 piece of from six to nine feet in length, and as strong as 

 the Spanish gut, will bring a good price. 



An easy way to experiment in the matter would be to 



