CHAPTER XI 



CULTIVATING SILKWORM-GUT 

 AT HOME 



BY EDWIN T. WHIFFEN 



After a little experience every angler with the fly 

 who is in the habit of studying the problems that 

 constantly confront him recognizes the importance 

 of concealing the connection between the line and 

 the lure. Such a connection is established by means 

 of the leader, consisting usually of silkworm-gut im- 

 ported from Spain. Now the desirable qualities in 

 a leader are strength, fineness, and unobtrusiveness. 

 This last essential depends upon color, absence of 

 luster, and of any small peculiarities which sepve to 

 call attention to any particular part of the leader. 

 In its ordinary state, the Spanish gut offends against 

 all three just-mentioned qualities; its color is ob- 

 trusive, it possesses a shine that makes it a target 

 for every eye, and the frequent knots mean just so 

 many points to distract the fish's attention from the 

 object of the angler's special interest the artifi- 

 cial fly. The shine may be removed by one of the 

 processes known as " drawing," that is, taking off 



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