HOME-GROWN SILKWORM-GUT 227 



wall. Give it a moderately strong pull, holding by 

 the other end. If the strand breaks easily or near 

 the middle, it usually is wise to discard it, although 

 it may be fine in texture and apparently strong; yet 

 I have had strands break near the middle in this 

 way, which on being fastened together by loops 

 made successful leaders. The thin end usually is 

 the weakest part and may break off a few inches at 

 a time till two feet or more have been removed. 

 Now take those that stand this preliminary test 

 successfully and give them a more severe one. Take 

 a milk bottle, for example, and put enough water in 

 it to make it weigh say three pounds; then attach 

 the strands to be tested and see if they will raise, 

 one at a time, that weight. If they do they are 

 strong enough for trout-fishing with light tackle. 

 If you desire to select any leaders for bass fishing, 

 some which will show a greater strength, study very 

 carefully the leaders you have just tested and take 

 the largest, strongest-looking strands and with your 

 milk bottle filled to five- or six-pounds' weight, test 

 them again. A fair proportion of the gut drawn 

 from a brood of cecropia worms should stand this 

 latter test. 



With regard to those leaders that have " come 

 through," you will have a product from six to nine 

 feet long, of a slight taper, uniform in consistency, 

 even in color and strength, and which in appearance 

 will surpass the Spanish fine drawn-gut. 



