WHIPPINGS, SERVINGS, KNOTS, ETC 77 



the waste ends of gut that fine crinkly stuff which we find at 

 the end of every hank, carefully swaddled in red worsted. It 

 should, of course, be well soaked. When the knot is pulled 

 tight the ends of the fine gut, which are tucked in, in the 

 manner illustrated, hold securely. My friend Mr. Tracey has 

 shown me a method of making what is practically a buffer knot 

 without whipping. He has found that it answers its purpose very 

 well, but it is not quite so neat as the improved buffer above 

 described. Certainly it is a handy knot when one is hurried 

 and the wherewithal to whip is wanting. Here again the illus- 

 tration obviates the necessity for verbal description. 



A BUFFER KNOT WITHOUT WHIPPING 



It is a great mistake to soak gut in hot water ; heat and 

 moisture soften it, but on drying it becomes more brittle than 

 ever. Good new gut hardly requires soaking at all ; but new 

 gut seems to be very scarce, and a long soaking in cold water 

 (from two hours to all night, in rain water for preference) is really 

 necessary if we wish to make up thoroughly sound tackle. 

 Messrs. Allcock have introduced gut for which perpetual softness, 

 brought about by chemical treatment, is claimed. I have not 

 tried it for sea fishing, but may say that a three-hours' soaking 

 in glycerine solution (glycerine, \ oz. ; boiling water, \ pint 

 gut placed in it when cold) has been strongly recommended 

 recently. I have for some time been endeavouring to persuade 

 men living in tropical countries, more particularly India, to 



