TAPERING THE GUT LOOP 99 



the time to keep the twisted gut straight along 

 the shank, until the middle of the shank is 

 reached. At this point you begin to taper the 

 twisted gut. This is an operation requiring 

 some delicacy, and is only to be attempted 

 with a very sharp, strong knife. It is done 



FIG. 23. 



by very gradually paring away each piece of 

 twisted gut separately at the sides (Fig. 23) in 

 such a way that just previous to where the 

 shank of the hook merges into the bend the 

 two pieces of gut coincide to form a point. 

 Even in experienced hands this operation is 



