SALMON GUT. 11 



soaking about eighteen hours, the insect is taken 

 out, and on opening it, two short thick lobes, or 

 guts, are discovered towards the upper end of the 

 body, perfectly transparent, though tinged with 

 yellow. Each of these, on being separately drawn 

 out with great care, stretch, and become opaque 

 as they do so, and ultimately transparent, to the 

 length of upwards of a yard, and are then left 

 upon the full stretch to dry, and the good part, 

 from ten to twenty inches, ultimately becomes 

 fit for use. For its thickness, its strength is really 

 wonderful, since, under fair circumstances, a 

 good length fit for salmon fishing, will lift at least 

 151bs. dead weight, when tested by Siebe's 

 machine. I have myself made gut out of our 

 native worms ; not fit for use, certainly, because 

 too fine ; yet the experiment was sufficient to 

 show the principle of its production, and there- 

 fore very interesting. We find it to be the silk 

 in its unripe state, and not a part of the organs 

 of the insect itself (as its name would imply), 

 that forms this invaluable assistant to our skilful 

 endeavours against " the shadows that glide 

 through the waters." 



SALMON GUT may be in substance as thick as 

 you can find it, and you will possess a treasure, 

 if, in one hank, many lengths are as thick as a 

 middling sized pin, or stout netting silk. In 

 length, the part for use, should run from sixteen 



