GUT. 87 



the silkworm, and the chief supply is derived 

 from Spain and Italy. The process of manu- 

 facture, which is very curious, is fully described 

 in Mr. Elaine's " Encyclopedia of Eural Sports."* 

 The unproductive worms that is, those value- 

 less for silk are steeped in vinegar for a few 

 days, till they become tough, when the manu- 

 facturer takes them out separately, and pulls off 

 the outside skin, which is then a bright yellow, 

 as may be seen adhering to the fag or useless end 

 of the gut. Using his teeth and fingers, he 

 stretches out the glutinous intestine of the worm 

 to the required length, and then pegs it down 

 upon a flat hollowed board leaving it exposed 

 to the air till It becomes bright and hard. The 

 more it is drawn out in length, the finer, of course, 

 the gut will be. An inferior kind of gut is 

 manufactured from the sinews of herons and 

 other birds, and also from the fibres of certain 

 plants. The sort called Indian weed is made 

 from a grass peculiar to the shores of the Medi- 

 terranean. None of these last-mentioned kinds 

 should be used by the fly-fisher, and if, in the 

 confidence of inexperience, they are ever em- 

 ployed by him unwittingly, a very little wear will 



* Published by Messrs. Longman & Co. 

 G 4 



