86 Fly-rods and Fly-tackle. 



years ago I purchased a bundle of gut, which, though 

 small in diameter, was of uncommon length, as well as 

 of unusual excellence in every other respect. It was 

 justly regarded as a great prize. Having abundance of 

 other colors, I prepared to dye this lot in a decoction of 

 red onion-peel, under the mistaken impression that a 

 brownish-yellow tint was the least visible in brown wa- 

 ters. The dye did not seem to bite readily, so the aid 

 of heat was sought to hasten the process. This had the 

 desired eifect, and a very satisfactory color was obtained. 

 Half a dozen leaders were made from it in the hurry in- 

 cident to the last day or two of preparation for a some- 

 what protracted fishing-trip, and with them in my fly- 

 book I set out. Arriving in the evening, the next morn- 

 ing we began our preparations for fishing, when these 

 leaders were produced with a grand flourish before the 

 other anglers then present, and their supposed merits 

 were expatiated upon. From hand to hand they passed, 

 the length and the roundness of the strands, and their 

 uniform and delicate color, eliciting universal admiration. 

 It then occurred to me that they had not been tested; and 

 this, acting on principle, and not because I entertained 

 the most remote suspicion of their strength, I proceeded 

 to do. We have the best of authority that " pride goeth 

 before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall," and 

 so it was in this case. The gut before dyeing showed an 

 average breaking strain of eight pounds, and guided by 

 the tests then made, not the slightest doubt was enter- 

 tained that the leaders made from it, after dyeing, would 

 stand six pounds at least; but the protracted exposure 

 to heat had rotted them throughout, and they broke 

 again and again at two pounds, and less. It may easily 

 be imagined that so little wool after so great a cry was 



