396 THE PEACTICAL FISHERMAN. 



a small portion of fur rises equally round the gut. This fur take off 

 with a piece of dry linen, working principally towards the thicker end 

 held by the pliers. Do this to equalise the thickness of the gut. Then 

 recommence raising fresh fur and taking it off until the desired degree of 

 fineness be obtained. Were this attempted at once, there would be 

 danger of producing inequality. After wiping the gut dry with the linen, 

 pass indiarubber two or three times over it, and polish with chamois 

 leather, but do not overdo the polishing process. All that is required is, 

 by a kind of spinning motion, to raise the fur equally round the gut, and 

 to avoid "dry shaving," which would leave weak parts. After each link 

 has been sufficiently polished, place it in another saucer, containing 

 plain water. 



Before quitting the subject of gut preparation, a few general hints on 

 its use should be given, thus : Never tie gut until it is well softened, 

 either in the mouth or in warm water ; do not throw away the end 

 pieces, which might probably seem of little use; some of them make 

 exquisitely fine lengths to which roach hooks may be tied for fishing in 

 very fine water. Finally, always soak your gut collar before using. 



HAIR. 



Hair, especially the white, is capital stuff for tight line fishing. It 

 is elastic, which gut is not, and if it be taken from a live stallion in 

 good condition, very strong and serviceable. Get it at a violin bow 

 maker's if you cannot find a live stallion of suitable colour. For long dis- 

 tance fishing it is, however, not suited, for I have been, I confess, 

 utterly unsuccessful in getting good results when using it Nottingham 

 etyle, with the travelling float. For the usual roach fishing it is, how- 

 ever, unequalled, and the chief of the London tight line " roachers " 

 use it ; besides, it does not reflect the light to the extent some gut does, 

 and is, therefore, less visible. The same observations in reference to its 

 use, as given in the case of gut, are applicable to horsehair. 



If it be desired to dye horsehair, the grease must be first removed by 

 soaking the hair in some mordant. A good mordant is made for this 

 purpose, and, indeed, for dyeing feathers, by dissolving a quarter of an 

 ounce of alum in a pint of water, and boiling the hair or feathers in it 

 for a little time. 



GIMP. 



It is a very difficult matter to get good gimp, and as I am not 

 personally acquainted with any wholesale maker, I can only refer the 

 reader to Mr. W. Hearder, Union-street, Plymouth, from whom I have 

 had some good samples now and again. There are various sizes, as 



