CHAP. XX. 



Splicing. 



Gut Twister. I have always thought I wanted a gut twister, but 

 I have very seldom required it. 



Splicing. If you break your top joint, you ought to be able to 

 mend it yourself. Cut a neat splice with care, having seen that the 

 slope of each side corresponds to the 

 other, and that when put together 

 they make a joint that fits evenly 

 all along, and is neither bigger nor 

 smaller than the parts of the rod 

 close up to the joint, unite them with 

 common glue, and get someone else 

 to hold them in position while you 

 tie them tight together with three 

 double hitches of strong twine, one in 

 the centre, and one near each end, 

 and then whip it roughly with the 

 same stout twine, so that the joints fit as closely as possible at every 

 point. Put away for twenty-four hours to thoroughly harden. Then 

 having freshly waxed with cobbler's wax some good stout silk red is 

 the colour usually preferred clear away with a penknife a little of the 

 rough whipping at the end at which you propose to commence whipping 

 closely with silk, leaving the rest of the rough whipping to hold the 

 joint firm till you get close enough to it to need to remove more, and 

 so proceeding, finish off with the whipmaker's knot, as shown in the 

 diagram that is three turns kept loose by a pen or pencil being- 

 placed under so that the end of the silk can be passed under, then 

 whip the loose whipping fairly tight, and pull the end till the slack all 

 comes through. The same knot may be used in binding bare hooks, 

 or whipping on rod rings. 



