HORSEHAIR CASTS 73 



It is always an easy matter to select gut, and 

 provided each strand is of uniform thickness, 

 round, and shining, it may be assumed that it is 

 good ; but where the reverse is the case, and it is 

 dull and lustreless, it is unreliable, and will pro- 

 bably not even stand knotting together. 



Tt is a pity that horsehair cannot be more 

 generally used, for there is nothing which is so 

 charming to cast with ; its great length, also, is an 

 advantage, inasmuch as so few knots are neces- 

 sary. It will not, however, do for anything but 

 small fish, and even in the most skilful hands is 

 bound to go in the rushes made by a heavy fish. 

 It also has the advantage of but rarely tangling 

 when used single. It is, nevertheless, by no 

 means easy to obtain good horsehair. The white 

 is the best and most suitable, and the more 

 transparent the hair the better. It is said that 

 stallion's hair only should be used for fishing 

 purposes. This I very much doubt, inasmuch as 

 I have obtained excellent hair from geldings and 

 mares. 



In knotting a gut-cast, the simplest and best 

 knot is that formed by placing both ends of the 

 gut together side by side, and then making a 

 simple loop with each piece round the other ; 

 when they are pulled, the two loops slide together, 

 and meeting, form a knot which is small, neat, 

 and strong, and it is also an economical method, 



