122 SALMON FISHING 



be of interest. Murcia in Spain provides the 

 greater part of the gut, while a fair quantity 

 is produced in Italy. In the interior of the 

 silk-worm there are two sacs, each about one 

 inch in length, containing a liquid secretion, 

 which, when the worm spins his cocoon, becomes 

 silk. In making gut, however, it is necessary 

 to stop his career, at a point when he is ready 

 to spin. This is done by steeping him in a 

 pickle, which somewhat hardens and solidifies 

 the secretion. The worm is then ready for 

 further operation, when the worker breaking it 

 open, picks out the sacs, and taking them by 

 either end, draws them out to their full extent, 

 and exposes them in the sun to dry. All this 

 is done by the peasants, who cultivate the worms 

 in their homes. 



This is the first stage, and is called "raw gut." 

 It is then sold to the manufacturers at so much 

 per pound. At this stage there is a glutinous 

 skin on it, which is removed by boiling in soap 

 and water. It is then bleached and finished by 

 clarification, and polished with special appliances. 

 After being carefully sorted and sized, the strands 

 are put into bundles of a hundred each, ready 

 for export. 



Gut being one of the strongest and most 

 transparent substances known, lends itself to 

 angling purposes as no other material does. It 



