GUT-FINER. 127 



to any degree of fineness you please. The 

 instrument is to be had at a fishing-tackle 

 shop in Derby ; thence I got the one I have, 

 and by post ; it weighs under an ounce. The 

 friend at whose recommendation I got it 

 assures me and this is the chief recommen- 

 dation that using gut fined by it, he has been 

 able to take good fish, over a pound, in still 

 water, where, with ordinary tackle, nothing can 

 be done. I cannot speak of it yet from my 

 own experience. 



PISCATOR. The gut you have shown me, so 

 prepared, is beautifully fine, and for fine fishing 

 I do not doubt must be invaluable, and 

 superior, I should think, to the single hair. I 

 hope we shall presently have proof of its excel- 

 lence. 



AMICUS. The sun is set, and the fish have 

 long ceased rising. Is it not time to stop? 

 We have had a pleasant day, thanks to the 

 scenery, not to our sport. The latter has as 

 much come short of my expectations, as the 

 former has exceeded them ; so I am well content 

 though even my fine gut has had little efficacy. 

 I see in our pannier there are less than a dozen 

 trout, and not one of them of a respectable size. 



