38 



CHAPTER II. 

 ANGLER'S TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT. 



GUT, a material so useful to the angler, it is necessary 

 to state, is a preparation from the entrails of the silk- 

 worm. It is fabricated, principally for our British 

 market, in various parts of Spain, Portugal and Italy, 

 also in Sicily and the Greek islands. Spanish gut is, 

 unquestionably, in higher repute than any other; its 

 quality either being intrinsically finer, or more attention 

 is paid to its manufacture and getting up. It is not 

 nearly so long as some of the Sicilian article, which 

 evidently is produced from a larger variety of silk- 

 worm. This advantage, however, in the latter, is 

 counterbalanced by the coarseness of its texture, as 

 well as by the want of roundness and equality in the 

 thread or fibre. Good, useful gut is always dis- 

 tinguished by the possession of these two properties. 

 It should also be quite transparent, not lacteous in its 

 appearance, and free withal from flaw, film, and flossy 

 matter. The descriptions of gut most difficult to pro- 

 cure, are those used for fine trouting and for salmon 

 fishing. What intervenes betwixt the above-mentioned 

 sorts is abundant enough, and very excellent hanks of 

 this accommodating description may be picked up, 

 now-a-days, at a small expense, and with little trouble. 

 Still it is desirable that the angler have a larger choice 

 of the qualities above mentioned ; and I think a little 

 trouble on the part of those importing it would secure 



