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more economical than gut artificially fined. The 

 lower, or " float-line," should therefore invariably 

 consist of single gut. and as fine as it can possibly 

 be used with safety. This point is perhaps of more 

 importance in bottom fishing than in any other 

 kind of angling, because in this mode the fish have 

 more time for examination before biting. They 

 are able, as it were, to take a leisurely survey of 

 the position and of the arrangements prepared for 

 their benefit. Hair should never be used in any 

 kind of fishing, because gut can be procured 

 which, when stained, is both finer and stronger 

 than any hair, whilst it is also transparent, whereas 

 hair is opaque. 



STAINING GUT. 



Stained or clouded gut is much to be preferred 

 to gut unstained, because it is less visible in the 

 water. Different fishermen affect different stains, 

 some preferring what is termed the " red-water 

 stain," others a neutral or slate tint, and others a 

 blue. The most important point in the staining of 

 gut is to remove the gloss, which catches the light, 

 and on a sunny day glitters through the water in a 



