TACKLE AND FISHING GEAR. 37 



the signature of ' Creel,' mentions that some thirty years ago 

 there could be found in the market a superior class of salmon 

 gut now said to be unprocurable owing to the total extinction 

 of the silkworm that produced it. ' Since this time,' he says, 

 ' we have more than once been informed that a new breed of 

 silkworm has been raised and encouraged in the South ot 

 France, introduced from Japan, possessing all the features 

 of the former fine and strong gut which from its absence has 

 caused the lament of many a veteran salmon fisher.' 



In the selection of gut, aim first, as Chitty says, in his 

 'Fly Fisher's Text-book,' 'at that which is perfectly round/ to 

 which end the best assistance the eye can receive is from the 

 thumb and forefinger, between which the gut should be rolled 

 quickly ; if it is not round but flat, the defect by this process 

 will be at once discovered. Next to roundness, colourlessness 

 and transparency are the two points of most importance ; and 

 last though as some fishermen will perhaps suggest, not least 

 comes the question of length. On this point, I will not 

 hazard a scale of measurement, lest I should bring about my 

 ears a swarm of infuriated vendors of gut, which, were it mine, 

 I should unhesitatingly commit to the flames, or to the keeping 

 of the first small boy I found stickleback fishing. I may, how- 

 ever, quote the standard laid down by Chitty, above named, 

 without getting myself into hot-water : 



In length the part [of salmon gut] for use should run from 

 sixteen to eighteen inches at least. The thicker trout gut should 

 be of the diameter of ordinary sewing silk, whilst the thinner sort 

 may be almost the very finest you can procure, provided it be 

 ' round and sound,' and keeping in view all other requisites for 

 strength. Ten to sixteen inches is the usual length of each strand. 

 Salmon gut may be in substance as thick as you can find it, and 

 you will possess a treasure if, in one hank, many lengths are as 

 thick as a middling-sized pin or stoui knitting needle. 



He adds : 



Each piece or length should be also to the teeth hard, like wire, 

 colourless, and transparent as glass, which testifies strength, free 



