104 Fly-rods and Fly-tackle. 



each hand holding an end of the bundle. We now bring 

 one 4 hand towards the other, thus compelling the strands to 

 separate, and forcing the gut to bend upward in a curve 

 something less than a semicircle. In this position it 

 will be noticed that a certain part of the curve seems 

 more highly illuminated than the rest. Holding the gut 

 thus bent, we slowly raise first one hand and then the 

 other, so that this high light shall run slowly to and fro 

 over the curved gut from end to end. During this 

 operation round gut will present a uniform color, while 

 " flats " will reflect the light unequally, and, therefore, 

 seem to scintillate. However appropriate this method 

 may be to the gut in hank, it is hardly applicable to a 

 single strand. In such case, if the strand be rolled be- 

 tween the ends of the thumb and second finger not the 

 first finger, which is less sensitive an ordinarily acute 

 touch will detect whether the strand is round or not. 



The available length of the gut is, of course, deter- 

 mined almost at the first glance. 



From the color we infer whether the gut is fresh or 

 stale, its probable strength in relation to its thickness, 

 and, in part, its wearing quality. In all these respects 

 fresh gut is superior to old gut of original equal quality. 

 The color can best be judged from the fuzzy end of the 

 hank, and should be clear and glassy, and by no means 

 dull or yellowish. 



The wearing quality of the gut maybe judged partly 

 by its color, partly by its springiness when bent and re- 

 laxed, and also by its hardness. It should feel like wire. 



Really first-class gut of any size is a much scarcer 

 article than is generally supposed. It is to be remem- 

 bered that as yet it is not machine made, and lacks the 

 uniformity characteristic of such products. Gut-draw* 



