108 Fly-rods and Fly-tackle. 



gut from the same bundle, and finding and recording the 

 breaking strain of each strand. Then after knotting the 

 pieces together, and dyeing them in a certain manner, 

 the breaking strain was again determined and compared 

 with that first obtained. From these data it was pro- 

 posed to compute the loss in strength due to the use of 

 that particular dye ; but a moment's reflection suffices 

 to show that this method can afford no sure result; for 

 each strand of course broke in the first instance at its 

 weakest point. Consequently, after the fragments have 

 been united, the then breaking strain is unknown, and it 

 is with this unknown quantity the comparison is neces- 

 sarily made. Other methods were tried, but none were 

 free from objection. However, it seems safe to say that 

 from fifteen up to forty and even fifty per cent, of the 

 strength of the gut may be lost in this process, according 

 to the skill and care used therein. 



If the following directions are followed, it is believed 

 this will be reduced to a minimum. Before dyeing gut, 

 the ragged ends should be clipped and the useful por- 

 tion bundled together by tying at one end only. This 

 bundle should be well washed with brown soap and 

 water, and then rinsed in at least three waters until the 

 soap is thoroughly eliminated ; it should then be wiped, 

 and allowed to dry. Thus any greasy matter which 

 may be upon the surface of the gut from any cause will 

 be removed, and the dye will bite with greater prompt- 

 ness and the more indelibly. For if all dyes are to some 

 extent corrosive, as seems to be the case, it is well to ex- 

 pose the gut to this influence for as short a time as will 

 produce the desired result. 



The least injurious of any which will give a useful 

 color is the ink-dye. Indeed I have thought at times 



