Leaders. 125 



well as stretchers ; and lastly, an ordinary tin tobacco- 

 box becomes a most convenient fly-book for temporary 

 use. When this method is followed, the dropper -gut 

 lengths of course remain constantly attached to the 

 leader while in use. 



Having completed your leader, grading its taper by 

 careful and orderly selection from the thick, medium and 

 thin bundles of gut, snip off the free ends closely. The 

 next step is to test it. This should never be omitted. 

 Provide yourself with some strips of writing-paper about 

 half an inch wide and an inch long, and gum one end, and 

 let this dry. Then proceed as follows : Soak your leader 

 till perfectly soft. Thrust a brad-awl through one end 

 loop, and into a board. Apply a spring-balance to the oth- 

 er end loop, holding this with the right hand, while you 

 reach before it and grasp the leader with the left. Then 

 strain the leader till it breaks, noting upon the spring- 

 balance at how many pounds this takes place. Then 

 knot the leader again, snip off the ends, coil it about 

 something round to give it a nice appearance, and after 

 removing the leader, fasten the coils so formed by wind- 

 ing one end spirally about them. Then write the date, 



and " breaks at pounds," on one of the paper slips, 



and attach it to the leader. You will thereafter know 

 the history of that leader, and what reliance can be 

 placed upon it. Should the leader break in testing much 

 below what you think it should have endured, prove it 

 again after re-tying it. For in the first instance the gut 

 may have been cracked somewhere, and if this was the 

 case your test gave no indication of its real strength. 

 I believe it will be found wise invariably to test a leader 

 every time it is to be used. 



This can be readily and satisfactorily done without 



