ON TACKLE MAKING, ETC. 151 



CHAPTER XII. 

 ON TACKLE MAKING, Ac. 



TACKLE MAKING. The first thing in tackle making is to be 

 able to tie a hook and gut together. Take some line toler- 

 ably strong waxed silk, using either cobbler's wax or white 

 wax. If the colour of the silk is a matter of any moment, 

 the white wax will be found the best. Select the hook 

 and gut, lay the gut along the shank of the hook until it 

 nearly, but not quite, reaches the bend, and lay the end of 

 the waxed silk along with it and, holding both gut and silk 

 in its place on the inside of the hook, twirl the silk round 

 and round, laying eTery coil evenly and firmly side by side, 

 until the whole of the gut is covered, when fasten off with 

 a couple of hitches drawn tight. Touch the silk with 

 varnish, and put it aside to dry. A little practice will 

 enable the angler to do this with great quickness and 

 certainty ; but, before laying the gut to the shank of the 

 hook, it is as well (particularly in smallish hooks) to bite, 

 or indent with the teeth, the gut to be lashed over, as it 

 gives an irregular surface to the silk and prevents it from 

 slipping. 



The next thing is to tie two ends of gut together so as 

 to be able to make or lengthen a casting line or other 

 tackle. On tying gut together you should always soak it 

 first in lukewarm water if you do not the knot never 

 draws so close home, and is very apt to slip. If you have 



