20 THE SCOTTISH ANGLER. 



stroying which, the application of the nail is necessary ; 

 hence the gut becomes flattened, and loses much of its 

 value. The sinews of herons and other birds are also 

 manufactured in Spain into a sort of gut, and are much 

 used, although unwittingly, by our salmon fishers. 



Worm-gut varies in length from nearly two feet and 

 downwards. We have seen, however, an article very 

 closely resembling it from the Archipelago, which mea- 

 sures at least a yard and a half. This is not to be con- 

 founded with sea- weed, although a vegetable fibre, and 

 drawn out of a plant. It is much stronger and better 

 suited for angling. The inhabitants of the Greek islands 

 use it for catching mullet, and will often toss a fish 

 some pounds weight over their heads by a thread or 

 two. We ourselves have found it excellent for the 

 larger sorts of tackle. Animal gut is, however, more ge- 

 nerally used, and better adapted for trouting. It ought 

 to be small, round, and transparent, without any flaw 

 or roughness. When worn or disordered, the appli- 

 cation of a piece of India rubber will at once renovate 

 it. In joining threads together for the purpose of 

 making casts, the single knot properly drawn is quite 

 sufficient. One should avoid clipping the useless ex- 

 tremities too closely in this operation, as in that case 

 the knot is somewhat liable to give way. Gut to keep 

 well should be moistened with fine oil, and stored in 

 oiled paper. Gut fly-casts with three flies should mea- 

 sure at least nine feet, from where they join the casting- 

 line to the lowermost fly. The hooks ought to be a 

 yard distant or more from each other ; the two bobs 

 or droppers depending three or four inches from the 

 main line. These droppers should be the smaller flies, 

 if different sizes are used, in order that the line, may 

 fall properly without frightening the fish. Angling for 

 sea trout, in places where the other kinds abound, we 



