436 THE SALMON FLY. 



trees. The inhabitants, for the most part, devote their time to the 

 rearing of silkworms, and, comparatively speaking, angling interests are 

 of minor importance to the " farmers." Murcia, however, more than 

 holds her own in the production of Salmon gut, nor is the interest of the 

 Fisherman entirely confined to this "garden" of Spain, which, in round 

 numbers, is sixteen miles in length by eight in breadth. 



Sericulture is pursued in many -foreign countries. China, Japan, 

 Sicily, and the United States alike boast their silkworm manufactories, 

 the product of which, however, so far as silkworm gut is concerned, fails 

 to reach the standard of excellence usually needed for a good fight with a 

 fifteen pound fresh-run fish unless the rod is extremely lissom. 



Of the various silk producing moths the Bombyx mori best serves 

 Anglers. But, by a somewhat strange coincidence, the best results 

 obtained in Murcia are not from home-bred hatchings, but from eggs, 

 first imported into the South of France, and, after development, sent 

 back to Spain. 



The selection of eggs is almost a business of itself, though great 

 consideration is extended to every item of detail during incubation, 

 After the selection is made the eggs are placed at the end of the month of 

 February, but are immersed beforehand for three or four hours in water 

 at about the temperature of 50 degrees Fahr. They are spread on a 

 cloth separately, there to remain for about a week in a dry, well-ventilated 

 apartment. The temperature of this room during the first day is 60 

 degrees, during the second 62, the third 66, the fourth 68, and from the 

 fifth never higher than 70 degrees. With this attention the eggs 

 gradually darken in appearance, and the little " black-a-rnoors " come to 

 life in seven or eight days. To keep the rooms specially sweet and clean, 

 and the floors sprinkled with water to lay the dust before sweeping, are 

 the indispensable conditions of the success of the undertaking. 



The various stages of the silkworm from the eggs to the silk sack 

 may be best understood by the accompanying illustrations. 



1. Female moth, which lays about 200 eggs. 



2. Grub three days old. 



3. Worm seven days old. 



4. Worm fourteen days old. 



