40 APPARATUS. 



one is accustomed to them, are very comfortable 

 to use, especially in the winter, as the knots give 

 a firm hold on the line when the hands are cold, 

 and with a large fish the smooth line would slip 

 through the fingers. The colt's tail will gene- 

 rally make two or more lines. 



SILKWORM GUT. 



Gut for fishing is made as follows. Select a 

 number of the best and largest silkworms, just 

 when they are beginning to spin, which is known 

 by their refusing to eat and having a fine silk 

 thread hanging from their mouths; immerse 

 them in strong vinegar and cover them closely 

 for twelve hours if the weather be warm, but two 

 or three hours longer if it be cool. When taken 

 out and pulled asunder, two transparent guts will 

 be observed, of a yellow-green colour, as thick as 

 a small straw, bent double ; the rest of the en- 

 trails resemble boiled spinach, and therefore can 

 occasion no mistake. As to the silk gut, if this be 



