CHAPTER XL 



SILKWORM GUT, KNOTS, LOOPS, &C. 



WE now come to a knotty question in our line of discourse. 

 Those who are blest for the first time in their lives with an 

 opportunity of viewing and handling the beautiful article called 

 silkworm gut (and there be many, even anglers, who to this 

 day have never seen it), are struck with perfect astonishment 

 when they are told that this beautiful semi-transparent sub- 

 stance is the product of the silkworm.* It is not actually the 

 gut of the worm, but what he would spin out into silk were he 

 allowed to take the due course of nature. A few days before 

 he begins to spin, the worm is immersed in a weak acid and 

 left to soak about twelve or eighteen hours, after which he is 

 opened and two pieces of the substance taken from him. 

 These are drawn out with great care and stretched to their full 

 length to dry. They are at first opake, but after becoming 

 dry they assume their transparent appearance. They are put 

 together in bunches of 100 strands, and the useless ends 

 wrapped around with red twine, and exported to all parts of 

 the world. 



Those who first form an acquaintance with it for the purpose 

 of making their own tackle, are apt to use it in its hard dry 

 state, and condemn it at once as brittle and useless. But to 

 work well and handsomely, it should be soaked in moderate- 

 ly warm water for about half an hour, or in cold water 

 about two hours before using. It can then be tied or twisted 

 into any shape to suit the capricious angler's will. 



There are many kinds of knots used by the fraternity in 



* See Part I., p. 31. 



