The Outfit Leaders. 57 



rate, and forcing the gut to bend upward in a curve some- 

 thing less than a half-circle. In this position it will be 

 noticed that a certain portion of the curve seems more 

 highly illuminated than the rest. Holding the gut thus 

 bent, we raise first one hand and then the other, so that 

 this high light shall run slowly to and fro over the curved 

 gut from end to end. During this operation round gut 

 will present a uniform color, while " flats" will reflect the 

 light unequally and seem to scintillate. The springiness 

 of the gut will be determined at the same time. The 

 length of the strands has also been ascertained by almost 

 the first glance; also that the gut has a glassy appearance, 

 free from any yellow tinge. If we have a gauge of the 

 form shown on page 70 of " Fly-Rods and Fly-Tackle," or 

 any similar device for measuring the thickness of gut, we 

 now use it. If we have not, we have at least provided 

 ourselves with some old and well-tried leader to serve as 

 a standard of comparison. We select the thickest gut 

 we can find, but by no means forgetting that roundness 

 is a sine qua non. We test a number of strands to be 

 sure that the thickness is uniform from end to end. 

 That gut should be conical instead of cylindrical, is a 

 quite common and easily overlooked, and an absolutely 

 fatal defect. It is not strong enough under conditions 

 requiring gut of its larger diameter, while it is too obtru- 

 sive to use where its thinner end would suffice. It is dif- 

 ficult to conceive of any circumstances under which it is 

 available. 



But we have selected a hank of gut the thickness and 

 length of the strands of which are satisfactory, while we 

 believe that it has the strength its diameter would indi- 

 cate. Still we but believe we ought to know. So we 



