SILK-WORM GUT, LEADERS, & C . 
31 
where the current is strong or water muddy, a larger float 
may be used without inconvenience. 
For bass, pickerell, or splmon, there are two kinds of 
floats employed, the cork, and that made of hollow red cedar, 
which are made of different sizes, varying from three to eight 
inches in length, and of neat proportions. Those of red cedar 
are very light, and much preferred in angling for bass and 
weak-fish, in the vicinity of New-York. 
SILK-WORM GUT, LEADERS, &c. 
This extraordinary substance is comparatively little 
known, except among dealers and scientific anglers. It is 
manufactured in large quantities in Spain, and sent thence to 
London, Edinburgh, and the United States.* It is a source 
of much surprise, and by many viewed as incredible, that this 
gut is taken from the silk-worm, at the time when it is about 
to spin. The size of the gut varies according to the capacity 
of the worm, some strands being as small as a fine hair, while 
others are as thick as the 1-32 part of an inch. It is a beauti- 
ful, semi-transparent substance, and is in strands of from 
twelve to twenty inches in length, but usually not exceeding 
fifteen inches. When used by the Angler, it becomes quite 
soft and pliable, but at the same time extremely strong and 
durable. It is almost imperceptible in the water, and if of 
* Inferior qualities of this article arc manufactured in China and Italy, 
but the best is imported from Alioant , in Spuin. No mention is made 
of it3 over having boon succcrslully manufactured in uuy other country 
Mr. Durund, of Jersey-City, opposite New-York, succeeded iu making 
como a few years ago, but the strunds wore entirely too short to bo use- 
fill to the Angler. Latterly, however, au enterprising Amoricau in the 
same neighborhood, has had still better succoss, and produced some al- 
most equal to the Spuuish. lie is still experimenting, and will no doubt 
succeed to his entire satisfaction. 
