Silkworm Gut

Silkworm Gut, a material used by anglers for dressing the hook-end of the fishing-line. It consists of the drawn-out glands of the silkworm at the time it is about to spin its cocoon and when these glands are fully distended. The worms are immersed for twelve or fourteen hours in strong vinegar, and then taken separately, and pulled asunder. The skilled operator knows by the strength of the silk-gut if the soaking in vinegar has been sufficient, and if so he lays hold of the ends of the two silk-glands and draws them out gently to the proper length—and so the gut is formed. He then stretches a number of these lengths separately across a board, fixing them at each side or end by slits or pins, after which they are exposed to the sun to dry. Silkworm gut is a very strong material. It is prepared in Italy and Spain.