FOREST, LAKE, AND RIVER 



centre of the reel plate. By this device the run- 

 ning of the spool could be regulated, and any wear 

 taken up by this compensating contrivance. The 

 Henshall-Van Antwerp reel has this same device. 

 In later years Abbey & Imbrie patented this 

 feature, though their plan differed in reversing the 

 arrangement, the recesses being in the ends of the 

 shaft and the screw-pivots bevelled. Verily, there is 

 nothing new under the sun ! 



In the early days of reel-making in Kentucky 

 there were a few made with so-called " centri- 

 fugal " gearing, where three wheels were used 

 instead of two, with the handle in the centre. The 

 principle is that known in mechanics as the 

 epicycloidal wheel. While the power was, per- 

 haps, greater, the friction engendered was also 

 too great for casting the minnow, and it was 

 abandoned. Not many years ago Wm. Mills & 

 Son patented a reel for fly-fishing on this principle, 

 with the addition of an automatic click. Thus 

 does history repeat itself. 



To use a familiar comparison 



AUTOMATIC 

 REELS 



an automatic reel is constructed 



on the principle of a spring 



tape-measure, the spring being 



wound by pulling off the line, and, conversely, the 



spring winds up the line as the tension is relaxed. 



3H 



