450 BOOK OF THE BLACK BASS. 



Care of the Line. 



The line should be thoroughly dried, always, after use. 

 This injunction is of the highest importance to the angler. 

 The entire line — not merely the portion that may have 

 been used — should be stretched between two trees, or 

 around pegs or nails driven up for the purpose, and ex- 

 posed to the sun and air; or, if at night, or if the day be 

 damp, it should be coiled around the back of a chair, and 

 placed near the fire. I can not impress the necessity of 

 this care too strongly on the beginner, for he will see so 

 many bad examples in those who ought to know better, but 

 who habitually put away the reel and wet line, to the ever- 

 lasting injury of both, because it is "too much trouble," 

 or they are "too tired," to perform their bounden duty of 

 drying their lines; such men are "pot-fishers," and will 

 stand their rods, jointed, up in a corner all night. They 

 are on a par with the "pot-hunter" who, after a hard 

 day's tramp, permits his dogs to go supperless to bed, and 

 his gun to remain foul until morning. 



Silk-lines are especially liable to mildew and rot if put 

 away damp or wet. Even waterproof lines should have a 

 good airing after use, or they will retain more or less damp- 

 ness, which, in the end, will work their destruction. After 

 drying a line, it should be rubbed, or reeled through a 

 woolen cloth, to remove any sand, grit or mildew. The 

 economy of this whole matter is one thing, and its ex- 

 pediency another; the value of a line may be a small 

 affair, but the breaking away of a good fish through a 

 defective line is a serious event. I once knew a good 

 fellow, but a poor angler, who, after a day's fishing, care- 



