SALMON REEL LINES. 13 



new silk and hair line of equal thickness ; but as 

 human hair is thought to defy the rot and ruin even 

 of the grave for many years, 1 feel satisfied that 

 a line of this latter material would be much more 

 durable ; for the silk in the ordinary line is soon 

 worn out by friction against the rod's rings, if 

 ever so great care be taken to preserve it from 

 rot, and then its strength is gone. For my part 

 I never expect the point of a line to last above 

 half a season's fishing, although I never put my 

 line away without first drying it well. Human 

 hair lines must necessarily be nearly double the 

 expense of others. As to their elasticity I should 

 rather look upon it as an advantage than other- 

 wise, especially in striking and playing a fish. 

 However, take the silk and hair for the present, 

 for these on the whole appear the best. Some 

 persons prefer twisted silk alone, lines of which 

 are made at Nottingham. Some use twisted, and 

 some plaited hemp, which latter I know you can 

 meet with in Liverpool, though I do not recom- 

 mend them, because they are generally too stout, 

 and, however nicely prepared (which they may 

 be by being boiled in linseed oil and other secrets, 

 such as Marshall's preparation), I do not consider 

 them so lasting, or capable of being thrown so 

 lightly, as the silk and hair. Economy is their 

 chief recommendation. 



Salmon Reel Lines. — Now as to these, they 



