RECIPE FOR PRESERVING TROLLING LINES. I 37 



going very far ; and let us hope for no breakages 

 to start with. Besides, carrying it in the but 

 not only spoils it, but gives an unpleasant rattle, 

 and feeling of " all-not-rightishness" to the rod 

 in throwing. 



Herb. — First let me look at your line ; — pre- 

 pared, I see ; — the very thing I wished to ask 

 you about. What is the process? 



Theoph. — This, you will note, is properly a 

 trolling-line of the best description ; eight-strand 

 platted silk, of its natural yellow colour. I have 

 promised to try it for a friend, as a salmon fly- 

 line, but having done so, cannot approve of it so 

 highly for that purpose, as of the unprepared silk 

 and hair twisted ; it throws rather too heavy. 

 The preparation of it is certainly most excellent 

 — the best I know, not excepting that which the 

 tackle-makers adopt, who, by the bye, I believe, 

 charge but a penny a-yard for preparing them. 



V 



Recipe for Preserving and Stiffening Trolling 

 Lines, 

 To a quarter of a pint of " double-boiled cold- 

 drawn" linseed oil, add about one ounce of gold 

 size. Gently warm and mix them well, being 

 first careful to have the line quite dry. While 

 the mixture is warm, soak it therein till it is 

 fully saturated to its very centre, say for twenty- 

 four hours. Then pass it through a piece of 



