TROLLING TACKLE. 199 



II first purchase it, and after some little wear and tear 

 ! the gum is gone ; the line then soon untwists and be- 

 I comes rotten, therefore very unfit for Jack and Pike- 

 Ij fishing. The platted silk lines are the best for trolling, 

 t in every sense of the word ; they are stronger than 

 those which are twisted. Let the twisted be made 

 wholly of silk, or silk and hair, or mohair. Platted 

 silk lines are also less inclined to kink or tangle than 

 I the twisted, which every TroUer knows is of some 

 consequence ; therefore, my advice is to provide your- 

 self with a platted silk line, (the colour immaterial,) 

 made of about eight strands, and in length from fifty 

 to sixty yards. If you wish to make your line water- 

 proof, dress it in the following manner : lay the line 

 in coils, in a large tumbler or basin, and pour as much 

 cold-drawn double-boiled linseed oil on it as will cover 

 the whole ; let it lay a few minutes, then take the end 

 last put in, and gradually draw all the line out of the 

 tumbler or basin, and pass it through or wipe it with 

 a piece of woollen cloth or flannel, which will make 

 the surface smooth, and the whole line will be alike 

 saturated with the oil. Hang the line up for a few 

 , days in dry air, and it will then be fit for use. — Note. 

 Some Trollers think this dressing a line causes it soon- 

 er to rot ; but I am not of that opinion. I find a line 

 so dressed is less likely to kinkle, or stick to the rod, 

 than those without it, and also that the dressed line 

 passes quicker through the rings when you make a 

 cast, in consequence of its not imbibing much water, 

 p I and from its being a little stiflf : .when choosing a 



