LINES AND REELS. 27 
the dressed silk line, is equally strong and more durable. 
This line is what is termed “ cable-laid ”»—twisted, that 
is, in the same manner as a ship’s cable,—the principle 
of which is that whilst the cable itself is twisted, say 
from right to left, the separate ropes of which it is com- 
posed are twisted from left to right. The result of this 
is that the two twists counteract each other in their 
mutual inclination to kink, and when wetted the cable 
instead of swelling hardens and contracts. The spun- 
cotton lines are made on the same principle, of sizes to 
suit all sorts of fish, including Salmon, and answer per- 
fectly both for fly-fishing and ordinary bottom fishing. 
They are not dressed in any way, but are stained a 
good neutral, or slate colour. Specimens were also sent 
me of the same lines dressed in various ways with india- 
rubber and tar for purposes of trolling. Neither of the 
dressings, however, properly effect their object ; and if 
they did, would still be useless, as in a single day’s 
spinning the whole of the dressing wears off. The 
Company,* however, informed me that at my suggestion 
they were about to try experiments with oil dressings, 
with what result I have not yet heard. 
REEL LINES FOR BOTTOM-FISHING. 
A line of exceptional lightness, and with a disinclina- 
tion to “kink” when wetted, is essential for the most 
successful and scientific method of bottom-fishing, 
* “The Manchester Twine-Spinning Company.” 
