28 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 
known as the “ Nottingham style.” Long casts have to 
be made with so light a bait and tackle, that unless the 
line is almost as fine as gossamer, and runs very easily, 
it will not pass through the rod rings without great 
trouble. It must also be “un-dressed,”-or it will sink 
instead of floating, and thus render it impossible to 
strike a bite effectively at long range. I have in my 
possession a line made at Nottingham which fulfils ad- 
mirably all these conditions. It is composed of six or 
eight of the finest possible strands of silk, plaited some- 
what in a square shape; and in thickness does not 
exceed that of ordinary “ Holland thread,” one hundred 
yards weighing exactly three-eighths of an ounce. And 
yet, fine as it is, it will lift a dead weight of between 6 lbs. 
and 7 lbs., which is double the strain that it is ever likely 
to be subjected to. 
This line is the best that can be used on the reel for 
every description of bottom fishing, with the exceptions 
mentioned under the head of Trolling-lines. 
There is a twisted silk line, sold in the tackle-shops, 
which is cheaper, but which kinks directly it is wet, ren- 
dering it useless for Nottingham fishing. 
GUT-LINES. 
Gut lines are to be preferred for every description of 
bottom and fly-fishing, and, especially in the latter case ; 
it is important that they should be carefully and evenly 
tapered from top to bottom. The three chief points to 
