Angling and Angling Appliances 
angler, who knows the charm which the 
use of the light free-running Notting- 
ham reel affords, will look upon the 
genial doctor’s description as one of the 
best fishing stories we have had, even 
from America. As a matter of fact, 
the present writer never saw any ang- 
ler in any part of Great Britain or Ire- 
land whirl a spinning bait round his 
head with one hand while holding the 
rod with the other, or, indeed, cast a 
bait in this way at all. 
In what is known as the ‘‘ Thames” 
style of casting a spinning bait, the 
angler pulls the line off the reel and 
coils it at his feet in the fishing punt or 
boat, or on the bank; then giving the 
bait, suspended near the rod-point, a 
swing with the rod, and releasing the 
line, the bait flies off in the direction 
intended, carrying the line after it, just 
as a rocket carries a line from the shore 
to a ship. 
Many of our best anglers use both 
styles, and both have special advan- 
tages. The light, large barrel of the 
‘¢ Nottingham ” reel, made of vulcanite 
or well-seasoned wood, revolves on a 
fine steel spindle with which it is only 
in contact at two points, which are 
kept well oiled to reduce the friction to 
a minimum. A good ‘‘Nottingham”’ 
reel of 4% inch, or 5 inch diameter 
and 2 inch in width will continue to re- 
volve for two or even three minutes 
when held in the hand, or standing on 
a table, simply from the impetus given 
by one or two quick strokes with the 
hand on the rim of the revolving part, 
or by pressing and suddenly releasing 
the handle. About the year 1882 Mr. 
David Slater, of Newark-on-Trent, in- 
vented what is known as_ Slater’s 
‘‘Combination”’ Nottingham and ordi- 
2 
Nary eel. Ini this beautiful reel, the 
barrel which holds the line revolves in- 
side a brass frame, with side bars, and 
when the ‘‘check”’ is brought into ac- 
tion, the reel is, to all intents and pur- 
poses, an ordinary fishing reel; but 
touch the check spring again, you have 
avery strong and yet delicately ad- 
justed barrel, which on the least pull 
of the wheel will fly round like the fly 
wheel of an engine. All the best Not- 
tingham reels havea ‘‘check ” action, 
and all have two ivory or vulcanite 
handles placed opposite each other on 
the outside edge of the revolving reel. 
One handle balances the other, just as 
in the American-German silver or brass 
multiplier you must have the balanced 
handle—which to an English angler 
looks a very dangerous line catcher. 
The two handles on the Nottingham 
reel, being in shape like thimbles, and 
sitting close on the smooth side of the 
reel, never catch the line. 
The English angler controls the run 
of the Nottingham reel, so as to pre- 
vent over-running, by the gentlest 
pressure of the finger tips on the 
smooth rim of the revolving barrel or 
spool; the American angler has to use 
a thumb-stall, as the thumb is pressed 
gently on the body of the line on the 
spool, just behind the point where the 
line is leaving it, the reel being on the 
upper side of the’ rod. Enis causes 
very great friction, especially where 
heavy baits and sinkers are used. More 
force is required to make this multipler 
revolve than is required bya plain Not- 
tingham reel. 
In America, undressed, fine, braided 
linen lines appear to be preferred forcast- 
ing from the reel; in England we prefer 
very fine, undressed, plaited silk lines. 

