96 THE TARPON 



NO. ADAPTED FOR LENGTH RECOMMENDED 



6 Reflation 3-6 tackle 900 feet 



9 Regulation light tackle 900 feet 



12-24 General fishing for tarpon 600 feet 



27-30 Tarpon trolling and fishing in cramp- 

 ed quarters; or where sharks are 

 very bothersome and the fish must be 

 captured as soon as possible. Their 

 use is not recommended. Four hun- 

 dred (400) feet is amply long. 

 A new line should be thoroughly wetted in fresh water, 

 stretched and dried in the shade. This sets the lay of the line, 

 prevents kinking and evens its strength. Holder says that 

 no one was able to capture a heavy tuna till both the reel pad 

 and the line were wetted just before beginning fishing, which 

 prevented the burning of the line through the friction of the 

 pad on the line on long runs of the fish. The line is the most 

 vulnerable part of the tackle. Then comes the leader. 



I wrote to several manufacturers of linen lines to ascertain 

 how to care for a linen line after its use in salt water. It was 

 the opinion of one that the line should be rinsed in fresh wa- 

 ter each day after use and then dried in a large coil around 

 some article where metal cannot come in contact with it. An- 

 other suggested a more elaborate plan. He advised that the 

 line be taken off the reel and rinsed in fresh water. An extra 

 twist should then be put into it by rolling it between the hands 

 whilst the line is wet. It should then be dried out and stretched. 

 The line should not be kept in too dry a place and before it is 

 again used it should be wetted. He concludes by saying : 



''The idea of putting an extra twist into the line while 

 it is wet is to get kink into the fibre, for then if it is kept 

 from drying out too much before using it will stay in fair- 

 ly good condition. Care must be taken not to leave any 

 moisture in the line as it mildews and this rots the line 

 very fast." 



