THE TARPON 101 



It will interest one to perceive how little can be raised. The 

 rod will bend to a dangerous degree in lifting a few pounds, 

 although the 24-thread line will have a tensile strength of over 

 forty-eight pounds. The line may be doubled back from the 

 leader for a distance equal to the lengih of the leader, and the 

 rolling hitch is the safest way to secure this loop according to 

 the tests. A splice is sometimes used. It is better practice to 

 dispense with the loop and to fasten the line to the s\vdvel by 

 the use of the rawhide as described. It is advisable to take at 

 least two new lines for accident may befall one at any time. 

 Six and nine thread lines should be purchased before the trip 

 for the local dealers may not carry them. Indeed, it is wise to 

 procure all tackle from reliable dealers prior to the trip for 

 the assemblage of your outfit is a pleasant labor. The Ash- 

 away Company has written so entertainingly of its method of 

 fabricating its lines that I will here include it : 



''Tramp, tramp, tramp. A walking delegate has nothing 

 on the maker of an Ashaway hand-laid line. 725 feet do^vn 

 and 725 feet back. All day long he walks and every inch 

 of the way his sensitive, trained fingers are testing the 

 linen threads that go into the line that you, perhaps, will 

 use on your vacation. Vacations don't come any too oft- 

 en, — you'll want the best lines that money can buy. 



"Twisted linen salt-water lines are made in three parts, 

 for instance four threads (of a 12-thread line) to a 

 strand, three strands to a line. 



''Starting at the near end of the walk, the line maker 

 grasps the 12 ends of thread, divided into 3 groups that 

 fall into separate guides. He hikes to the far end of the 

 walk, the threads unreeling from separate spools as he 

 goes. At the far end he attaches a small weight to these 

 strands to give the right tension. 



"On the return trip he inspects the threads for flaws 

 of any kind. The instant his fingers, made alert by years 

 of practice, feel an imperfection, he stops. If possible to 

 take out the imperfection \\dthout harming the thread he 



