104 THE TARPON 



(3) At tensions ranging from 65 to 110 lbs. the swivels 

 failed. 



(4) The eyes in the wire itself broke at tensions rang- 

 ing from 100 to 110 lbs. 



(5) Special attention was paid to the kinks of which 

 you spoke, and it was found that the section of wire in 

 which a kink was made broke at the kink at 10 lbs. 



(6) The knotted section which was submitted broke at 

 98 lbs. 



(7) One portion of the wire which had been hammered 

 or flattened slightly broke at 60 lbs. We presume that the 

 flattening was done deliberately, although this point was 

 not mentioned in your letter. 



The impression left upon the mind of Mr. Van Harlin- 

 gen of our staff who conducted all these tests is that the 

 main wire is of an inferior type, and that a No. 12 piano 

 wire would be vastly superior. He also in his report to 

 me expressed his surprise at the flimsy construction of 

 the links and the swivels. With regard to the breaking 

 point of the main wire, we found that whenever we tried 

 to grip this with our machine, we damaged it sufficiently 

 to cause it to fail before any respectable load was put 

 upon it. A piano wire of No. 12 to No. 13 gauge will stand 

 a slow steady pull of anywhere from 200 to 275 lbs." 

 The so-called links referred to in this report were the 

 ordinary loops at the ends of the leaders. 



No doubt these leaders were purchased by the dealer in 

 entire good faith, but I submit it is unfair to anglers engaged 

 in this expensive fishing to sell them untested and inferior 

 goods at a high price. In late years leaders have improved 

 in quality. 



Sinkers — The weight and style of the sinker depend upon 

 the waters where the fishing is done. They are usually of the 

 ''bank" type weighing about eight ounces. Sometimes a 

 pound of lead is necessary to keep a heavy line down. One 



