THROWING- THE LINE. 17 



the * foot ' or s casting-line ' of moderately thick 

 silkworm gut, in length about two yards. You 

 will now have ten yards of line, more or less, to 

 throw with, and you must practise until you can 

 cause the gut-line to fall upon the water before 

 any part of the reel-line touches it. Do not be 

 in a hurry to put on flies and fish. When yoa 

 have succeeded in throwing your gut-line with 

 freedom, with the ability of making it alight first 

 upon the water when you can prevent the top 

 of your rod from descending too low when you 

 can hinder any part of your reel-line from making 

 a more rapid descent than your casting-line, you 

 may begin to throw from left to right, with a 

 backward twist or slight sweep of the wrist and 

 arm. Hitherto you have been throwing from 

 right to left, and that is the proper and most com- 

 mon way. But circumstances will arise, caused 

 by the direction of the wind, your position with 

 regard to the water, and obstructions on and in 

 it, in the shape of trees, roots, rocks, &c,, that 

 will force you to cast from left to right, and some* 

 times underhand, as it were. 



I shall say nothing of throwing with the left- 

 hand, because you may, if you like, become able 

 to do so, when you have learned to throw over- 

 hand and underhand with the right arm. It is 

 not by any means a necessary accomplishment. 



You have begun throwing by moving the point 

 c 



