22 SHAPE OF FLY-FISHING LINES. 



of it. The gradual tapering of the line causes it 

 to stretch out with the cast without kinking or 

 coiling, and to fall lightly and straightly on the 

 water. Keel-lines (the best sorts are platted of 

 half hair and half good silk) are twisted in the 

 shape of a spindle or a porcupine's quill thick 

 in the middle and tapering off in nice gradation 

 at each end. A line so shaped has this advan- 

 tage : when you have nearly worn out one end, 

 you can have recourse to the other next the winch, 

 which is comparatively fresh, having been wound 

 first on the reel, and hitherto in great part pro- 

 tected from the action of air and water. The 

 used part, if not too much used, is to be now 

 wound next the winch. Your gut casting-line 

 must be formed of links each finer than the other, 

 but not with marked disproportion. The thickest 

 link must be that next to the reel-line, and the 

 thinnest that farthest from it that to which your 

 stretcher or tail-fly is to be looped. Each of the 

 intermediate links of gut must be finer than the 

 other, round, and clear-coloured before dyed, and 

 without a flaw.* 



FISHING A STREAM AND HUMOURING YOUR FLIES. 

 Touching the practice of angling, there are 

 many moot points. One maintains this, another 

 maintains that, and a third differs from both. In 

 doing anything, there is but a right way and a 

 wrong; but common sense has not followers 



