:eLT-Fi8HiNa tackle. 37 



latter, as they can be cast to a greater distance and 

 better against a wind. It should be about 40 to 

 50 yards in length. 

 For Salmon-fishing the line should be from 100 to 

 120 yards in length, in accordance with the size of 

 the water. These lines are made of plaited hair, 

 hair and silk plaited together, and plaited silk 

 dressed in various ways. The former are very 

 pretty to use, as line can be paid out so smoothly 

 from the rod ; they also fall lightly on the water, 

 which is not an objection ; but the dressed silk line 

 is in most general use. 



These, although expensive, are probably the 



cheapest in the long run, as, if well dried after 



use, they are very serviceable, and they are easier 



to cast with than undressed lines, especially in the 



teeth of a wind. 



There are many patent lines dressed in various ways, 



the main object of all being to preserve the line from 



becoming rotten by the action of the water j and no 



doubt the various recipes perform their duties with a 



certain amount of success, but unfortunately many of 



the dressings have a tendency to crack at any point 



where the line has been doubled, and many of them 



peel off. For instance, it often happens that the angler 



trails his rod behind him while passing tlirough a 



wood, and now and again some branch or twig will 



catch and hold the line, or the line while cast in the 



air may be doubled back in a knot by a gust of wind, 



