38 BY HOOK AND BY CROOr. 



SO in either of these cases care must be taken in putting 

 it straight not to crack the highly varnished dressing. 



We cannot stand this gingerbread class of tackle, 

 which requires more care (and therefore time) in 

 looking after it than the actual casting and working 

 of the fly. 



We have complained of these faults to the tackle- 

 maker who supplied the lines, and the answer has in- 

 variably been — "They were so first of all, but lately 

 the manufacturers have discovered a process which 

 eradicates those faults." 



We sincerely hope they have, but at the same time 

 take no further interest in the subject, as after consi- 

 derable use are of opinion that, as a thorough dressing 

 for a line, there is nothing to beat plain boiled linseed- 

 oil. 



We prefer those of a red-brown colour and semi- 

 transparent, the dressing they carry not being too 

 thick. They are a very good colour in the water, and 

 do not show so white after much use as most others, 

 and, if ordinary care be taken to dry them, will last 

 a long time. 



Lines tapering at both ends are also sold, and if an 

 angler prefer them, by all means let him use them, but 

 there are some objections to them. It may be taken 

 for granted that in the tapered line the end to which 

 the gut cast is attached is no thicker than the weight 

 of the fish requires ; it follows, then, that the remainder 

 of the line is needlessly thick for the purpose of killing 



