FLT-FISHINQ TACZZE. 39 



fish. Thus an unnecessary weight is put upon the top 

 of the rod, and as casts of many different lengths are 

 made during a day's fishing, it often happens that a 

 thick portion of the line is just out of the top ring, 

 whose weight makes it touch the water straight under 

 the rod's point ; whereas if the line were of the ordinaiy 

 size it would be carried out much straighter by the 

 action of the stream upon its extremity, which is greatly 

 to be preferred, as then the angler is in much closer 

 touch with his fly. The extra weight also imposes more 

 strain upon the rod top and the angler's wrist in work- 

 ing the fly. 



A line of the same size from end to end can be re- 

 versed on the reel when one extremity is worn; and 

 when both ends have been used in this way it can be 

 cut in the centre and the two worn ends spliced, thus 

 affording to all intents two new lines. 



This latter device cannot be resorted to in the case of 

 the taper line, but being only a matter of economy 

 perhaps would not appeal to all. 



The most economical angler will wind on his reel 

 about 70 yards of strong twiue (made for the purpose), 

 and whip to that 30 yards of the usual dressed silk, 

 which he will reverse when worn, thus obtaining vir- 

 tually six lines out of 100 yards of dressed line, but we 

 prefer the plan described above, by which four are 

 obtained. 



Should a few yards of the untapered line become 

 too much worn to be safe, they can be cut off without 



