FISHING THE MINNOW FOE SALMON. 205 



assists the bearings. Friction between the line and 

 rings, which naturally checks and wears the former, 

 may be much reduced by an occasional dressing with 

 the following lubricant, which also preserves the line 

 in other respects — viz., stearine melted up with a little 

 sperm-oil, or, in default, a sperm-candle melted. 



The line should be wound on to the little finger and 

 thumb and immersed in this mixture when nearly boil- 

 ing, so that penetration may be perfect. The mixture 

 will set when cold, and can be reheated when required. 



When cold the line should be wound on the reel, 

 and in its course be stripped of superfluous grease by 

 the aid of a cloth. 



The line must be thoroughly dried each day after 

 use, and the extremity well tested as to strength. 



Provided thus with rod and tackle the angler prepa- 

 ratory to casting should have only the gut cast and 

 bait protruding from the rod point, unless a very long 

 cast may be required, when the length of swinging line 

 may be increased. The check is next removed from 

 the reel, but so as to maintain line and bait in position ; 

 the outside revolving plate of the reel is controlled by 

 finger or thumb of the lower hand. 



The angler now turns his back to the river and 

 gently passes the rod round in front of him, until the 

 top is pointing very nearly down stream, employing 

 just the slightest swing to supply the bait with objec- 

 tive force to facilitate the actual cast. 



Now, commencing with a gentle but gradually in- 



