49 2 REELS AND HOOKS. 



stopped. See that all reels are strongly and perfectly 

 fitted in all their details, but avoid all complicated 

 kinds such as multipliers, and other mechanical winches, 

 which in practice often prove of doubtful utility. Great 

 care should be taken to have reels that cannot what 

 is called " overrun " themselves, when there is a sudden 

 check in the rush of a large fish. For this purpose 

 the line should not draw out too easily, and the moment 

 the strain ceases, the action of the reel should instantly 

 cease also. Every reel of considerable size should 

 have a leather case to preserve it from injury when 

 travelling. 



Then as to hooks, an ample assortment of these 

 useful articles, of all the principal sizes, should always 

 form part of a traveller's stores, as really good hooks 

 are not easily obtained in out-of-the-way places; also 

 fish-hooks, especially those of the larger sizes, are always 

 most welcome presents everywhere, and are most 

 useful as a medium of exchange in many countries. 



But avoid carrying a lot of lapped hooks tie on 

 such hooks as may be required for use as they are 

 wanted. Eyed hooks are however now coming more 

 and more into general use, and are a vast improve- 

 ment upon the old kind, which they will probably 

 eventually supersede altogether. The eyes may be 

 turned up or down, or be needle-eyed, but the best 

 are those with the eyes (or loops) turned down that 

 is towards the bend, not back from it. The employ- 

 ment of double hooks brazed, especially for the smaller 

 sizes of salmon flies, will be found a great improvement 

 in holding the fish when hooked. * 



* Handbook of Fishing, of the Badminton Library, Vol. i., pp. 4 

 and 5. 



