WHIPPINGS, SERVINGS, KNOTS, ETC 81 



together in the following manner. If it be a plaited line, slant 

 off each end which is to be bound, with the aid of a sharp knife 

 or a pair of scissors ; then thoroughly wax the two ends ; press 

 or roll them together with finger and thumb, and proceed to 

 bind them over most carefully and securely with well-waxed 

 silk, finishing off in the manner already described (p. 69). The 

 two ends are overlaid for about an inch and a half. Next 

 warm your beeswax at the fire until it is very soft, and rub it 

 on to the binding. Then place the line between the palms of 

 the hands and rub the palms together briskly as one does 

 sometimes on a cold day, rolling the line backwards and for- 

 wards. This works the wax right into the binding and gives it 

 a nice smooth finish. Fine twisted lines can also be spliced in 

 this way, the ends being unravelled, waxed, rolled together and 

 bound over. 



With regard to waterproofing lines, the best dressing con- 

 sists of boiled oil in fact, the same as sou'-wester and oilskin 

 coat and trousers would be dressed with ; but the process is 

 long and troublesome, and hardly one fitted for the amateur to 

 undertake. The line should be soaked in the boiled oil all 

 night ; then stretched, and the superfluous oil rubbed off with 

 a piece of leather or rag. It should be left until quite dry in a 

 place of shelter where the rain cannot get at it ; and then a . 

 second dressing should be given. Some of the best lines now- 

 adays have the oil dressing driven into them by placing them 

 in an air pump. I much prefer tanning lines intended for sea 

 fishing, and even the tanning is unnecessary because the lines 

 are so cheap. A recipe for tanning silk and hemp lines is 

 given in Chapter VII. 



There is a little dodge for winding a new line on a reel, for 

 which I am indebted to Mr. Cholmondeley Pennell. It is not 

 the least of the many useful practical hints he has communi- 

 cated to fishermen. Take the coil of line and place a roll of 



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