FISHING TACKLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT. 



455 



shown is drawn snug and tight, and the result is three 

 strands nearest the fish's teeth. If two be preferred, a 

 long loop is simply tied and cut through at its apex, leaving 

 the two strands to be joined to the hook. 



Horse-hair is seldom used for leaders nowadays, for 

 the reason that it is not strong enough. It is exceedingly 

 rare to find hair capable of lifting more than two pounds. 

 If fine gut be scarce, however, the resourceful angler will 

 not disdain a few hairs from the "gray palfrey's tail." The 

 hair of a stallion is preferable to that of a mare or gelding. 



Silk, in its manufactured state of course, forms the staple 

 of reel-lines. These are commonly braided by a machine, 

 sufficiently indicated in fig. 9. The various grades and 



Fig. 9. 



gauges most suitable for each fish will be given when the 

 tackle for them is considered, and therefore it would be a 

 work of supererogation to recite them here. The dressings 



