REELS THEIR USE AND ABUSE. 



BY B. C. MILAM. 



THE invention of the fishing reel dates back something 

 over two centuries. The earliest mention of it, so far 

 as I know, is in Baker's "Art of Angling," London, 

 165 1. He says: 



"Within two foot of the bottom of the rod, there was a 

 hole made for to put in a wind, to turn with a barrell, to 

 gather up his line, and loose it at his pleasure." 



In the second edition of his work, the author says: 



"You must have your winder within two foot of the bot- 

 tom, to goe on your rod, made in this manner, with a spring, 

 that you may put it on as low as you please." 



In the "Compleat Angler," 1655, we read: 



"Note also that many use to fish for a Salmon with a ring 

 of wire on the top of their rod, through which the line may run 

 to as great a length as is needful, when he is hooked. And 

 to that end, some use a wheel about the middle of their rod, 

 or near their hand, which is to be observed better by seeing 

 one of them, than by a large demonstration of words." 



The "Experienced Angler; or, Angling Improved," by Col. 

 Robert Venables, 1662, shows, on its frontispiece, an illus- 

 tration of the reel, as it was then made, and in the text the 



author says: 



541 



