14 TROUT HEEL LINES. 



should be from sixty to eighty yards long you 

 require this latter length especially, where a 

 salmon inclines to run much, and from your con- 

 tiguity to trees or bushes on the bank, you cannot 

 follow him or change your position. Another 

 advantage is, that as the end which is so much 

 on the water and so constantly passing through 

 the rings of the rod in shortening or lengthening 

 your throw can never be depended on for sound- 

 ness above one season at most, removing the 

 damaged part, sufficient length still remains for 

 ordinary rivers and places, while a joint or splice 

 in a line should always be avoided, if feasible. 

 The material, I repeat, should be silk and hair 

 twisted, and the end, for about twelve yards, may 

 taper slightly ; though, perhaps, it is as well to 

 have it of uniform substance throughout, of about 

 the thickness of the " D" in the third octave in 

 your sister's harp (to measure which, borrow her 

 string guage), or thinner than a new shilling, 

 which is strong enough for any salmon and any 

 where, provided it is used skilfully. Many old and 

 experienced salmon fishers adopt much stouter ; 

 yet I prefer fine fishing, and am ready, for a 

 wager, to kill any fish under 50 Ibs. in a tolerable 

 situation with the substance I allude to. It will 

 bear at least 18 Ibs. dead weight, and perhaps 

 more. 



TROUT REEL LINES should be of the same 



