TWO TALI'S OF TROUBLE. 



inches long, weighed thirty pounds, and was hooked in the middle of 

 the belly. Of course he made a most furious fight, repeatedly ran 

 out nearly the whole two hundred yards, got under the l>oat, and was 

 only kept from cutting off the line on the keel by plunging my rod 

 straight down into the water. It took at least forty-five minutes to 

 kill him. Fvery moment of this time I felt that the line was liable 

 to fail me, and the fish was only landed by the greatest care. 



I can only explain this disastrous and infuriating experience by 

 supposing that manufacturers have been led, by competition or greed for 

 greater profit, to use inferior material and lalxir, so that such abuses 

 have arisen as, in another field of trade, the "Pure Food and Drugs 

 Act" has done so much to remedy. The abominable notion, that the 

 markets of the world are for the benefit of the producer and seller 

 only, and that the consumer and buyer have no rights at all, which 

 has done such grave harm in other industries, seems to have extended 

 its baleful influence over the tackle trade also. Of course such an 

 idea leads directly to fraud of all kinds, to the extortions of monopolv. 

 the follies of the tariff, and countless kindred evils. These can be 

 overcome only by informing and directing that Public Opinion, which 

 is the court of last resort in this country, and the onlv method of 

 successfully doing this is by Publicity, by throwing light into the 

 dark places. 



That thoroughly reliable lines can be made and sold, at a reason- 

 able price, is conclusively shown by my experience of five years ago, 

 and a dealer or maker who will furnish such trustworthy lines can 

 have from me any reasonable price he asks. I want good lines, regard- 

 less of cost, and appeal to all my fellow sportsmen to help me find 

 them, if thev can be now had. and, if not, to join me in a crusade that 

 will produce them. Let us all condemn, in print and giving full names 

 of lines, maker and dealer, such tackle as we have found bad, and, 

 in the same wav praise such as we have found good. I am sure that 

 the columns of all our papers devoted to sport will be o]vn to us for 

 this worth v purpose. 



! have not written this article, nor do I propose the above sug- 

 gested course to my brother fishermen, for the purpose of wreaking 

 vengeance' on anv one, but want to use-, and have oilier fishermen u-e. 

 the great weapon ot "publicity" for the protection ot fishermen, honest 

 dealers, and honest manufacturers, against dishonest manufacturers 

 who cheapen their product by using inferior material and labor, and 

 dishonest dealers, who sell something thev know to be inferior. < V 



