FISHING GENERALITIES 97 



pended on the purchase of a dozen new casting lines, 

 which expenditure would probably have obviated a 

 sad catastrophe, would not have been considered as 

 worth mention in comparison with such an irre- 

 vocable disaster. So the writer's advice is, do not 

 keep old casts, but get fresh ones yearly. 



Of course there are, as always, exceptions to this 

 rule. One admirable fisherman in fact, about the 

 best the writer knows seems always to make up his 

 casting lines from old pieces of gut. A new cast in its 

 entirety is hardly ever to be seen on his line ; but the 

 secret is that in all probability he selects the sound 

 lengths out of his old stock. There are always some 

 odd pieces which seem to keep their freshness and 

 not to decay as quickly as the rest, and from them he 

 manages to concoct crafty casting lines, wherewith he 

 usually contrives to kill a good many more trout than 

 most other people. 



Then there is the question whether casts should 

 be tapered, or of a uniform thickness ? A slight 

 taper is certainly an assistance, but if a batch of good 

 sound gut of the size required is placed before the 

 sportsman, he will be unwise if he declines it because 

 it is not tapered. Old Isaac says something on this 

 point : ' First let your rod be light and very gentle. 

 I take the best to be of two pieces, and let not your 



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