FISHING GENERALITIES 101 



to which the rod will be put should be selected ; and 

 as to its material, it is unwise to buy a reel which is 

 composed of any brittle substance, such as ebonite. A 

 reel, to be satisfactory, should be one which works 

 smoothly, does not easily get out of order, and will 

 stand an occasional fall or hard knock. I have there- 

 fore come to the conclusion that an ordinary well- 

 made bronzed winch of the 2 J-inch size, holding some 

 thirty-five yards of line, is, take it all round, the best 

 for a io-feet-6-inch or an n-feet rod. Ebonite is a 

 risky substance, liable to break if it has a fall ; brass 

 is cheaper, and answers well for ordinary purposes ; 

 wood, with a metal rim and metal inner revolving 

 plate, is occasionally used. 



Touching the sort of line which should be selected 

 for trout fishing, nothing better can be suggested 

 than a waterproof, plaited, dressed silk one, tapered. 

 This seems as good as anything can possibly be, 

 and it appears unnecessary to say much more on the 

 subject ; the only additional suggestions being that, 

 when buying a trout-line, care should be taken to 

 choose one heavy enough to cast against the wind, 

 and not too weighty for the rod to throw com- 

 fortably. Too heavy a line strains the rod and tires 

 and irritates the caster. The length above mentioned, 

 viz. 35 yards, is ample for any ordinary purpose. If 



