68 



Heel : We have seen several inventions 

 intended as improvements of the ordinary 

 multiplying-reel, but we do not by any means 

 deem them such. We have heard Chester- 

 man's self-winding reel much commended, but 

 we can see only one advantage in it, namely, 

 that it winds up with great speed ; but, then, 

 an insuperable objection to it is, that there is a 

 difficulty in modifying that speed, according to 

 will; and that, consequently, in playing a fish, 

 you have not free power over its mechanism. 

 Besides, its construction is heavy and over- 

 complicated. A common reel, which multi- 

 plies four times,* is the sort-of-one we use, 

 and we find that it possesses all the requisites 

 necessary in such an apparatus. It possesses 

 the power of winding up the line rapidly, is 

 sufficiently small and light, and is not liable 

 to be easily deranged. We recommend a mo- 



* Mr. Bainbridge urges strong objections to the multi- 

 plying-reel, the chief one of which is, " that the power of 

 the wheels, as now arranged, is inadequate to move a 

 comparatively small weight at a trifling distance ;" and 

 he adds that, "on the other hand, the common plain 

 pillar-reels bear an even and steady pull upon the extreme 

 weight ; and though more tedious, they are more to be 

 depended upon for certainty and security." In our ado- 

 lescence, when on account of the many claims on our 

 meagre purse, we were constantly " hard up" for cash, 

 and could not afford to purchase a multiply ing- reel, we 

 contented ourselves with a common pillar- reel an old 

 heir-loom and, to say the truth, we do not recollect 

 any instance in which we had to complain of its defects. 



