76 THE LINE. 



throughout its whole length, but in that part of 

 it which is mostly thrown out upon the water ; 

 for as the rest will remain wound up in the reel, 

 in reserve for an extraordinarily far cast, or for 

 playing a powerful fish, it may be of one uniform 

 size. If, therefore, the tapering of a twenty-five 

 yard line commences about the middle, it will be 

 quite enough. Although we have used the terms 

 heavier and stouter, they must, of course, be re- 

 garded only as relative, for it is evident that the 

 line must never be of such a size as to disturb the 

 water in using; though there is a difference in 

 the construction and weight of different lines 

 sufficient to justify the use of these terms, in the 

 absence of others more literally correct. 



There are three different kinds of lines those 

 of horse-hair, of silk, and of both these materials 

 spun together. The silk line is totally useless ; 

 it imbibes the water too readily, and thus becomes 

 over heavy. The silk-and-hair lines are generally 

 considered best, and when they contain only a 

 very small proportion of silk, they certainly have 

 very considerable claims to that distinction; es- 

 pecially the London patent lines, which are 

 very evenly and beautifully spun. But for the 

 style of rod which we recommend namely, a 

 light and stiff one there is perhaps nothing 



