66 FISHING KITS AND EQUIPMENT 



other. A line sometimes recommended as a substi- 

 tute for the enameled line is known as the " oiled silk " 

 line. This sort of line bears no comparison to the 

 enameled line. It does not work well on the rod, and 

 in casting and lasting qualities is far inferior to the 

 enameled line. 



The best enameled lines of the present time are solid 

 braided that is, not braided over a core from the 

 very finest silk, and are waterproofed in a vacuum, 

 under the exhausted receiver of an air-pump, thus 

 insuring thorough permeation of the waterproofing 

 medium. This process, sometimes called the Halford 

 vacuum process, from the fact that it is the result of 

 experiments by Mr. F. M. Halford, before mentioned 

 as the author of Dry-Fly Fishing, is a very complicated 

 one, comprising repeated dressings of the line with oil 

 in the vacuum followed after each dressing by " cur- 

 ing " the line at a temperature of 150 degrees Fahren- 

 heit. The line is finally highly hand polished. The 

 result is not a merely superficial enamel which is lia- 

 ble to knuckle and crack, thus permitting water to 

 rot the line, but the line is in fact, and not in theory 

 or for purposes of sale, waterproof. The whole busi- 

 ness of waterproofing lines is surrounded by the tackle 

 makers with a most mysterious and impenetrable se- 

 cretiveness ; consequently it is rather hard for the lay- 

 man to speak with authority on the subject. The 

 method is substantially as described. 



Enameled fly-lines are made in two styles known as 



