124 FISHING KITS AND EQUIPMENT 



silk line. They come, as above noted, in 5O-yard 

 lengths, one length being quite enough to use, and an 

 average price for a good line is $1.25. The color is 

 rather immaterial. 



The bait-casting line having no waterproofing or 

 enameling, and having to undergo the hardest sort of 

 treatment, being whipped out through the rod guides 

 numberless times in even a day's fishing, must receive 

 the very best of care or it will be rendered absolutely 

 worthless in a very short time. If you wish the line 

 to last any time at all it must be thoroughly dried out 

 after every time it is used ; otherwise, if left undried on 

 the reel, only the outer windings will dry, the inner 

 ones remaining wet for a good many hours; and it is 

 obvious that with this sort of treatment the line, no 

 matter how good it is, will rot very quickly. Before 

 every day's fishing test the first two or three feet of 

 the line. The friction from casting will whip out this 

 part of the line, and frequently you can tear off a foot 

 or two without applying any degree of force. Strict 

 observance of this rule will save you several dollars 

 worth of artificial baits the season and a good many 

 good bass. Drying the line is a very simple matter. 

 You do not need a nickel plated windlass or any other 

 sort of patent contrivance. Simply draw the wet part 

 of the line from the reel, laying the coils evenly to 

 avoid the danger of tangling, on the floor, a table or a 

 chair seat. 



