190 SALMON AND TROUT. 



when large flies and strong tackle are used, but in the summer 

 time, when the peel commence to run and small flies are used, 

 light springy rods and light lines are preferable to the heavy 

 salmon rod, and far more pleasant to fish with. The mouth of 

 a fresh-run peel or grilse is very tender, and the strain likely to 

 be put on the line when the fish is hooked will, if a heavy 

 salmon rod is used, be very apt to tear the hook out. Very 

 little strain is required to fix the barb of the hook, and when 

 fishing for peel the fish should be very lightly handled ; easy- 

 running reels should be used when fishing for either salmon or 

 peel, but most particularly so when fishing for the latter. 



The tapering lines I have mentioned can be obtained of 

 any length or thickness to suit the angler's fancy, dressed or 

 undressed. I prefer to buy them undressed and dress them 

 myself. An undressed line will last quite as long as a dressed 

 one, and be quite as pleasant to cast, but care should be taken 

 to dry it each day after fishing. I have an undressed line 

 that I have used for two whole seasons, and it is now as sound 

 as the day I bought it. This is more than I can say of most 

 dressed lines sold by fishing-tackle makers, which will seldom 

 stand more than one season's work. 



In selecting a dressed line care should be taken to ascertain 

 it is not hollow. A hollow can easily be detected by cutting 

 off the end of the line with a pair of sharp scissors. My 

 objection to a hollow line is this, that should there be a flaw 

 or bruise the water will gradually find its way into the hollow, 

 run down the whole length of the line, and as owing to the 

 outer coating being waterproof the line cannot be dried, it will 

 therefore quickly become rotten. I have seen many lines that 

 have been used only two or three days become quite rotten, 

 which I am convinced has been from no other cause than the 

 one I have mentioned. A hollow line may be easily known, 

 as it is round ; a solid plaited line is square. 



[See also preliminary chapters on 'Tackle, 3 pp. 51-55.] 



