12 REEL LINES. 



to eighteen inches at least ; and the longer the 

 better, provided the substance be uniform. 



The thicker TROUT GUT should be of the 

 diameter of ordinary sewing-silk ; whilst the 

 thinner sort may be almost the very finest you can 

 procure, provided it be " round and sound," and 

 keeping in view all other requisites for strength. 

 Ten to sixteen inches is the usual length of each 

 thread. " Store is no sore ;" so a few extra 

 hanks cannot be objectionable, especially as so 

 much is consumed in twisted lines for salmon- 

 fishing, one hank not making more than three 

 twisted bottom or foot-lines, as you will find 

 hereafter. 



REEL LINES. I have had some talk with one 

 of the best line makers in London, who is a prac- 

 tical angler to boot, and he thinks nothing equal 

 to the silk and hair for fly lines, or the plaited 

 and prepared silk for trolling or spinning. We 

 talked of fly lines made of human hair, and his 

 objection to them was their liability to " sponge" 

 up much water, and to stretch and shrink to a 

 great degree. He had found them shrink a foot 

 to the yard in water, and if pulled when dry to 

 stretch in the same proportion. I have not made 

 up my own mind on the subject, never having 

 tested them in actual use. If, as he says, they 

 soak up so very much water, that is a decisive 

 objection. They are not certainly so strong as a 



