84 Fly -rods and Fly -tackle. 



Provide yourself with some strips of writing-paper about 

 half an inch wide and an inch long, and gum one end, and 

 let this dry. Then proceed as follows : Soak your leader 

 till perfectly soft. Thrust a brad-awl through one end 

 loop, and into a board. Apply a spring-balance to the oth- 

 er end loop, holding this with the right hand, while you 

 reach before it and grasp the leader with the left. Then 

 strain the leader till it breaks, noting upon the spring- 

 balance at how many pounds this takes place. Then 

 knot the leader again, snip off the ends, coil it about 

 something round to give it a nice appearance, and after 

 removing the leader, fasten the coils so formed by wind- 

 ing one end spirally about them. Then write the date, 

 and "breaks at pounds," on one of the paper slips, 

 and attach it to the leader. You will thereafter know 

 the history of that leader, and what reliance can be 

 placed upon it. Should the leader break in testing much 

 below what you think it should have endured, prove it 

 again after re-tying it. For in the first instance the gut 

 may have been cracked somewhere, and if this was the 

 case your test gave no indication of its real strength. 

 I believe it will be found wise invariably to test a leader 

 every time it is to be used. This can be done in an in- 

 stant with the aid of a friend and a spring-balance, which 

 latter will of course form a part of your outfit. 



Soften two leaders in cold or tepid water not hot wa- 

 ter, since it dissolves the gluten and impairs the strength 

 of the gut. While a friend holds one loop of the leader 

 on a match, or similar slip of soft wood free from sharp 

 edges, hook your spring - balance into the loop at the 

 other end. Let each grasp the leader between his thumb 

 and finger as far towards the middle as he can reach, so 

 that if it breaks, you may still retain the pieces and not 



