68 AMERICAN FISHES. 



off too free. According to my opinion, John Conroy can make the 

 best reel in the world. 



3rd. THE LINE. One hundred yards is abundant. Twisted silk 

 is the best line for trolling. I know they kink, when new ; but very 

 little use will put an end to it id est, knock the kink out of it. 



Plaited lines are very good and cheap, and do not kink ; but they 

 absorb the water, and do not run free from the rod. 



A mixture of hair in lines, is my abomination. It is the most dan- 

 gerous and uncertain stuff a man can use. You can never depend on 

 it; the hairs will give way with but little strain; and when you hook 

 the heaviest fish, the greater danger is to be apprehended. 1 hate 

 them. 



4th. THE LEADER AND TRAIN OF HOOKS. This word "leader" 

 goes against my grain. The old familiar English-Irish sound of " cast- 

 ing-line, 1 ' has a charm for my ear, equalled only by the still, silent 



noise of 



" Ballynahinch or Costello's flowing waters." 



But let leader go for trolling. 



Most trollers use twisted gut for a leader, with a small swivel at- 

 tached to one end. The other end is fastened to the reel-line, either 

 by loop or knot, but a knot is by far preferable. The leader should 

 be two yards long some good and old hands use three yards. I never 

 use twisted gut. I prefer a leader of good round Salmon-gut. 



The train of hooks is attached to the eye of the swivel, at the end 

 of the leader. The train is made of five hooks, and made on the very 

 oest and most perfect gut, single. The strand upon which the hooks 

 are tied, is fastened by a knot to another equally strong and perfect 

 strand, which is fastened by a loop to the swivel at the end of the 

 leader. Thus you have the rod, reel, line, leader, and train of hooks. 

 Perhaps a sketch of the train of hooks will be better than an explana- 

 tion. Here it is : 



This train, you will perceive, is made of five hooks. The lip-hook 



