LINES AND REELS. 2/ 



the dressed silk line, is equally strong and more durable. 

 This line is what is termed " cable-laid " — twisted, that 

 is, in the same manner as a ship's cable, — the principle 

 of which is that whilst the cable itself is twisted, say 

 from right to left, the separate ropes of which it is com- 

 posed are twisted from left to right. The result of this 

 is that the two twists counteract each other in their 

 mutual inclination to kink, and when wetted the cable 

 instead of swelling hardens and contracts. The spun- 

 cotton lines are made on the same principle, of sizes to 

 suit all sorts of fish, including Salmon, and answer per- 

 fectly both for fly-fishing and ordinary bottom fishing. 



They are not dressed in any way, but are stained a 

 good neutral, or slate colour. Specimens were also sent 

 me of the same lines dressed in various ways with india- 

 rubber and tar for purposes of trolling. Neither of the 

 dressings, however, properly effect their object ; and if 

 they did, would still be useless, as in a single day's 

 spinning the whole of the dressing wears off. The 

 Company,^ however, informed me that at my suggestion 

 they were about to try experiments with oil dressings, 

 with what result I have not yet heard. 



Reel Lines for Bottom-fishing. 



A line of exceptional lightness, and with a disinclina- 

 tion to " kink" when wetted, is essential for the most 

 successful and scientific method of bottom-fishing, 



* " The Manchester Twine-Spinning Company." 



