28 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 



known as the " Nottingham style." Long casts have to 

 be made with so light a bait and tackle, that unless the 

 line is almost as fine as gossamer, and runs very easily, 

 it will not pass through the rod rings without great 

 trouble. It must also be " un-dressed," or it will sink 

 instead of floating, and thus render it impossible to 

 strike a bite effectively at long range. I have in my 

 possession a line made at Nottingham which fulfils ad- 

 mirably all these conditions. It is composed of six or 

 eight of the finest possible strands of silk, plaited some- 

 what in a square shape ; and in thickness does not 

 exceed that of ordinary " Holland thread," one hundred 

 yards weighing exactly three-eighths of an ounce. And 

 yet, fine as it is, it will lift a dead weight of between 6 lbs. 

 and 7 lbs., which is double the strain that it is ever likely 

 to be subjected to. 



This line is the best that can be used on the reel for 

 every description of bottom fishing, with the exceptions 

 mentioned under the head of TroUing-lines. 



There is a twisted silk line, sold in the tackle-shops, 

 which is cheaper, but which kinks directly it is wet, ren- 

 dering it useless for Nottingham fishing. 



Gut-lines. 



Gut lines are to be preferred for every description of 

 bottom and fly-fishing, and, especially in the latter case ; 

 it is important that they should be carefully and evenly 

 tapered from top to bottom. The three chief points to 



