Tackle 59 



though it is strong and will stand quite a hard 

 pull, then is the time to cut it off as far as the 

 portion which is absolutely sound ; for in such 

 places the line will often break with the 

 rushes of a fish directly after it has stood a 

 pull of eight or ten pounds or more. It is not 

 safe, and he who continues using it will at last 

 do so to his sorrow. A line of one hundred 

 yards is quite long enough for general use, and 

 one of one hundred and twenty yards is ample for 

 any emergency likely to occur. By cutting in 

 two a line of one hundred and twenty yards, and 

 having each part neatly spliced to the end of a 

 thin linen Cuttyhunk bass line of one hundred 

 yards, you get two lines of one hundred and sixty 

 yards each which occupy much less reel space 

 than one hundred twenty yards of salmon line, 

 and are quite as strong and durable, besides 

 being more economical. Salmon lines should 

 be unwound from the reel and dried thoroughly 

 as soon as practicable after being used. This 

 can be done without^taking the reel off the rod 

 or removing the casting line, by simply pulling 

 the line from the reel, the rod being hung on 

 hooks or cleats, and leaving it on the ground or 

 floor beneath in loose coils, which will soon 



