THE PIKE. 35 



very best quality, for this is a case of the cheapest being 

 dearest in the long run ; for most assuredly a good one will 

 out-last three or four common ones, and a couple of shil- 

 lings only at most represents the difference between sixty 

 yards of common dressed line and a similar length of first- 

 class quality. I should say that Messrs. Allcock's " Stan- 

 dard " waterproof line is as reliable as any that can be pro- 

 cured nowadays. That firm makes a speciality of these 

 lines, using only the purest and strongest sillj and the very 

 best dressing procurable in their manufacture. I should not 

 like to say that these lines are better than other English 

 makers' best, but I do know from experience as a user and 

 dealer that they are at least equal to any others. The size 

 that I particularly recommend for live-baiting or coiling on 

 the ground is the No. 3, and as this can be procured for a 

 trifle more than a penny a yard, the outlay is not beyond the 

 reach of the generality of working men anglers. Some pike 

 fishermen will have it that for a pike line to be reliable you 

 must dress it yourself. They say that the ordinary dressed 

 line as usually sold in the fishing tackle shops is too stiff 

 and hard to comfortably use, and I am half inclined to agree 

 with this opinion. Anyhow, a good home-dressed line is 

 worth half a dozen common stiffly-dressed shop-bought ones. 

 To dress a line properly is a rather lengthy operation. I 

 don't mean lengthy as far as actual time doing the job is 

 concerned ; it is the length of time it takes to dry after being 

 soaked in the solution that makes the job so tedious. I 

 have known lines to be three or four months drying before 

 the stickiness was gone and they were fit to use. Good lin- 

 seed oil — and remember it must be good, not half of it some 

 foreign fiery fat or other cheap adulterated stuff that is only 

 linseed oil in name — ^is as good as anything that can be 

 used ; and this should be mixed with an equal part of best 

 copal varnish, say a quarter-pint of each. One of my friends 

 used to also add about a couple of tablespoonfuls of best 

 gold size. This is a rare good dressing for a pike line, but 

 takes a considerable time to dry. The undressed silk line 

 that the angler wishes to dress should be taken when new 

 and perfectly dry, and coiled up into as small a ring or com- 

 pass as possible, say what will easily go into a small basin 



