38 THE PIKE. 



line at full length in the most convenient situation, and 

 smartly rub a small piece of the ceroleum with the help of 

 a bit of flannel from end to end, taking care that very little 

 was put one, and this rubbed well in till the whole surface 

 was smooth and bright. The line was then hung up for 

 a couple of days, after which interval it was safe to use ; I 

 found that this very slight dressing did not hinder the free 

 running of the line when thrown direct from the reel in 

 the Nottingham style. Of course three or four coats of 

 this preparation can be applied in the same manner, at in- 

 tervals of a couple of days between each one, if the angler 

 wishes to have his line more thickly and thoroughly water- 

 proof. This does not take anything like so long drying as 

 the oil and varnish dressing mentioned some time ago ; a 

 week after applying the last coat will be ample. And now 

 having looked at what I consider to be the very beau ideal 

 of a pike rod, reel, line, and its dressing, we will glance 

 briefly at one or two sundries that the pike fisherman should 

 have if he can anyhow afford them. One of the most im- 

 portant is a line dryer, because it is imperative that the pike 



Fig. 4. The Line Drier. 



line should be dried after you get home trom a day's fishing, 

 or if you are foolish enough to neglect it, in all probability 

 you will have a sudden and startling reminder during one 

 of your subsequent outings, sooner or later. The line will 

 rot if allowed to dry on the reel time after time, and the fish 

 of the season may be hooked and lost. Tl ere is nothing 



