222 THE PRACTICAL FISHERMAN. 



beginner had better buy a hair and silk line, tapered. He will find it is 

 usually supplied in from 15yd. to 30yd. lengths, and is cheap and 

 exceedingly durable. The evils of a, fine line to the novice are, first, an 

 increased difficulty in getting it out, and next the great chance in the 

 initial awkwardness of inexperience to snap it. However, the choice of 

 line is not a main point, so long as it is composed of silk and hair, for 

 the sake of lightness. Formerly all hair was used, but I consider the 

 latter form the better, as it is more durable, and to some extent resists 

 the accidental boot on it, which so aggravatingly and frequently cuts the 

 line entirely of hair. 



The reel is a matter involving considerable perplexity. Many old 

 fishermen prefer the multiplying winch, but these I have good reason to 

 detest. The size should not be large for, say, a 12ft. rod, and it should, 

 when the line is upon it, give an agreeable sense of weight balanced to 

 the hand. Properly it should act as a kind of " governor " of the force 

 exerted in casting, and if selected with reference to this it becomes an 

 acquisition of importance. The cleek or click winch is the sort I prefer, 

 and is about 3in. in diameter, and in order to do away with that 

 intolerable nuisance, the handle on which one often finds the line wound 

 when it should be running free I have devised an arrangement which 

 runs on the circumference, and is worked by the forefinger of the right 

 hand. My objection to multipliers is due to their rapidly wearing out, 

 as the bearings, cogs, &c., are of necessity of brass, and therefore easily 

 worn down. 



The casting line is always a most important part of the fly fisher's 

 outfit. For trout fishing I prefer fine drawn gut in preference to hair, 

 but for grayling, a white horsehair cast is the thing. The link or cast 

 should be not less than within Gin. of the length of the rod, and should 

 be composed of carefully selected quality, so that it may taper and be of 

 round form, and quite even texture. I like its colour to be of a pale 

 blue or slate, and in order to obtain this it is only necessary to add a 

 little warm water to ink and soak the gut therein. In every case it is 

 necessary to soak the gut link in water before using, and it is a good 

 plan to carefully test its strength before attaching the flies and itself to 

 the reel line. Many a good trout has been lost because of the omission 

 of this simple precaution. 



The selection of hook and the process of fly manufacture is treated 

 fully in " Tackle Making," as well as the method of attaching and tying 

 such knots as are necessary. 



Having thus equipped my suppositions tyro, I must diverge slightly 

 in order to consider in full the merits of the two great schools of fly 

 fishing, of which Pennell is on one side the champion, and Francis, 



