390 THE PRACTICAL FISHERMAN. 



water is far in excess of that possessed by any other material. Horse- 

 hair for running lines cannot be said to be a success. Therefore, the 

 only way in which it can at all be used with satisfaction is when it is 

 compounded with silk in a taper fly line. Its lightness helps to keep up 

 the flies, and it is easily got out on calm days. 



Now, so far as running lines are concerned, there are three divisions of 

 sport for which it is necessary to provide different kinds. The first is 

 top water, or fly-fishing ; and I will commence with a mention of the best 

 materials. The line I personally prefer for a single-handed rod in fly- 

 fishing is one of the length of about forty yards, well tapered, and made 

 of hair and silk mixed ; let it be a plaited line, for the twist undressed 

 lines are very apt to kink, and hence delay and annoyance, which spoil 

 the enjoyment, most likely, of the whole day. For windy weather a 

 dressed eight-plait rather fine silk line is preferable, and I should think, 

 though I have not yet tried it, that the newly invented fly -line of dressed 

 plaited silk with a fine copper wire running down its centre is a capital 

 piece of angling furniture. I have had some patterns of line sent me by 

 the Manchester Twine Spinning Company, and much has been said, quite 

 unadvisedly, as far as my experience goes, of the excellence of their 

 creations. I have tried several cotton lines spun by these manu- 

 facturers, and I cannot recommend them. The lines hold the water long, 

 and they swell, besides being incurable if a kink should happen by 

 some chance to entangle them when wet. A friend of mine once pro- 

 cured a very, very cheap plaited cotton line from these people. It 

 did very well for a time, but one wet day I found him vainly endea- 

 vouring to undo the Gordian knot into which it had managed to get, 

 whilst his profanity was something shocking. Of course, I do not say 

 that the lines will never answer, but, from my experience, I consider that 

 the material is unfit for water wear. 



An eight-plait silk line, well dressed with one of the recipes I give in 

 Chapter IX. will be the most suitable for fly fishing. In any case, silk is 

 the material, and nothing can beat it. The best lines I ever used I 

 get from Mr. Wells, of Nottingham. 



The same general observations apply to trolling and bottom fishing. 

 I shall, of course, have something to say more particularly when I come 

 to consider the appropriate tackle for every fish. 



DRESSINGS FOR ETJNNING LINES. 



There are a number of excellent dressings in existence for lines, and 

 for each special advantages are claimed by the inventor or user. The 

 most simple, and it might be said primitive, dressing was a simple rubbing 

 of the line with beeswax. Next boiled oil and ordinary boat makers' 



