REELS AND WINCHES. 401 



evil handle, which, whether it be cone-shaped, as advocated for a winch, 

 or of any other shape, is, when one is fishing with the Nottingham rod 

 and line, a nuisance. I am sure that what I call an improvement will 

 be endorsed as such by the majority of " Nottingham " anglers. It has, 

 moreover, answered every purpose to which I have put it when a fine line 

 was desirable for use. Of course it will not do for jack-fishing, as will be 

 instantly seen when I mention what it is. If any angler pooh-poohs it, I 

 have still the consolation of believing that there are a few who can use Not- 

 tingham tackle in its entirety of excellence and resource. Perhaps I am one 

 of those who can, and hence my unqualified praise of my own invention for 

 doing away with handles on a reel designed for " fine and far-off " fishing. 



The whole thing consists in sinking a couple of studs with line-crossed 

 surfaces in the parts of the reel originally occupied by the handles. These 

 studs turn on a pivot of steel. On striking a fish one's right hand, of 

 course, is on the movable circumference of the reel, and when it is necessary 

 to wind up line or " reel up," as it is termed a smart blow is struck 

 on this circumference. Sometimes, however, it is necessary to use force 

 against, say, a chub. This being the case, the forefinger slips at once 

 into one of the recesses referred to, and upon the stud, which turns with 

 the finger. The line can then be as surely wound up as if the forefinger 

 and thumb were employed on a handle outstanding from the reel. The 

 advantage of the arrangement is that no matter how the fish rushes, 

 there is no possibility of the line being entangled round a handle. Many 

 a good fish has been lost through such an event as that. 



A very practical angler of my acquaintance once objected that it was 

 impossible, with the device I have just referred to, to wind up quick 

 enough supposing, for example, that a chub of weight made up his mind 

 to speed up-stream and shore wards, as is the wont of this fish during the 

 first moments of affright. This was but a theoretical objection, however, 

 and I only mention it because some of my equally practical readers may 

 be inclined to take a similar view. In answer to the objection let me say 

 I never experienced such a difficulty ; I am, moreover, an inveterate 

 chub-fisher. Howbeit, as I egotistically before suggested, perchance I 

 am exceptionally dexterous in the management of the tackle. 



Supposing the reel to be affixed to the butt of the rod, I will add 

 another little hint which may be of use to the angler. Bender the right 

 hand side of the reel, where the studs or handles are, as light as possible 

 by thinning it, or employing tin, or some other suitable metal or wood. 

 You will then be able to throw a couple of swan shot on your line a 

 distance of fifteen or sixteen yards without difficulty. Ordinarily this 

 part of the reel is so thick and heavy as to almost preclude the casting 

 of a small weight to any distance. 



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