44 SALMON FISHING 



The " Spiral " is a very good form, and held 

 sway until superseded by Messrs. Hardy's patent 

 "Bridge" ring, which while stronger and retain- 

 ing all the advantages of the spiral, has none of 

 its drawbacks. The ring at the point of rods 

 of the highest class is made of agate, and in 

 second-class rods of tempered steel. A similar 

 ring of a slightly larger size, or an extra large 

 " Bridge " ring, is generally fitted as the first 

 ring from the hand, and is an advantage when 

 "shooting" line. (See Butt Ring, page 97.) 



The old heavy brass or gun-metal reel, has 

 given way to those made of lighter metals, 

 which in the best work are of hard alloys com- 

 posed largely of aluminium. The form has also 

 changed from the slow-winding wide-barrel type, 

 with its small diameter, to the narrower form 

 with a correspondingly large diameter, which 

 effects a great saving both in labour and time 

 in paying out and recovering the line. Reels 

 which are easily taken apart for cleaning and 

 have ball-bearings, are much to be preferred for 

 their free running and easy manipulation. The 

 check should be adjustable, i.e. it should have 

 an arrangement whereby the strength of the 

 back check * can be increased at will ; but adjust- 

 able checks or drags, which when applied, in- 

 crease the resistance both ways, are to be avoided, 



1 That part of the spring which gives resistance when line is pulled off. 



