ROD, REEL, AND LINE 61 



much more complex than child's-play. Over and 

 over again the " Spey cast " is discussed as if it 

 involved some secret lore not less august than that 

 of the highest Masonry ; but it is a natural and 

 simple action which would have come to pass, inde- 

 pendently, at the instance of almost any intelligent 

 fisherman, although it had never been heard of in 

 rumour or in literature. Is any good purpose 

 accomplished by making a mystery of the craft ? 



The craft, to be sure, has what may be called 

 secrets ; but these, as far as this chapter is concerned, 

 are trade affairs. The reel and the line have to be, 

 as regards weight, in certain proportions to the rod. 

 Much mechanical ingenuity has been applied to the 

 perfecting of the reel, which is now, in certain modes, 

 nearly as elaborate as a watch. My belief is that 

 almost any modern reel is well-nigh as good as 

 can be. 



What the reel holds, however, or should hold, is a 

 subject less easily understood. This is one of a class 

 of questions which arise when, after a few days by 

 the river, you begin to be critically concerned in the 

 details of fishing gear. It is not so simple as it 

 seems on a visit to the tackle-shop. An equipment 

 that looks perfect there may disclose troublesome 

 peculiarities by the waterside. What's in a line ? 

 A novice, or even an old hand who has not thrown 

 a fly for a long time, may think that one is as good 

 as another; but that is not the case. The first 

 principles of the subject are only now beginning to 

 be understood. For many generations fishermen 



