64 SALMON FISHING 



but to attain it by having a hollow must involve 

 expansion of the line, and a thin line cuts through 

 the air more easily than one of the same weight 

 less thin. 



Then, we cannot always be quite sure about the 

 doctors even when they say the same thing. Nearly 

 all of them urge that a line should be tapered. 

 Should it ? The theory seems correct. The gut cast 

 is tapered, and it is not unreasonable to assume that 

 for four or five yards the line also should be tapered. 

 That is a mere extension of the principle. If the 

 cast alights straight and gently by virtue of being 

 tapered, the line, made on the same principle, should 

 act similarly. Unfortunately, it does not. Save 

 when there is a wind at your back the tapered line 

 is a trouble. It is difficult to send forth upon the 

 water. It is limp. It will not stretch out and be 

 straight. The fact is, the very thin part of the 

 tapered line is too light. It wavers with the slightest 

 puff of wind. Now, how did this truth-conveying 

 heresy arise ? Scientific reflection ? It did not 

 come through that. Like many a discovery, it came 

 about in the result of " muddling through." I had 

 a new rod, and the line attached to it was exquisitely 

 tapered. Day after day I fished with that rod and 

 line, and day by day there was something wrong. 

 Evening after evening, before taking down the rod, 

 I detached the cast by cutting off a bit of the 

 line. I regretted the habit as being wasteful ; but 

 eventually it saved the credit of the rod, and brought 

 enlightenment. Next season, after a few days of 



