THE CASTING REEL 39 



began making reels for black-bass fishermen, and 

 under his expert hand it may be asserted that the 

 modern "Kentucky reel" took shape. Mr. Hard- 

 man shortened the spool, fastened the head and tail- 

 plate to the pillars with screws instead of rivets, and 

 increased the diameter of the spool, not to mention 

 scroll work and ornamentation. Another name to 

 be reckoned with in connection with the production 

 of the wodern casting winch is that of Mr. Benjamin 

 C. Milam, who in 1836 became an apprentice to 

 Mr. J. F. Meek, soon taking charge of the reel 

 making industry of the firm. Later on, in connec- 

 tion with his son, we find him making reels under his 

 own name. There are other individuals who should 

 be mentioned in connection with the early history of 

 the multiplying reel, but in so brief a resume it is out 

 of the question. There is one outstanding fact, how- 

 ever, which even the careless reader will not fail to 

 note, i. e. y the important place the Blue Grass coun- 

 try plays in the development of the casting reel; but 

 this is as it should be, for it was from the south- 

 eastern portion of the United States that the type- 

 specimens of both species of black-bass were secured. 



MECHANISM AND MATERIAL 



The mechanism of the multiplying reel is very 

 simple. The reel handle is not fixed directly to the 

 spindle, as is the case with the single action, but 

 connects with a cog-wheel geared upon a smaller 



