SPINNING WITH A SALMON REEL 361 



play, and influence the onward motion of the lure after the 

 drum on which the line is wound has been released from the 

 controlling influence of the pawl and ratchet mechanism of 

 the reel. 



The principal factors which operate on the spinning lure 

 when the drum is released, and which offer a retarding and 

 guiding influence to its passage are as follows : 



(1) The varying influences of gravity. 



(2) The varying friction of the drum in retarding the 



extension of the line. 



(3) The varying frictional resistance of the air to the 



passage of the lure and to the line. 



(4) The varying frictional resistance of the top rod ring 



to the passage of the line. 



That these influences must vary will be gathered from 

 the following particulars : 



(1) The action of gravity on a moving body whose 



velocity is unknown cannot be calculated. 



(2) The rotation of the drum starts from inertia which 



has to be overcome. Its speed then has to 

 be checked in order to prevent its over-running the 

 line, and finally its revolutions have to be stopped 

 as the lure enters the water. 



(3) This varies according to the meteorological conditions 



of the moment, varies also according to the length 

 and curvature of the line, the speed and curvature 

 of the lure through the air, and the condition wet 

 or dry of the line. 



(4) The frictional resistance offered by the top ring of the 



rod to the line varies in regard to the direction in 



which it is extended, and in which the rod is held. 



Now a consideration of this problem, connected as it is 



with so many and so varying a series of influences, all bearing 



on the flight of a spinning lure, must obviously be impossible 



