72 Artificial-Fly Fishing. 



angler cannot afford to ignore them; but so far as 

 mere facility in casting is concerned, the loop-line 

 possesses a marked advantage over the ordinary 

 line in rendering the angler much more independ- 

 ent of the assistance of the wind, and much less 

 impeded by its opposition. The greater weight 

 and consequent momentum of his line enable him 

 to cast his flies to within a few points of the wind 

 if necessary, where, with a lighter line, much good 

 water might be lost, and much time spent in cross- 

 ing and re-crossing to get a favouring breeze ; while 

 in the entire absence of wind he can take full ad- 

 vantage of the great length of his line, and cast 

 with unerring precision. Unless in exceptional 

 circumstances of wind and weather, the angler 

 with the loop-line ought to be able to lay his flies 

 on the water within a few inches of any given 

 point and this, too, from a distance of 40 or 

 50 feet. The value of such a cast in clear water 

 can scarcely be overestimated, especially when it 

 is remembered that the line carries three times as 

 many flies as the advocates of the short-line sys- 

 tem use when fishing up-stream. Every part of 

 the river may thus be most favourably and easily 

 reached without the necessity of deep wading, and 

 the concomitant evil of unduly disturbing the 

 water. 



It should be noted that these advantages are 



