40 THE PRACTICAL ANGLER 



can be bought at such a moderate price, that it is 

 not worth any angler's trouble making them for him- 

 self. They are made of horse-hair, or a mixture of 

 hair and silk ; those made of hair entirely are more 

 durable than any other kind, as they are not so liable 

 to rot as all lines are of which silk forms a component 

 part. The latter, however, are stronger for their 

 bulk, and are much more easily thrown two con- 

 siderable advantages. Lines made entirely of silk, 

 prepared in some patent manner, are now in very 

 common use, and seem likely to supersede every 

 other kind. They are very strong, and are more 

 easily thrown than any kind of line, but, like all 

 lines made of silk, they will rot unless dried after 

 being wet. As to the length of line, the angler 

 should be guided entirely by the size of the river 

 he intends fishing in. For small streams, twenty 

 yards will be quite sufficient, but in first-class 

 rivers and lochs three times that quantity will be 

 necessary. 



After the ordinary winch-line, it is usual to have 

 a casting-line of horse-hair loosely twisted, or triple 

 gut. Some anglers prefer the hair because they 

 think it lighter, which, however, is a mistake, as 

 gut is stronger for its weight than any material the 

 angler can use, and is also heavier for its bulk, 

 which is a great assistance to casting. 



Gut. This article is made from the entrails of the 

 silk-worm before it casts its silk, and is principally 

 manufactured in Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Sicily. 

 Of all the materials used by the angler, it is the one 



