ANGLER'S EQUIPMENT 43 



of all trouting tackle : hooks of every description 

 should be dressed upon it; and all casting-lines, 

 and, indeed, every part of the line that is intended 

 to touch the water, should be made of this material. 

 After the ordinary winch-line, there should be a 

 casting-line composed of seven or eight lengths of 

 triple gut twisted together. This can only be done 

 properly by a machine for the purpose, which may 

 be had in any fishing-tackle shop. Only the longest 

 threads should be selected for this purpose, and they 

 should be as nearly as possible of one thickness. 

 Before attaching them to the machine they should 

 be soaked in cold water for half an hour, or they will 

 be certain to break. After the lengths are twisted, 

 they may be joined together according to the angler's 

 taste, taking care that they taper from one end to 

 the other. The most secure method of joining them 

 is with the single slip-knot, lapping the ends over 

 with well-waxed silk thread ; a little spirit varnish 

 makes all secure. Another way of joining them is 

 by whipping the ends together with silk ; this is the 

 neater plan of the two, but it is continually giving 

 way, and requires to be done over again ; so that, 

 unless the angler makes up his own tackle, he will 

 find it exceedingly troublesome ; anglers practising 

 this method should always keep the joinings well 

 varnished. After the triple-gut line, there should be 

 four or five lengths of picked gut, tapered in thick- 

 ness to where the fly or bait tackle is attached ; these 

 should be joined together by a common knot. In- 

 stead of fastening the fly or bait cast to this by a 



