42 ANGLER'S TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT. 



part and parcel of the identical fishing tackle discovered 

 along with the mislaid MSS. of Waverley, and alluded 

 to by Sir Walter, in the General Preface to his 

 Novels. I make no doubt, but with the single hair in 

 question, I could have managed, provided my rod was 

 a pliant one and my reel-line ran easily, a salmon of 

 ten or twelve pounds in weight, not indeed in such 

 water as the Trow Crags, or any of the rocky straiks 

 and clippers that afford facilities for fish to cut or wear 

 through the line ; but in an open, unobstructed cast 

 or pool, where the salmon could show no cunning, and, 

 at the same time, exert its full strength and speed. 

 The hair alluded to, I may mention, was white, clear, 

 and long, not of the coarse, black description, which even 

 now-a-days is common enough, and possesses, without 

 question, strength to capture the largest of our river fish. 



As to colour, however, the natural chesnut is prefer- 

 able, especially for casting-lines. With regard to the 

 reel or winch-line, it is of little or no consequence 

 what colour of hair is put into requisition. A mixture 

 of black and white is most commonly employed in its 

 manufacture, and perhaps, next to good chesnut hair, 

 is really best adapted for the purpose. I am not partial 

 to pure white hair, either for casting or running lines ; 

 but my objection rests chiefly on the circumstance of 

 the material, as found in the market, being, in nineteen 

 cases out of twenty, bad or unequal. Casting-lines, 

 especially, should always be formed of choice hairs. 

 They should be selected to correspond one with the 

 other, and ought to possess, besides, length, roundness, 

 and perfect equality. 



In speaking of hair casting-lines', I may observe, that 

 although the above remark applies equally to the trout- 

 ing and other sorts, it is intended to hold reference 



