PATERNOSTER1NG AND LEDGERING 177 



the best lines for fly-fishing purposes are now dressed 

 in this manner ; but the trout fisher, as a rule, prefers 

 pure linseed oil, which, after many months of drying 

 and repeated dressings, gives a very soft and pleasing 

 result. The line, having been soaked, should be 

 stretched between two trees while still wet, and the 

 superfluous oil mixture removed from it. Then when 

 dry it can be given a smoothing down with a piece 

 of oily rag or chamois leather. If there are any 

 considerable excrescences on it, as there may be if 

 it has not been very carefully plaited, these may be 

 rubbed down with very fine sandpaper, but this 

 process is not often required. The best silk lines, 

 by the way, are plaited absolutely solid. The old- 

 fashioned method was to plait them either hollow or 

 round a core. A few lines are still made in this way, 

 and should be carefully avoided. 



A point which often puzzles the beginner in 

 connection with the paternoster is the proper distance 

 at which to place the hook-link from the lead. 

 Eighteen inches to two feet is a good general 

 distance ; but if we are fishing a very deep hole I 

 should recommend it to be three feet from the bottom 

 if the water is clear, while at any place where the 

 bottom is thickly covered with a short growth of 

 weeds the hook must be so far above the lead that 



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