LINES. 53 



and are sometimes sold as "American lines," 

 although I believe they are really made in Ger- 

 many ; the varnish cracks as the line stretches, 

 and the water gets to the central core, which 

 quickly rots, and, after a few times using, they are 

 unreliable, especially under the strain of a heavy 

 fish. 



It is a good plan always to unpick an inch at 

 the end of a line and see if it is silk all through ; 

 if it is, a No. 3 size should be strong enough to 

 hold any fresh-water fish that swims. About twelve 

 years ago a friend of mine (now deceased) brought 

 me from Saigon, in French Cochin, some silk 

 fishing lines of marvellous quality and strength : for 

 although they were only the thickness of the finest 

 Nottingham roach-lines, which break at a strain of 

 less than 6 Ibs., these Saigon lines withstand a 

 strain of 20 Ibs., as tested and registered by a 

 Farlow spring-balance. The lines are made of 

 pure silk of the thinnest fibre, and, when unravelled, 

 the fibres measure from 18 to 20 ins. in length. 

 They are dressed with waterproofing, which with- 

 stands the action of sea-water ; I have used them 

 for the past ten years in both fresh-water and sea- 

 fishing, capturing many big fish, some exceeding 

 20 Ibs., and the lines have proved unbreakable, 

 and appear to be imperishable. I have succeeded 

 lately in obtaining these lines again, and very 

 likely they will be procurable in London and 

 country tackle-shops ; and as the price will be only 

 half that charged for the cheapest lines that are 

 strong enough to hold large pike, barbel or sea- 

 fish, there is certain to be a large demand for these 

 Saigon lines. 



The following is a recipe for waterproof dressing 



