THE REEL 57 



Practically all the higher grade reels have spiral gear- 

 ing. That is, the gears are cut spirally on the pinion 

 and driving gear, which causes two teeth of the latter 

 to be always enmeshed with two in the pinion. This 

 construction eliminates lost motion and produces a 

 smoothness rivalling that of a belt-drive. Spiral gears, 

 however, are just a refinement or added nicety, and it 

 will be a long time before the common, simple, spur- 

 tooth gearing is discontinued entirely. 



Naturally the quality of the material used on the 

 working parts of a reel have much to do with its price 

 and its lasting and casting qualities. Pinions are 

 usually of the highest grade of tool steel, gear journals 

 are tempered, ground, lapped, and highly polished, and 

 the driving gear is cut from solid bars of the best brass. 

 Comparing the "works" of a high grade and a cheap 

 reel through a magnifying glass tells a big story. 



Most casting reels are equipped with click and drag. 

 The click usually consists of a pawl and ratchet and is 

 controlled by a thumb button. Its principal use is to 

 keep the line from running out when the rod is not 

 used in casting as for example when carrying it to 

 and from the boat. It also enables one to use his 

 multiplying reel for fly-casting, although the common 

 click reels with protected handle are best for this pur- 

 pose. If strong enough it is also used in trolling as 

 it does away with the necessity of continually keeping 

 the thumb on the spool and it acts as an "alarm" when 

 the line runs out. Most clicks, if used often, become 

 weakened in time and the drag, which is a stronger 



