DRY-FLY PRELIMINARIES. 113 



but all the same I counsel the novice to begin with 

 the medium line. 



The reel he already possesses will do for this 

 line, and it will hold about 20 yards of fine backing 

 as well. But if he finds it possible he might 

 advantageously purchase a second reel. One reel 

 to two lines is short allowance, and constant 

 changing is a nuisance. I often carry two reels 

 with me when fishing, so that I can change from 

 one to the other if I want to for different styles of 

 fishing, or if one line becomes sodden after much 

 use. While on the subject of the line I may touch 

 on the question of something to make it float. 

 Deer's fat is the unguent usually recommended. 

 It is sold in little tins, and is rubbed on to the line 

 with a soft cloth or piece of flannel. Some men 

 use vaseline, which is excellent for imparting 

 buoyancy, but which has the dubious reputation of 

 rotting a silk line. Whether this is so I am not 

 sure. I have found many a line rot, but whether it 

 has been due to vaseline, which I used for some 

 time, I should not like to say. Lines will 

 sometimes rot of their own volition, especially if 

 they are not properly dried after use. Nowadays 

 I use Gishurstine, which has been mentioned 

 earlier, and I have not found any of my lines rot 



since I took to it. 



I 



