Fish and Fishing 



roundness, and polish, I know none better than 

 the "Kingfisher" lines, made by Martin & Sons. 

 They are sold in twenty-five-yard 

 Lines 18 mg c ^ s - Four coils, or more, are con- 

 nected. They are beautifully pol- 

 ished, to slide through the water, and are 

 perfectly water-proof, some being single- tapered, 

 others double-tapered, in various sizes and 

 lengths. They are made in various colors, but 

 I prefer the light olive green which harmonizes 

 well with the tints of the water, sky, and foliage. 

 In salmon fishing the enamelled silk line is 

 sometimes spliced to a double length of linen 

 Cuttyhunk, the first part being fifty yards and 

 the latter one hundred yards. In winding a new 

 line on the reel the greatest care should be taken 

 to wind it without kinking before being wet, 

 otherwise it is apt to fold or loop over; but after 

 a few wettings the stiffness will disappear, and 

 it will also cast much better. 



In bait-casting the best line is that of raw silk, 

 closely braided, and if hard it will absorb little 

 water, and is therefore light and elastic. Raw-silk 

 braided lines need the greatest care 

 to Preserve their usefulness. They 

 should be carefully dried after use, 

 as soon thereafter as possible, to prevent them 

 becoming weak and rotten. Next to the raw silk 

 is the braided boiled-silk line. If not closely 

 braided they absorb water quite freely, and 

 so cling to the rod, interfering with the free 

 rendering of the line. The braided linen can be 

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