THE SPINNING-LINE AND ROD. 107 



badly-spinning bait -will not do ; and it is to be borne in 

 mind, that unless the bait spins very well indeed when 

 drawn rapidly through the water, it will, when drawn 

 only moderately slowly (as is preferable), hardly spin at 

 all; therefore it is desirable that the bait should spin 

 well. 



The best kind of line for spinning, unless the angler be 

 fishing with Nottingham tackle, or casting frcm the reel, is 

 slack plaited silk dressed. In choosing the line, see that it 

 be neither too fine nor too bulky. If it be too fine it will 

 be constantly kinking in throwing, and it will not stand 

 the requisite amount of wear and tear attendant on jack- 

 fishing. If it be too bulky it does not go so freely 

 through the rings, and much shortens the cast, besides 

 being too visible to the fish. If very heavy baits be re- 

 quired and large fish be expected, a stouter line must of 

 course be used. Select a line that is neither too dry nor 

 too sticky as regards the dressing. If it be too dry the 

 dressing on the line cracks in places, and the line becomes 

 more like a land-measuring chain than a fishing-line; 

 and if it be soft and sticky it is a perpetual nuisance 

 in casting, causing endless kinking, and the dressing very 

 soon wears off. It should be fifty or sixty yards long 

 not that so much will be often required in fishing, but 

 when used well at one end it can be turned end for end 

 with advantage, and answers all the purposes of a new 

 line. 



The rod used in spinning for jack should be from 

 twelve to fourteen or fifteen feet in length, with sufficient 

 of spring in it to cast a bait well and yet with good sub- 

 stance to stand the strain and plunges of heavy fish 

 should weeds intervene. Some anglers prefer the rod 

 made of cane ; but if it be made of cane, the only kind 

 that should be used for it is bamboo, the other canes 

 having hardly sufficient substance in them. Other per- 



