HOOK-DRESSING. 313 



bored by means of the pyramid piece, upon an 

 ordinary pocket penknife, providing the wood to be 

 operated upon be first wound about with a bit of 

 twine or other substance equal to the purpose, as 

 this operation is a guard against splitting. 



Often when fishing upon a showery day the tongues 

 or pegs at the foot of the joints will stick in their 

 sockets, owing to their having expanded somewhat 

 by the presence of moisture within the fittings. An 

 ignited vesuvian, or a scrap of paper in a blaze will, 

 on being applied in a way effective enough to cause 

 the steam to leave the ferrule, render the joints 

 readily detachable. 



Winches and reel lines cannot well be constructed 

 without the necessary appliances, in the shape of 

 machinery. When the former consisted of a simple 

 arrangement of wood and wire (the latter forming the 

 handle, centre pillar and side pillars too, whilst the 

 wood was employed for the circular terminations), 

 the article was easy to construct, but now that the 

 various parts are made detachable, and are cast and 

 dressed up superbly, endless tools and skill in lathe 

 turning are requisite to construct a metal winch of 

 an improved pattern. Our object we conceive to be 

 purely to initiate and interest, as much as possible, 

 the amateur in the construction of his own tackle, 

 so far as is practicable. Plait lines, casted and turned 

 winches we pass over, as articles as yet beyond the 

 ordinary amateur's attainment and capacity. We 

 resume with flight-making, etc. The first essential 

 step in tackle constructing is undoubtedly that of 



