23 



may, by merely fixing their foot length of 

 gut to the line, wind it up close to their 

 hand ; and where the stream is narrow and 

 bushes frequent, this is certainly a good 

 plan. But, for bold streams, the reel line 

 should be of equal thickness throughout, 

 and not too fine, in order that a taper hair 

 line of ten yards in length may be attached 

 thereto. 



The most important consideration in the 

 making of lines is the selection of the hair, 

 which must be round, even, and free from 

 scales. If plucked from the tail of a vouno- 

 horse or mare, it is not so good as that which 

 is to be procured from a four or five year 

 old gelding ; but the best is to be had from 

 the tail of a well grown stallion, and those 

 hairs are generally most free from blemish 

 which grow from the middle of the tail. 

 Black, although t*he strongest, is the least 

 serviceable colour; brown, gray, and white, 



