26 PIKE AND OTHER COARSE FISH. 



One great point certainly is never to put the line into too hot a 

 mixture ; a temperature in which the finger can be placed 

 without inconvenience should be the maximum. Curriers 

 always, I believe, wet their leather before applying oil or grease, 

 which is otherwise supposed to 'fire' it, as it is termed. True- 

 fit recommends the same precaution to be taken before greasing 

 the hair of the beard, and it is possible that there may be some 

 analogous effect produced on silk under particular conditions, 

 even when the oil is not heated beyond the proper temperature. 



Be this as it may, however, I believe the fact that silk lines are 

 not unfrequently 'fired' or burned in some way whilst dressing 

 is indisputable ; and until some one can discover a remedy we 

 must be content to pay a little oftener for new trolling-lines. In 

 most other respects the oil dressing seems to answer capitally, 

 being neat, very fairly waterproof, and easily applied. 



One great safeguard against premature decay we do know ; 

 and that is, never under any circumstances to put by a line wet, 

 nor unless thoroughly dried. Attention to this simple precau- 

 tion will save expense, and not a few of those precipitate part- 

 ings between fish and fishermen, which are so painful to at least 

 one of the parties concerned. 



With regard to the substance or thickness of trolling-lines it 

 is difficult to give suggestions in the form of letterings or num- 

 berings, inasmuch as there is great variation in the enumeration 

 of their different sizes by different line makers. What may be 

 described, however, as a line of medium substance, rather than 

 either very stout or very fine, gives, on the whole, the best 

 results. If too fine the friction caused by passing through the 

 rod rings very soon rubs off the dressing, and renders it un- 

 trustworthy, and if too thick it will not run with the necessary 

 freedom for long casts, especially where light baits are used. 

 Moreover, the very stout quality has also the disadvantage of 

 being very conspicuous 'a line of invitation,' as somebody 

 calls it, which the fish are not usually in a hurry to accept. 



A very important item in the perfection or imperfection 

 of all spinning and other pike tackle is the Swirel, Owing to 



