128 FISHING TACKLE 



about four ounces. Being open on two edges, 

 the line dries nicely on the reel, and it will hold 

 a great deal of line. By the use of the pieces 

 of tubing and wire I was saved the labor of 

 making rivets from solid wire, but the reel is 

 strong and neat, and I have several of them 

 that have seen hard use for a number of years. 

 They are made to fit one within the other. 



After using these reels for some time, 

 William Mills & Son asked permission to copy 

 them, and they put out reels that are of course 

 far superior to mine, as theirs are made from 

 spun aluminum, practically in one piece. They 

 are made up in sets of two or three, one fitting 

 within the other. 



In stringing up the rod, in casting, the reel 

 is placed on the platform. The line is unrolled 

 from the reel as one would do with a tape 

 measure but never pulled off in coils, as this 

 would snarl it. 



The calibers of fishing lines, as made by the 

 different firms, are almost hopelessly confused. 

 Some firms use what seems to be the original 

 method of employing the first nine letters of 

 the alphabet and others use nine figures. Then 

 some reverse the order, so that a No. 6 line, say, 

 is larger than a No. I. Then again lines are 

 numbered arbitrarily, so that a No. 3 and a 



