26 BOTTOM FISHING IN THE NOTTENGHAM STYLE. 



constantly brought before the public, that the novice would 

 be nearly at his wits' end in order to make a careful selection. 

 Many of these improvements are only improvements in name, 

 and not in practical utility. I have not yet seen a winch or 

 reel fitting that will beat the three plain brass rings that are 

 in general use on bottom rods ; they cannot very well get out 

 of order, and if fitted properly will hold the reel as tightly as 

 possible. 



Some anglers have and recommend an extra top to a rod ; 

 it is very nice under some conditions to have an extra top to 

 a rod, or if the angler wants to do two or three different sorts 

 of fishing with one rod, or has to travel a long way to his 

 sport, and has to pack up his traps into as little a compass as 

 1 possible ; but personally I have found that an extra top is 

 more trouble than profit, for I was as safe as houses sure to 

 leave it on the bank, or else set my foot on it and break it. 



And now we will turn our attention to something that is 

 very useful to the angler and amateur tackle-maker, and that 

 is, a good bottle of varnish. Hooks of all sorts, after being 

 whipped to the tackle, and the bindings of the rod round the 

 rings, &c., would be all the better for being occasionally 

 touched over with a good spirit varnish ; and I will now give 

 a recipe for making a first-class varnish. I should suppose 

 that most anglers have noticed how hard and bright the 

 varnish on a well-finished rod is, and have often wished they 

 could get some similar to dress their hooks and whippings 

 with. I use a great deal of this varnish, and I make it of 

 the following quantities : One quart of methylated spirits of 

 wine, half a pound of gum shellac, two ounces of gum ben- 

 zoine, half an ounce of gum Thus, and half an ounce of gum 

 mastic, all mixed together in a bottle and shaken up con- 

 stantly, till it becomes a thick, sticky liquid. Of course, no 

 angler would want a quantity like that for his own use ; and 

 as it is very expensive, perhaps the best plan would be to 

 send to some rod and tackle maker for a small bottle of that 

 varnish ; which need not be more than sixpennyworth, and 

 would be enough to last him a whole year. It should be 

 kept tightly corked, and the camel's-hair brush that is used 

 to apply the varnish should be fastened in the cork and 



