TRENT FISHING. 29 



with the larger-sized reels ; and so, in order to reduce this 

 chance of the back warping to a minimum, the brass work 

 that is fastened outside the wooden back is made all in one 

 piece, and is called a solid cross or star back. At the bottom 

 is the stud ; that is for the purpose of fastening the reel to 

 the rod by means of the reel or winch fittings ; the brass 

 work then goes right across the reel in four opposite direc- 

 tions, and is securely fastened in its place by means of a 

 number of small screws. 



These reels can be made if required into what is generally 

 known as a " combination," at a shilling or two's extra cost, 

 for the use of those anglers who only want to carry one reel 

 about with them, and yet want to do several different kinds 

 of fishing with it, viz. fly fishing with a long double-handed 

 rod, as well as pike trolling, chub and barbel fishing, ledger- 

 ing, and roach fishing with light tackle ; and in order to ac- 

 complish this, there is an addition to them that is called a 

 check action, that can either be used or not, as the angler 

 requires. On the brass cross-back that has just been 

 described, there is a small catch or button, moving up and 

 down in a narrow slot, and by means of this the reel is 

 altered in a moment from a check reel for fly fishing to a fast- 

 running one for chub or barbel. 



Mr. Slater, of this town, some two years or so ago, brought 

 out and patented an addition to these reels, which has met 

 with good success, more particularly among salmon fishermen, 

 who do a lot of spinning and trolling for those fish. The 

 improvement consists of a brass cage, with horizontal bars 

 through which the line passes ; this cage is firmly fixed to 

 the back plate or immovable disc of the reel, and its front 

 consists of a flat narrow brass ring, very nearly the same size 

 as the revolving or front plate of the reel. This latter has 

 a groove recessed into it right round the inside edge, into 

 which the front ring of the cage fits ; when the line is wound 

 on the barrel of this reel, it is of course inside this cage, and 

 cannot very well get outside and get foul round the handles 

 or across the back. It happens sometimes in spinning from 

 the reel, but more especially in wet weather, that the line will 

 cause trouble by overwinding. Now in this reel, when that 



