22 THE FLY FISHER'S GUIDE. 



The twisting-engine which has been here men- 

 tioned, is used in making reel lines free from 

 knots, and may be had at almost all the tackle 

 shops ; or may be easily made by any ingenious 

 watchmaker or whitesmith with very slight direc- 

 tions. It is a small brass box, containing four 

 wheels, three of which are of small dimensions; 

 the other is of larger size, and has a handle. 

 The axis of each of these wheels is protruded 

 from the plates of the box on both sides, and 

 is hollow. This instrument may be screwed into 

 the back of a chair or other substance, in such a 

 manner that the operator may employ his hands 

 both before and behind the engine, which bears a 

 reduced resemblance to the wheels used by rope- 

 makers. It is necessary then to procure three 

 balls of barber's yellow silk, somewhat longer 

 than the line is intended to be made ; and before 

 fastening them to the respective tubes, due notice 

 must be taken that the silk is so placed as to pre- 

 vent its being untwisted by the action of the 

 instrument; for should one of the threads be 



