THE FLY FISHER'S GUIDE. 31 



assistance of a little alum, impart a fine brown 

 colour to the gut or hair. 



THE REEL. 



Although the multiplying reel is now in ge- 

 neral use, the advantages which are set forth in 

 its favour are more than counterbalanced by the 

 frequent disappointment which the angler is 

 liable to from its imperfections. The fact is, 

 that the power of the wheels, as now arranged, 

 is inadequate to move a comparatively small 

 weight at a trifling distance. To be convinced 

 of the truth of this observation, it is simply ne- 

 cessary to fasten a piece of wood of a couple of 

 pounds weight to the end of a reel line, and 

 throw it into the water, letting the line run out 

 to a distance of twenty yards down a stream. 

 On winding up the line, the person who tries 

 the experiment will be annoyed by the frequent 

 stopping or catching of the wheels, as if the 

 cogs were choked up ; and it will not be without 



