54 FLY-FISHING. 



present essay to say that for all the purposes of 

 the fly-fisher the ordinary plain check reel is in 

 every respect the best, and that of all materials 

 of which they are made brass stained black is the 

 most convenient and serviceable. 



Within the last few years a considerable im- 

 provement has been introduced into the form of 

 reels generally, by the substitution of narrow 

 grooves and deep side-plates for the old-fashioned 

 shallow-plated, broad-grooved winches. The ad- 

 vantages thus gained are increased speed and 

 power ; speed, inasmuch as the diameter of the 

 axle on which the line is wound is enlarged ; and 

 power, because the handle being further from the 

 axle a greater leverage is obtained. Whilst speak- 

 ing of handles, I would here most strongly recom- 

 mend those attached to the side-plate of the reel 

 itself, without any crank, as they obviate the con- 

 stant catching of the line which takes place with 

 handles of the ordinary shape. 



One serious drawback, and so far as my 

 experience goes, one only, is common to every 

 reel hitherto made ; namely, that the line is apt to 

 get caught or hitched under the posterior curve of 

 the reel itself, thus involving a constant trifling 

 annoyance, and in the case of trolling and Salmon 



