SUPPLEMENTARY. 199 



should be kept well varnished ; use copal varnish. 

 Don't, pray don't, call your rod a " pole." For a 

 line I prefer a tapering braided silk : forty yards is 

 sufficient. The reel should be German-silver, nickel, 

 or rubber ; either is good if well made : don't pur- 

 chase a cheap one, and avoid what is called a 

 " multipler," they are a nuisance. Your leader, or 

 casting-line, should be six feet in length, made of 

 good strong snell, and capable of sustaining a dead 

 weight of five pounds. 



For trout-fishing three flies are ordinarily used : 

 though generally I prefer two ; they cast much bet- 

 ter, and work better on the water. When three 

 are used, the hand-fly (that next the hand) should 

 be thirty inches from the middle fly, and the mid- 

 dle thirty-two inches from the tail fly. When only 

 two, the second should be thirty-four inches from 

 the tail fly. As regards the size of hook, that 

 depends upon the size of the trout. Tell the party 

 of whom you purchase where you propose to go, 

 and he will select the proper size. A landing-net 

 is indispensable. 



The flies which are illustrated upon the frontis- 

 piece are those commonly used in Maine waters, to 

 which may be added the scarlet ibis and brown 

 hackle, and are quite sufficient for ordinary sport, 

 and all practical purposes. Three dozen is enough, 



