Lines. 58 



while in the silk direct from the cocoon it may be hun- 

 dreds of yards, the relative value of the two products 

 may be readily gauged, without entering into the ques- 

 tion of how much the material composing the "shoddy" 

 has suffered before entering the machine. 



Again, lines are sometimes made of mixed silk and 

 jute, in which case the latter is a pure adulteration, since 

 it adds practically nothing to the strength. Such lines, 

 however, as are sold by reputable dealers are made 

 wholly from the best Italian or Chinese silk. The 

 thread is spun direct from the cocoon. Three threads 

 are then loosely twisted together, and thus each strand 

 of the braided line is formed. These lines, for their 

 diameter, are of surprising strength, and they alone are 

 suited to our purpose. But in their natural condition 

 unnecessary disadvantages attend their use. Though 

 superior to the ordinary linen line in this respect, still if 

 it is desired that they should retain their strength, they 

 must be taken from the reel and carefully dried after use. 



Aside from this, the inferior strength of the raw-silk 

 line, and the greater friction caused by its rougher sur- 

 face in its passage through the rings, would give the 

 preference to that of boiled silk. But that also has seri- 

 ous disadvantages. One trial, particularly if the experi- 

 menter be wading, will graduate him as far as this is 

 concerned. They are so very soft and pliable, that on the 

 slightest provocation they take a turn around the outer 

 end of the tip ; the line is then locked for the time be- 

 ing, and will render neither way. After having waded 

 to the shore four or five times to find a support for the 

 butt, so that the end of the tip and the entanglement 

 may be reached, an effort will probably be made to vary 

 the monotony of this proceeding, by placing the butt 



