Lines. 71 



to cast in less promising places at a greater distance. 

 But ever that dreadful but decided and increasing 

 disadvantages became apparent as the length of the cast 

 was reduced below that distance. I like to see the fly 

 shoot out straight, pause a short distance above the sur- 

 face of the water, and then fall upon it by its own grav- 

 ity alone. The momentum of the heavy line was such 

 that it required the very nicest adjustment of the im- 

 pulse to the distance to be covered, lest the line reach 

 its full length before its inertia was overcome, and thus, 

 suddenly checked, recoil and fall sinuously upon the 

 water; and this difficulty rapidly increased as the line 

 was shortened. Now I am inclined to believe that five 

 and a half times the length of the rod approximates 

 pretty closely to the limit of efficient casting in actual 

 fly-fishing, while we all know that over nine-tenths of 

 all the fish are taken within say forty feet of the angler. 

 Therefore, if it be wise to adapt your tools to your ev- 

 ery-day work, rather than to that which you will do 

 only on your birthday, it would seem that the beginner 

 would do well to use no line heavier than a " level E," 

 unless his rod be quite stiff. 



For the benefit of those who like to make their own 

 tackle, and are ambitious to waterproof a line, the fol- 

 lowing recipes are given: 



First buy a boiled-silk braided line of the proper diam- 

 eter, and of the very best quality if you would not have 

 it rot in the process. 



