Repairs. 311 



and fasten it again with silk over the wing fastening. 

 Now we catch the hook in or around anything that will 

 hold, take a good pull on the gut to be sure it will stand, 

 and it is complete. 



NOVICE. Are there any other accidents likely to hap- 

 pen to the angler which you have not mentioned, and 

 which admit of repair ? 



ANGLER. We have certainly covered almost all and 

 I can think of no others. You see the "invisible knot" 

 lies at the foundation of all these repairs, so be sure to 

 perfect yourself in it. 



It sometimes occurs that an angler buys a new rod, 

 or a new reel, and finds the one will not fit the other; 

 but he can tie the reel to his rod with a string, or better 

 still a leather thong, and it will work just as well. 



It may happen that he frays his line on a sharp stone 

 or otherwise, so that he thinks it no longer safe. In this 

 case, if unprovided with a spare line, he may cut out 

 the doubtful part, melt his wax, or at least make it quite 

 soft so that it will penetrate well into the line, coat 

 about an inch of each end well with the wax, lap and 

 squeeze, and sew them together with a fine needle, and 

 then wrap tightly with well waxed silk, and thus remedy 

 the defect. If it is an enamelled waterproof line, the 

 ends may be scarfed a little with the file to roughen 

 them, and give the wax a better hold. This splice, if 

 neatly made, will render through the rings very well, but 

 a test strain of at least six pounds should be applied be- 

 fore using it ; for if it will not hold it is better to know 

 it, and repeat the operation. 



He may forget or lose his landing-net. In stream- 

 fishing he can then land his fish on the bank, if it is 

 sloping, or if not, slide his hand down the leader and 



