FLY FISHING FOR TROUT AND GRAYLING. 151 



the pains and researches we bestowed upon it.* The reel 

 upon the new rod is made inside the butt, so to speak, 

 thus all annoya?ice of the line entwining around the reel 

 is entirely avoided, f The general working of the imple- 

 ment proves this to be a decided advantage over the old 

 side-fixing system. 



THE LINE should be plaited of water-proof silk. The 

 eight-plait water- proof fly lines have gradually, during 

 the last forty years, superseded the old hair, as well as 

 the hair and silk lines. As we have elsewhere stated, 

 silk is the strongest textile, and, when duly protected 

 from the action of the water, cannot be surpassed for 

 surface fishing. The new Acme Line is a further im- 

 provement on the above. It contains a fine strand or 

 thread of annealed and specially prepared copper wire, 

 either in the plaiting or in the centre of the line, the 

 whole being carefully water-proofed.]; The Acme is 

 guaranteed to extend the rodster's powers considerably. 



THE KEEL should be of bronze, or brass, and the han- 

 dle should be attached to a revolving plate, instead of a 



* The wire-centered re-enforced rod was made in America fifteen years 

 ago. In 1868, Mr. Hyde, inventor of the " Hyde Clip " for fly-books, 

 made two rods on this principle. The wood used was cedar, and a two- 

 jointed rod was constructed with a small steel wire running through it 

 from end to end. One of these rods is still in existence. About two 

 ysars ago Dr. Rippard, of Westminster, Md., (since deceased) patented 

 a rod of similar construction, and through a fishing-tackle house an 

 effort was made to introduce them to the trade, but without success. 

 Recently Mr. C. Bremaker gave a description in " The American Angler'' 

 of a wire-centered rod of his own invention, and attested in strong 

 terms to its qualities of strength and pliancy. From the above notes it 

 will be seen that the invention (?) of Mr. Foster is not a new thing to 

 American anglers, many of whom do not see any value in a rod re-en- 

 forced on the wire-centered principle. 



t The Hancock enclosed reel has been for some time on the American 

 market, and, notwithstanding the merit of the principle, it has fallen 

 flat ; owing mainly, I judge, from its weight and clumsiness. 



J The Acme Line has not been introduced in this country. 



