98 



system adapting itself automatically and certainly to every size and 

 shape of reel-plate can hardly be over estimated. 



REEL LINES. 



I think a very general agreement in theory will be found to 

 exist, at any rate among salmon- fishers, as to the advantage, and 

 in stormy weather I might say necessity, of a certain weight in the 

 line to enable the fly to be thrown against and across the wind. 

 The importance to the salmon-fisher of a line which will " cut its 

 way like a knife through a fierce March squall " has been so well 

 recognised that in order to give greater "cutting" power, line- 

 makers have even gone to the extent of manufacturing reel-lines 

 with wire centres, and Mr. Senior, the well-known author of many 

 charming books on fishing, and now Angling Editor of the 

 " Field," expresses himself as highly pleased with a line of this 

 description made by Messrs. D. Foster of Ashbourne. 



The principle of weight being a desideratum in salmon lines, is 

 indeed, very generally admitted and acted on. That neither the 

 theory, nor the practice based on it, would meet with an equally 

 general acceptance by trout-fishers is certain. Indeed, the proof 

 that it is so would no doubt be furnished by a cursory examination 

 of the stock of trout fly-lines kept on sale by tackle-makers, 

 amongst which undressed, and therefore relatively light, lines of 

 silk, hemp, &c., of silk and hair mixed, and even of hair by itself, 

 will probably be found plentifully represented. Undressed 

 salmon lines, on the contrary, will be met with comparatively 

 rarely. 



Then comes the question of double-handed trout rods, and 

 what sort of line gives the greatest maximum of advantage in 

 their case ? 



If simple strength and durability only were the problem to be 

 solved, I should have no difficulty in giving an unhesitating vote 

 for the hempen lines of the Manchester Twine Cotton Spinning 



