110 SUPPLEMENT TO THE BOOK OP THE BLACK BASS. 



they see as well in their own element, perhaps better, than 

 we in ours. 



That the color of the leader is not important is very evi- 

 dent when we reflect that the boy with line of wrapping 

 cord, red, white, or blue, or the angler with line of twisted 

 strands of black sewing-silk, to which the hook is affixed 

 without leader or snell, is as successful in taking trout or 

 Black Bass with bait, as others with lines of the most ap- 

 proved colors. Sharks do not hesitate to take the bait even 

 with the huge hook and chain and swivel accompaniment, 

 nor do codfish, and other marine fishes, refuse the bait be- 

 cause of the large hooks, wire snells, or coarse white lines ; 

 yet it is to be presumed that their discernment is as acute 

 as that of a brook-trout. 



As to leaders and snells in fly-fishing, I do not think it 

 makes any difference, practically, as to their color. The 

 greatest desideratum, it seems to me, is to have them as 

 fine as possible, consistent with the strength required, and 

 this is not much with a flexible rod, for the amount of strain 

 exerted by a fish on the rod and tackle is very much less 

 than is popularly supposed. Though any color may answer, 

 I prefer lines and leaders of neutral tints as being more in 

 accordance with the eternal fitness of things, than for any 

 other good reason, provided the staining does not w r eaken 

 the gut; and as this may possibly be the case, and as the 

 stain or dye certainly can not add to its strength, it is best, 

 I think, to use leaders and snells of unstained gut. I have 

 used, with success, snells and leaders of the finest silver 

 suture wire, for trout and Black Bass, but, practically, they 

 are not pliable enough, and are too heavy. 



On the whole, then, I think we shall have to be content 

 with our leaders and snells as we find them to-day, simply 



