FLY-FISHING. 455 



boy knows how to plait a line but for fear I might meet with a little 

 abuse if I did leave it out. I always buy my links already plaited,, as 

 they are better done by machine, and it saves much bother. Hair 

 points for trout-fishing are also made in a similar way to the double 

 and treble gut, by increasing or diminishing the number of hairs ac- 

 cording to the substance required. 



The next article that deserves our attention is the line. It is a 

 point of much dispute among fishermen, whether hair, hair and silk, or 

 hemp lines are best for Salmon; for all seem to agree that for trout- 

 fishing proper (and I mean always in thus naming it, such as is carried 

 on with suitable trout-flics and a one-handed trout rod), there is 

 nothing better than a mixed hair and silk line tapered at either end, 

 to reverse, in case of accidents. This is the best ; hair is next best. 

 For Salmon, however, the case is different. You require weight to 

 propel the line against wind, and also great strength. I have always 

 used one hundred and fifty yards for a line, one hundred of which 

 was hemp steeped in boiled oil, dried and well rubbed in, and fifty 

 yards of heavy black or gray country hair-plait line, as being stronger 

 and better than any thing else. I use it still ; it is infinitely better 

 than hair and silk. I prefer it to all hair, as it reels up closer than 

 hair alone would do. 



When last in England, there was great talk about new discoveries in 

 the line w r ay. I have never tried them, and consequently cannot vouch 

 for the performance of them, but several friends of mine, who are by 

 no means contemptible fishermen, spoke strongly in their favor. From 

 the appearance, it is evident that they are dressed over with more than 

 boiled oil, with the use of which as a preservative of hemp lines I have 

 been long familiar; they present just such an appearance and smell as 

 a mixture of boiled linseed oil and soluble India-rubber would and 

 of that I doubt not the composition is made. 



The following receipt will be found to answer every purpose, with- 

 out pretending, however, to be " the one :" 



Best boiled linseed-oil, four ounces (one-fourth of a pint), saturated 

 s< >lution of India-rubber in naphtha, four ounces ; mix well together, rub 

 with a brush over the line stretched in the open air; when dry, repeat 

 the dressing, and leave exposed to the air till stiff. Care must be taken 

 to rub it on thinly, yet evenly all over, and avoid touching it till dry. 



Lines thus prepared, they tell me can be thrown further than any 



