LINES. 13 



accomplish. They should be well twisted, and 

 made of silk and hair. A catgut line, however, 

 will serve very well. For trolling, plaited silk is 

 recommended. Twisted horse-hair lines are the 

 cheapest. The lines composed of single strong 

 hairs are the best. They do not hold water like 

 a silk line, and, in fly-fishing, this is a great 

 advantage. 



About thirty yards is quite enough to have 

 on the reel at once. To varnish lines for 

 trolling, the following recipe will be found 

 excellent : " Take a small phial, and fill it two- 

 thirds full with boiled oil, and the remaining 

 third with gold size. Shake them well together, 

 and it is ready for use. It should be applied 

 with a piece of flannel, the line being passed 

 through an inch of tobacco-pipe, and then, 

 being exposed to the air, it will become quite 

 dry. It may be used once or twice with this 

 one coat of varnish on it to make it smooth, 

 and then it may have another coat, and will be 

 perfect an occasional renewing of the dressing 

 as it wears away will of course preserve it." 



Shotting the Line is the next operation. The 

 line is shotted in order that the float may sink 

 about half-way in the water. The split shot are 

 to be placed on the lower part, near the hook. 

 Two small shot near the hook-loop will cause 

 the bait to swim well and steadily. The other 

 shot are to be fastened higher up the line. l)o 

 not bite the shot on, if you have any regard for 

 your teeth. Moreover, you are apt to bite a 

 gut line through if you are not very careful. 

 Nip them on with the pliers. The line should 



