43 



>>''d, else the angler will lose the convenience it affords 

 of fixing his rod in banks, &c. so as to ease his hand, or 

 to allow his attending to other tackle. 



The KEEL-LINE ought to be very strong, yet not so 

 thick as to encumber the reel, or to be chimsy and heavy, 

 after passing the tip, when, if not very compact, it will 

 be subject to much agitation from the wind 5 and, if wet, 

 will prove extremely unpleasant, more especially when, 

 in fly-fishing, much of it should be let off from the reel. 



Silk certainly makes a good line, that is, when twilled, 

 as in bobbins. Raiv silk is also remarkably strong, and, 

 in my opinion, more so than w r hen -dives ted, by dressing, 

 of its natural harshness, which being occasioned by a 

 resinous coat on every fibre of the material, seems to 

 render it less penetrable to the water, whereby it is 

 probable the line is better preserved. 



The pleasantest line to throw, especially to any dis- 

 tance, is that made of hair, it being extremely light, and 

 far more elastic than silk. It is not, however, quite so 

 strong, even when new, and is much more liable to perish. 

 Jf wound wet, without the precaution of leaving it to dry 

 in the air, in a very few days it will get a kind of mildew, 

 which is a sure indication of approaching rottenness. 



J t is far better to leave your line out, even during a 

 heavy shower of rain, than to wind it while wet upon 

 your reel -, it will soon dry in the air, or in any mode- 

 rately warm place : but be careful never to put a hair line 

 to dry near a fire ; for though it may not be scorched, it 

 will dry unequally, and cause some of the hairs to con- 

 tract, whereby the stress will be unequally borne, and, 

 consequently, the strength diminished : further, a snarled 

 line never runs well through the rings on the rod. 



I have 



