18 THE SCOTTISH ANGLER. 



kept dry, for the least moisture cannot fail to create 

 rust. Hooks for dressing flies ought to be thinner at 

 the shank than such as are intended for bait-fishing. 

 The Kendal hooks used in Scotland generally number 

 upwards from 00, the smallest midge, to No. 20, the 

 largest salmon size. The Limerick are denoted by let- 

 ters, commencing with A. 



There are various methods employed in order to 

 temper and prepare hooks. After the wire is barbed 

 and sharpened, it is commonly steeled through means 

 of fire and charcoal then the hook thus prepared is 

 placed upon a smoothing iron, heated 580 degrees of 

 Fahrenheit, until it acquires a blue colour ; and last 

 of all, it is immersed, while hot, in tallow, in order to 

 prevent rust. 



Now, as to lines and gut ; and, first, the pirn-line : 

 This, for trouting, should be spun from twelve to 

 fifteen hairs* thickness, of the best fresh horse hair, 

 properly cleaned and soaked. The salmon line ought 

 to be much stronger, and contain from eighteen to four- 

 and-twenty hairs. Thirty yards of the former will 

 suffice ; the latter should be at least twice that length. 

 Some prefer a few threads of silk interwoven, and to 

 this we have no objection, although by them the wet 

 is retained longer, and the line said to become, sooner 

 useless. The great merit of a good line is its lightness. 

 Many anglers, however, and the Ettrick Shepherd among 

 the rest, give the preference to one that is heavy ; upon 

 what principle we are unable to discover, except for 

 the purpose of beating down the wind. Second, the 

 casting- line : This maybe formed either of gut or horse 

 hair ; if of the latter, the very choicest material ought 

 to be used, taking care to soak it previously for an hour 

 or two in cold water. Five lengths are sufficient, the 

 uppermost composed of eight hairs, and so on, gradually 



