LINE TRACE. 9 



We next come to the line, which should be 

 from sixty to a hundred yards long, of the best 

 eight-plait silk, rather fine than otherwise, so 

 as to make as little show as possible in the 

 water. It should be prepared with waterproof 

 dressing, which prevents the line kinking, as it 

 is impossible to throw a spinning-bait properly 

 with a line that kinks or curls up in knots, as 

 the undressed lines invariably do, as soon as 

 they get wet. A careful spinneral ways dries 

 his line well after use, and before putting it 

 away, to prevent rotting. 



The next thing required is the trace, which 

 is fastened to the line thus, 



the end of the line being first knotted, to per- 

 vent it slipping when wet. The trace should 

 be of moderate-sized gimp, with from two to 

 four swivels, and about three feet in length ; 

 the weight required on it to sink the spinning- 

 bait will vary, of course, considerably, accord- 

 ing to the water in which it is to be used ; as 

 a trace which would be rather heavy for still 

 water, such as a lake or large pond, unless very 

 deep, would be much too light for a strong 

 stream, such as is found in some parts of the 

 Thames and similar rivers. For fishing at the 

 tails of weirs (where I have occasionally taken 



