107 



are entirely of hair. To this a casting-line, either of 

 single gut or hand-twisted hair, of the length of the 

 rod, can be added, according to the state of the 

 water. The great objection to hair-lines twisted by 

 a machine, for casting, is their being so liable 

 to run into circles, and not lying straight on the 

 water. The cause of this is their being so hard 

 twisted, for the purpose of keeping the ends of the 

 hairs closely bedded in the strand. Some persons 

 recommend steeping the line for a few minutes in 

 cold-drawn linseed oil, with a view to make it water- 

 proof, and run smooth, and that it may be less lia- 

 ble to kink. Such a practice is, however, by no 

 means recommended, as it most certainly causes the 

 line to rot sooner than one which is not so treated. 

 New lines should always be wetted twice or thrice, 

 and then stretched and well rubbed with a piece of 

 woollen cloth or flannel, to take the kinks out of 

 and smooth them, previous to being used. A great 

 preservative of lines from rotting is to dry them 

 thoroughly after they have been used. To put lines 

 away damp is a ready mode of rendering them good 

 for nothing. 



By whatever name hooks may be called Limerick, 

 Kendal, Carlisle, or ELirby and whatever may be 

 the pretended excellence of this or that particular 

 bend, the great object is to obtain them well made, 

 neither so soft as to draw out almost straight, like 

 a piece of pin- wire, nor so brittle as to snap on re- 

 ceiving a slight jerk. Before tying them they ought 



