324 THE SALMON FLY. 



It remains for me to describe how the length of a cast may be 

 increased by "shooting" line; and I have a word or two to say on a 

 different matter. The subject of shooting line has been referred to in 

 another chapter ; and but little practice is needed to master the 

 method. 



The feat consists first in the Angler drawing from the winch the 

 length of line required, and, while so doing, making and placing coils of 

 it, one by one, between the point of the forefinger and thumb of the 

 upper hand. These coils, of about a yard in length from end to end, 

 hang down in front of the winch and are lightly held there until the 

 point of tension in the thrash-down is reached. If at that instant they are 

 dropped they will be dragged out by the rest of the line ; but if dropped 



SHOOTING LINE. 



too soon, the middle part of the running line will belly down towards the 

 water, and the " slack " will not be taken out at all. In making, say, a 

 thirty-yard cast, a four-yard length should be shot ; a thirty-four yard 

 cast a six-yard length, and so on in proportion. To shoot ten yards with 

 upright revolving rings is no great feat provided the line is smooth, 

 properly dressed and of the right size and weight. 



But in wading, when the coils fall from the hand, the current takes 

 them out of position as shown in the accompanying diagram, thus forming 



