56 THE SALMON FISHER. 



the crank. This I recommend for its lightness, 

 though a reel should always be of a proper ascer- 

 tained weight to balance the rod. When the new 

 automatic salmon reel comes upon the market, the 

 probabilities are that it will be adopted by veteran. 

 anglers, as the utility of the automatic trout and bass 

 reels in present use has been demonstrated beyond 

 a doubt. Mr. John Mowat recommends it. 



As to the line, 100 yards of oiled silk or braided 

 linen line are enough, unless your fish gets into a 

 long rapid, and then you want a thousand if you 

 cannot follow. A gaff and gaffer are indispensable. 

 Some experienced anglers have justly declared that 

 a first-class salmon line is one of the most difficult 

 articles of an outfit to procure ; but no one save an 

 experienced angler can appreciate its value. A thor- 

 oughly good line should be perfectly pliable and 

 yet have the substance in it to make it feel quite 

 solid. A line that is light for its bulk is of little use 

 in casting against the wind, and one that is hard 

 and stiff is too long in running out straight in the 

 water. A line should be heavy and not thick. It 

 should be thoroughly waterproofed, so as not to rot, 



