FISHING-REELS. 249 



should be quite dextrous in the art of using a multiplier, 

 and au fait in the matter of controlling the rendering of 

 the line with the thumb, otherwise the extreme rapidity 

 of this reel's action will get him into trouble by its over- 

 running or back-lashing, and the consequent tangling of 

 the line upon the spool. 



But, in justice to the reel, I will say to those who can 

 not cast without tangling or snarling the line, or who can 

 not reel the line evenly upon the spool, that they must 

 look for the fault in themselves, and not in the reel. Me 

 judice, I consider it the best reel in the world. The 

 " alarm " is intended for an alarm only, and should not be 

 used as a click to retard the rapidity of the reel's action, 

 for this it can do to a very limited extent only, and that to 

 the eventual detriment of the reel. 



As these reels are mostly made to order, I would advise 

 the angler who designs procuring one to order it made 

 with the spring of the alarm stiff enough to act as a 

 " click/' in which case the reel will answer for either bait 

 or fly-fishing ; and, in my opinion, they should all be made 

 so, considering their high price. The " alarm " originated 

 in the days of heavy rods and lazy anglers, when, by stick- 

 ing the butt of the rod in the bank (there often being a 

 spike in it for this purpose), the angler could lie under the 

 shade of a tree until the singing of the alarm gave notice of 

 the biting of a Bass. It has outlived its usefulness, and 

 should either be dispensed with entirely, or changed to a 

 click. I would further advise the placing of the handle 

 of the reel next to the reel-plate, instead of opposite to 

 it (as Mr. Milam usually affixes it), for obvious reasons. 



Abbey & Imbrie make a remarkably fine reel especially 

 for Black Bass angling, and which they style the "Imbrie" 



