12 SEA FISH; 



The reel should be of the flat pattern "check," and 

 large enough to hold a hundred yards of salmon line 

 easily, that is, without fretting against the plate piece 

 and bars ; and in fitting it to the rod so place it that 

 when fixed edge upwards the handle should be on the 

 right side ; this will ensure the whole strain of the fish 

 coming on the rod, and not the rings. For a left- 

 handed man, the way in which the reel is usually 

 mounted will be found "the thing." As fly fishing 

 is unquestionably the most sportsmanlike and enjoy- 

 able mode by which these fish can be captured, I 

 shall deal first with it, and endeavour to point out 

 as briefly and clearly as possible some of the leading 

 points and contrivances had recourse to. But before 

 proceeding to a description of line, flies and fly tackle, 

 I would strongly recommend those of my readers 

 who are not already experienced in the use of the fly- 

 rod, to secure the good offices of some practised friend, 

 who would teach more in one day by practical illustra- 

 tion than could be taught by all the books that were 

 ever written on the subject ; for be assured, that the 

 act of wielding the fly-rod skilfully, is no more to be 

 acquired by reading, than is that of skating or cricket 

 playing. Practice and a love of the art are the two 

 great stepping stones to preferment. 



The line should be composed of a mixture of silk 

 and horse-hair tapered regularly. A loop should be 

 whipped at the end with well waxed silk, and then 

 touched over with finishing varnish. The length 



