AND HOW TO CATCH THEM. 13 



should not be less than one hundred yards, and in 

 attaching it to the reel, see that the inner end is 

 securely knotted to the drum. A small leather bag 

 will be found useful to keep both reel and line in, when 

 not in use, as it preserves both from injury and dirt. 



Casting Lines. 



Too much care cannot be devoted to the fitting up 

 and mounting these essential parts of the equipment, 

 as a defect is almost sure to lead sooner or later to 

 the loss of both fish and flies. The casting line for 

 either salmon or sea trout fishing, should be about 

 nine feet long, and for the first two feet, that is to say 

 next the line, should be composed of twisted gut, and 

 the remainder of single selected salmon gut ; and 

 especial care should be taken in the selection, to see 

 that no curls or flat places are allowed to remain, and 

 that the strands taper gradually towards the point. 



When a sufficient number are cut and prepared. 

 place them in a basin of water about blood-warm for 

 a quarter of an hour to soften. Knot them together 

 with the gut knot, (vide "Knots, and Hitches,' ') make 

 a loop at each end, cut the ends to a moderate length, 

 and then tie them down neatly with fine waxed silk. 

 Finishing off with the varnish. 



. Flies. 

 bait that is used varies so much in pattern 



