SALMON-FISHING. 349 



one next to the spool, the object being to prevent the line 

 becoming entangled in the handle, which is apt to occur in 

 one of the ordinary kind. The best reels of this kind I have 

 ever met with, are those made by Farlow, of London. The 

 figure on the opposite page gives a perspective view of one. 



KEEL-LINES. Those made of plaited silk, and prepared in 

 linseed- oil, notwithstanding the original cost, are to be pre- 

 ferred to all others. Those of silk and hair are liable to rot 

 when exposed to the dew, if they are left out at night, or 

 when they are wound up wet and allowed to remain so. With 

 care, an oiled silk line will last three or four years. After 

 fishing, as much of it as has been wet should be drawn off 

 the reel, and coiled or wound in such a manner as to dry. 

 When one end of an oiled line becomes soft from casting and 

 passing through the rings of the rod after a summer's fishing, 

 it may be taken off the reel, and the end which has been used 

 wound next to the axle, the stiff' fresh end being outwards, 

 next to the casting line. An unoiled plaited-silk line can be 

 bought for half the price of an oiled one, and the angler can 

 prepare it himself by the recipe, found in the note below, 

 which I copy from Chitty.* I found, however, that the last 



* " To a quarter of a pint of ' doubled-boiled cold-drawn' linseed-oil, add 

 about one ounce of gold-size. Gently warm and mix them well, being 

 first careful to have the line quite dry. While the mixture is warm, soak 

 it therein until it is fully saturated to its very centre ; say for twenty-four 

 hours. Then pass it through a piece of flannel, pressing it sufficiently to 

 take off the superficial coat, which enables that which is in the interior to 

 dry well, and, in time, to get stiff. The line must then be hung up in the 

 air, wind, or sun, out of the reach of moisture, for about a fortnight, till 

 pretty well dry. It must then be redipped to give an outer coat, for which 

 less soaking is necessary: after this, wipe it again, but lightly; wind it 

 on a chair-back or towel-horse, before a hot fire, and there let it remain for 

 two or three hours, which will cause the mixture on it to 'flow' (as 



