LINES HOOKS. 25 



LINES. 



Lines are made of silk, silk and hair, gut, India grass, flax, 

 hemp, and cotton. They vary in size and length comma 

 from the size of a hair to that of a quarter of an inch, and 

 in some cases even thicker, and being from 12 to 200 yards 

 long. 



A line for trout, should be either of silk, silk and hair, 

 India grass, or fine flax ; the most common one in use, how- 

 ever, for this fish, is the India grass, which is to be had in 

 lengths of from 12 to 20 yards, and of various sizes. The 

 silk plaitted line has an extensive reputation in England for 

 this species of angling, as also that of twisted silk and hair. 

 They are expensive, but considered by far the best for trout 

 and salmon fishing. 



For salmon, lake pickerel, black or striped bass, the lines 

 in general use are made of flax, hemp, grass, silk, or hair, all 

 of which can be .obtained in lengths of from 50 to 200 yards. 



The cotton and hemp lines (50 to 100 yards long) are used 

 in trolling for blue fish, bass, pickerel, or any kind of sea 

 fish. 



The size and length of a line should always vary in pro- 

 portion to the sport anticipated. For instance, you cannot 

 have too light a line in clear trout streams, provided it is 

 strong enough to take your fish; and the same rule may also 

 apply to striped bass, salmon, and other timid fish. On the 

 subject of lines generally, much must be left to the discretion 

 and judgment of the sportsman. 



HOOKS. 



There is no article of tackle of so much importance to the 

 Angler, and concerning which such a variety of opinion exists, 

 as the Hook. 



