REEL-LINES. 55 



be used, the interjection of 2 or 3 feet of twisted gut point— an 

 advantage in almost all cases — will be found highly desirable, 

 breaking as it does the otherwise abrupt transition from reel- 

 Une to gut. 



Dry-fly fishers, w^ho generally use stiffer rods than common, 

 have canons of their own on these questions, and the latest 

 science of reel-lines for the floating fly will be found in Mr. 

 F. M. Halford's able article. 



Let me, in quitting the subject, emphasise one parting 

 caution : The thickness (and swell) of the line must absolutely 

 be proportioned to the capacities of the rod if the most artistic 

 results are to be obtained. A heavy line demands a stiff 

 rod (and top), and vice versd, and a light whippy rod with a 

 fine top a line of corresponding lightness. A transposition of 

 these conditions — either way — will produce failure. 



One other hint — if a reel-line is not absolutely smooth, 

 reject it unhesitatingly, no matter what its other qualifications 

 may be. I know of lines admirably strong, capitally tapered, 

 long wearing— ' conscientious ' lines in fact in every way— but 

 of which I would have none at any price. With such, every 

 time you want to lengthen or shorten your cast there is friction 

 on the rod-rings, and an impediment more or less to free 

 passage ; in giving line to a fish ditto (often the cause of losing 

 it) ; whilst both in casting through the air and lifting out of the 

 water, such a line entails at every cast of every day, from its 

 * cradle to its grave,' a certain small comparative disability, 

 which to wiUingly subject oneself to is stupid, because wholly 

 unnecessary. 



This naturally applies to any kind of line, dressed or un- 

 dressed. 



