58 SALMON AND TROUT. 



course retained. The insides of the barrel plates on both sides 

 are, in this later pattern, composed almost wholly of metal, rotating 

 freely on a fixed steel pivot or centre-pin. Attached to the non- 

 revolving (left-hand) plate is a brass frame or cage supporting the 

 horizontal bars, between which, of course, as in ordinary reels, the 

 line passes, whilst this immovable framework is ' recessed ' into a 

 groove in the revolving barrel. The object of the revolution of 

 the whole right-hand side-plate — made exteriorly of wood — is to 

 enable a ' drag ' to be placed upon the running-out of the line, 

 without which, as a means of regulating the length and direction 

 of the cast, casting from the reel in the Nottingham style would be 

 practically impossible. The two portions of the reel readily come 

 apart when it is desired to oil or clean them ; and it was when in 

 this separated condition that the upper figures in the cut were 

 taken, the lower figure showing the reel when put together. By 

 shifting with the finger a button or 'catch' the action can be 

 chansfed to a ' check.' 



The diameter of the reel from which the engraving was 

 made is 2^ inches; inside width between barrel plates, i^inch ; 

 weight, 6 oz. This size and pattern is suited for any kind of 

 fishing, but for lake trout fishing I prefer a 4-inch reel of the 

 original wooden pattern, the increased diameter of the axle,, 

 unaccompanied by any increase of weight, giving a more rapid 

 and powerful winding-in power. For light salmon fishing a 

 4^-inch Slater's wooden reel will be found about the most 

 convenient size. After continuous wetting, these reels should 

 be taken apart and carefully dried and oiled all over, otherwise 

 they are apt to swell and ' stick.' 



Another comparatively recent introduction is Mr. Heaton's 

 'Strike from the Winch' Reel, which has its advocates for 

 trout and even for salmon fishing ; though, I confess, I 

 should not be inclined to put any great faith in it — or rather 

 in the_principle it embodies — as applied to the latter purpose. 

 The object of the reel is primarily to soften or relieve the 

 'jar' of the stroke by keeping the hand clear of the line and 

 allowing the reel (the resistance of which can be made weaker 

 or stronger) to do the work instead. It has no ' check,' in the 



