62 SALMON AND TROUT. 



' The object,' say the inventors, ' aimed at in introducing these 

 reels was lightness combined with strength. The plates are made 

 of fine German silver, hammered very hard. The reel is much 

 contracted, and thus gives great winding power. ... It is fully 

 one-third lighter than the ordinary brass and other reels.' 



n,v™«>. - Width between ,,, . , ^ 



Diameter ^^^^^^^ Weight 



4^ inch i/jv inch 19 oz. 



4? 3) ^IG 5> ^° J) 



4 » i/e J) 16^ » 



I'he 4^-inch reel will take comfortably 100 yards of fine 

 hemp backing and forty yards of medium dressed silk taper 

 suited for a salmon rod up to sixteen feet in length. 



The lightest reel in the world is probably that made entirely 

 of aluminium. An aluminium reel 2\ inches in diameter 

 weighs under 3 oz., but the price is alarming — at least i/. 

 per oz. 



This, of course, is carrying things to an extreme ; but clearly 

 the question of weight in reels is of the utmost importance if 

 the rod is to be properly balanced — which is only another word 

 for saying, ' if the maximum and perfection of work are to be 

 got out of it.' There can be no question, however, that, 

 whether with the idea of ' balancing ' or otherwise, the weight 

 of reels ordinarily used, especially in salmon fishing, is greatly 

 overdone. The reel has always to be supported *at arm's 

 length,' so to say, where every ounce tells its tale during a day's 

 fishing. Another vitally important point in a salmon reel for 

 genuine hard work is the winding-in leverage, as every salmon 

 fisher knows who has had the experience of 'reeling up' — or 

 trying to reel up— half a dozen heavy fish in as many half 

 hours. Again, the ideal salmon reel must be strong enough 

 to run no risk from chance collisions with rocks or other 

 * jeopardy of war ' ; and, further, the check machinery should 

 be as simple as possible, and readily accessible in case of 

 accidents or for purposes of lubrication. A narrow barrel or 

 winder and (of course) a corresponding narrow groove are 



