66 SALMON AND TROUT. 



in every respect models of finish and workmanship, and a vast 

 stride in advance over the clumsily heavy ' London-made 

 reel.' 



In all the foregoing reels the handles are so attached as, in 

 one way or another, to prevent the line getting caught round 

 them. 



There is still, however, something left to be desired in this 

 matter of reel and line hitching. The snake is ' scotched,' not 

 killed. In whatever manner the handle may be attached, the 

 line still is left free to hitch round behind the back of the reel 

 itself- — a freedom of which, it is almost needless to say, it 

 seems to have a provoking determination to avail itself to the 

 utmost. It appeared, therefore, that a stop might be put, once 

 for all, on this never-ending worry, by partly covering over the 

 space at the back of the reel with a ' protector ' or guard of 



REEL WITH LINE PROTECTOR. 



some sort. The mechanical realisation of the idea was easy ; 

 the protector springs from the middle bar of the posterior 

 curve, over which (bar) it ' clasps,' — the exterior end pressing 

 close on to and against the rod, whilst the ' interior ' end is 



