196 



Book of the Black Bass. 



After Snyder's death two of his sons, John and Charles 

 Snyder, succeeded to his business, and they made a few 

 reels. One is now in my possession, and I hare seen but 

 one other, owned by Mr. W. ^\ . Massie, of Paris, Ky. The 

 latter is stamped " G. S.,"' but was made by Charles Snyder 

 expressly for Mr. "Massie, who saw him at various times at 

 work on it. Both reels were made between 1841 and 1844. 



The nest person to turn his attention to reel making, 

 after the elder Snyder, was Jonathan Fleming Meek, also 

 a skilful watchmaker. He went from Danville, Ky., to 

 Frankfort, about 1833, where he made his first reel for 

 Hon. Mason Brown, of Frankfort, a noted jurist of his 



Fig. 25. 



Higglns' J. F. Meek 

 Keel, Front View. 



Higgins' J. F. Meek 

 Reel, Back View. 



Fie. 2r. 



Higgins' J. F. Meek 



Reel Clearing. 



day, and a devoted angler. Judge Brown, having had 

 his Snyder reel borrowed or stolen just at a time when the 

 bass began to bite their best, prevailed on Mr. ileek to 

 make him one. 



At an early day there were quite a number of Ken- 

 tuekians who owned plantations in Mississippi, Louisiana 



Fig. 25. — Brass reel made by J. F. Meek about 1840. In fair 

 condition, perfectly plain. Diameter, 1% inches; length, 1% 

 inches. 



Fig. 26. — Showing hack disk-plate of No. 25. 



Fig. 27. — Gearing. Steel wheel with 34 leaves; steel pinion 

 with 8 teeth; multiplies a little more than four times. 



