198 



Book of the Black Bass. 



Aljout the year 1843 a very fine workman and expert 

 watclimaker, of Louisville, Ivy., named J. W. Hardman, 

 began making multiplying reels for black-bass fishing. 

 His reels were a great inij)rovement on those iircviously 

 made 1)y others. He shortened the spool and increased the 

 diameter, aflixed the pillars to the disk-plates by screws 

 instead of riveting, added some ornamentation, and al- 



Fl(i. 30. 

 Mr. Benjamin F. Bleek. 



together made tlie first tn\e and substantial improvements 

 in the " Kentucky reel,"" both as to its practicability and 

 appearance, and the-^e were followed thereafter by all other 

 makers. The " Kentucky reel "' to-day liears testimony to 

 his unmistakable genius and fine handiwork. The Hard- 

 man reel illustrated is the property of ^Ir. J. F. Speed, 

 of Louisville, I\v.. and is in excellent condition. It was 

 made about IS-I."), and is a very handsome piece of work, 

 of Gorman silver. The sliding buttons are gold-plated, as 



