312 



Book of the Black Bass. 



alwajs after using. It is well adapted for making a nice, 

 straight cast, and will not curl or kink. It is usually 

 stained a light shade of slate, or a grayish drab. Letter 

 F, or Xo. 4, is about the right size. 



Some fly-fishers use the ordinary braided raw or boiled 

 silk lines, which, while being the best lines for bait-fish- 

 ing, are not so well adapted for fly-lines, on account of 

 their light weight; the medium sizes, howeyer, answer 

 tolerably well. Letter E, or No. 3, is the correct size, 

 when used for black bass fly-fishing. 



All fishing lines that are not absolutely waterproof 

 should be carefully dried after use; and even waterproof 

 lines would be much benefited by 

 an airing before putting them 

 away. Even the best lines become 

 weak and worthless through a 

 want of proper and judicious 

 treatment. It is impossible to 

 make a line that is indestructible, 

 or proof against mildew or rot, 

 though many anglers seem to 

 think to the contrary, judging 

 from the shiftless and reprehensi- 

 ble manner in which they use 

 them; then, when the line fails, 

 they blame the manufacturer. 



Any reputable and responsible 



dealer can furnish good lines for 



fly-fishing, but among those I have 



G F E used I can conscientiously mention 



the following: 



The "Hercules" waterproof, enameled line furnished 



by Mr. Thomas J. Conroy, New York, is one of muclf merit. 



