Fishing Lines. 213 



being perfectly smooth, hard, evenly braided, and void of 

 any tendency to stickiness, a quality that will be appreci- 

 ated by those who have used inferior lines. 



Abbey & Imbrie, New York, oflEer a tapered fly-line. 

 No. 57, which is simply unexcelled in every way. It em- 

 bodies all the essential qualities of a fly-casting line, being 

 smooth, strong, and of uniform excellence throughout. 



When in England, I examined the best English fly-lines, 

 but there was nothing that could compare to those of 

 American manufacture. London dealers showed me, with 

 much pride, the metal-center line, which they claimed to be 

 the best fly-line in the world. / 



The advantage claimed for the metal-center line is that 

 it can be used of a smaller caliber and still retain the same 

 weight as a larger line; and at the same time it is prob- 

 ably a little stronger, though for that matter any of the 

 enameled lines are strong enough. 



The metal center consists of an extremely small copper 

 wire, around which the line is braided. The wire is so fine 

 that it does not stiffen the line to an appreciable degree, as 

 might he imagined. As the line is so thoroughly water- 

 proof, there is not much probability of the wire becoming 

 oxidized or rusted. 



EOD-LlNES. 



The twisted line has its proper place in fishing, and 

 sometimes answers a good purpose, as I will now mention. 

 There are many anglers who, from choice or necessity, dis- 

 pense with the reel in black bass fishing. Oftentimes the 

 character of the stream is such that a reel can not be used 

 to advantage; for instance, on streams that are narrow, 

 and much choked with snags, roots, and other obstructions, 

 that preclude the playing of a fish, a reel is not necessary, 

 for the fish must be killed within a few feet of where 



