376 MANUAL FOE YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 



attached to the line, which is usually composed of silk- 

 worm gut, hair or gimp, and is armed with one or more 

 hooks, variously baited. 



Keel-lines are made of horse-hair, from the tail, of 

 silk, or silk and hair mixed, of Indian-weed, and of silk- 

 worm gut. It is usual for the amateur fisherman to pur- 

 chase these lines, which are made by a small machine, but 

 sometimes the angler prefers making them himself, and 

 if at all handy, he may do this with great advantage by 

 an easily acquired method, which is much superior to the 

 twisting-machine, because it admits of the introduction of 

 fresh hair with much greater facility. 



Silk and hair-mixed lines are those usually sold, 

 and they are the best for general purposes, because they 

 wind so well on the reel, and are strong and durable. 

 They are made of all lengths, and may be purchased at 

 any of the tackle-makers. Indian-weed or grass lines 

 are also sometimes used, but they do not stand sudden 

 jars, being inclined to snap. A plaited silk line is 

 now made without hair, and is very generally adopted. 

 It is much more free from kinking or ravelling than the 

 other lines. 



The reel is generally used by the angler, partly for 

 the convenience of carrying the line safely, but chiefly in 

 order to allow of rapid extension or drawing in of the line 

 which is wound upon it. Multiplying-reels, in which, by 

 the introduction of machinery, the barrel is made to travel 

 several times to the single revolution of the handle, -were 

 formerly much used, but they are now in great measure 

 replaced by the more simple plan of having a large barrel 



