376 MANUAL FOR 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. 
Reel-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 
