TO PRESERVE LINES AND REELS. 393 



prevent burning, place the pan containing your preparation in 

 a vessel of water. Boiled linseed-oil and tallow are recom- 

 mended ; if considered necessary, rub on to the line with a 

 piece of soft cotton cloth or canton flannel, and use as little 

 as possible — the lighter your line the better and the easier 

 dried. The amount expended on lines is small in comparison 

 to other articles of the angler's outfit, and they should be re- 

 plenished often. After much use of your line, or even of 

 short duration in severe contests with your fish, test them 

 and throw them away rather than run the risk with a large 

 fish. 



Your reel also needs attention, and should be as often and 

 as carefully examined as the watch you carry in your pocket. 

 Procure from your watchmaker a vial of watch-oil, and use it 

 as occasion requires. 



Tour hooks also, whether blued or japanned, should receive 

 equally as much care. Keep them always in paper slightly 

 moistened with olive or watch oil — small items are these, but 

 immensely important to the truly scientific sportsman. "An 

 ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." 



.Never let it be said to your shame, 



That, by neglect of your tools, you lost your game. 



