ROD AND TACKLE 39 



This is a delicate process, and can only be performed 

 successfully in rooms which are heated to a certain 

 and even temperature. The slightest draught causes 

 what are called devils in the varnish, that is, rough- 

 nesses, so that all draught must be carefully excluded 

 during the process of varnishing." 



" It seems hardly necessary to say that none but 

 the very best boiled oil must be used. The older it is 

 the better, and before applying to the lines it must be 

 very carefully filtered to ensure its being free from 

 impurity." 



Some differences of opinion exist as to the methods 



of attaching the fine end of 



Attaching the reel-line the reel-line to the loop at the 



to the cast. coarse end of the gut cast. 



Some fishermen use the plain 

 bend with or without a knot at the end of the line, 

 some prefer the figure of eight knot, and others again 

 swear by the " Hi Regan " knot. My objection to 

 all of these is that to remove the cast it is often 

 necessary to break or cut off a small quantity of the 

 reel-line. This continued from day to day shortens 

 the taper at the end of the reel-line and thus curtails 

 the life of the line. For many years I have adopted 

 the plan of knotting on and whipping with waxed silk 

 a strand of coarse gut with a loop tied at the' end to 

 which the loop of the cast is fixed. Such an attach- 

 ment will last for months, and the only disadvantages 

 as far as I know are that the loop and gut need to be 

 tested at frequent intervals, and before commencing a 



