62 SALMON AND TROUT. 
‘The object,’ say the inventors, ‘aimed at in introducing these 
reels was lightness combined with strength. The plates are made 
of fine German silver, hammered very hard. The reel is much 
contracted, and thus gives great winding power. ... It is fully 
one-third lighter than the ordinary brass and other reels.’ 
Width between 
Diameter barrels Weight 
4% inch 175 inch 19 oz. 
4t ” I oa » I 8 oe 
4 ” ig ” 1 63 ” 
The 44-inch reel will take comfortably 100 yards of fine 
hemp backing and forty yards of medium dressed silk taper 
suited for a salmon rod up to sixteen feet in length. 
The lightest reel in the world is probably that made entirely 
of aluminium. An aluminium reel 2} inches in diameter 
weighs under 3 0z., but the price is alarming—at least 1/. 
per oz. 
This, of course, is carrying things to an extreme ; but clearly 
the question of weight in reels is of the utmost importance if 
the rod is to be properly balanced—which is only another word 
for saying, ‘if the maximum and perfection of work are to be 
got out of it.’ There can be no question, however, that, 
whether with the idea of ‘balancing’ or otherwise, the weight 
of reels ordinarily used, especially in salmon fishing, is greatly 
overdone. The reel has always to be supported ‘at arm’s 
length,’ so to say, where every ounce tells its tale during a day’s 
fishing. Another vitally important point in a salmon reel for 
genuine hard work is the winding-in leverage, as every salmon 
fisher knows who has had the experience of ‘reeling up ’—or 
trying to reel up—half a dozen heavy fish in as many half 
hours. Again, the ideal salmon reel must be strong enough 
to run no risk from chance collisions with rocks or other 
‘jeopardy of war’; and, further, the check machinery should 
be as simple as possible, and readily accessible in case of 
accidents or for purposes of lubrication. A narrow barrel or 
winder and (of course) a corresponding narrow groove are 
