190 SALMON AND TROUT. 
when large flies and strong tackle are used, but in the summer 
time, when the peel commence to run and small flies are used, 
light springy rods and light lines are preferable to the heavy 
salmon rod, and far more pleasant to fish with. The mouth of 
a fresh-run peel or grilse is very tender, and the strain likely to 
be put on the line when the fish is hooked will, if a heavy 
salmon rod is used, be very apt to tear the hook out. Very 
little strain is required to fix the barb of the hook, and when 
fishing for peel the fish should be very lightly handled ; easy- 
running reels should be used when fishing for either salmon or 
peel, but most particularly so when fishing for the latter. 
The tapering lines I have mentioned can be obtained of 
any length or thickness to suit the angler’s fancy, dressed or 
undressed. I prefer to buy them undressed and dress them 
myself. An undressed line will last quite as long as a dressed 
one, and be quite as pleasant to cast, but care should be taken 
to dry it each day after fishing. I have an undressed line 
that I have used for two whole seasons, and it is now as sound. 
as the day Ibought it. This is more than I can say of most 
dressed lines sold by fishing-tackle makers, which will seldom 
stand more than one season’s work. 
in selecting a dressed line care should be taken to ascertain 
it is not hollow. A hollow can easily be detected by cutting 
off the end of the line with a pair of sharp scissors. My 
objection to a hollow line is this, that should there be a flaw 
or bruise the water will gradually find its way into the hollow, 
run down the whole length of the line, and as owing to the 
outer coating being waterproof the line cannot be dried, it will 
therefore quickly become rotten. I have seen many lines that 
have been used only two or three days become quite rotten, 
which I am convinced has been from no other cause than the 
one I have mentioned. A hollow line may be easily known, 
as it is round ; a solid plaited line is square. 
[See also preliminary chapters on ‘ Tackle.”] 
