SALMON FISHING WITH THE FLY. 195 
was ever caught by rod and line, and a break would be almost 
impossible. 
There is nothing more disappointing or trying to the temper 
than to getaline broken owing to using bad tackle. The man 
from whom the gut is bought is pronounced to be a swindler, 
and never to be patronised again, but in the majority of cases 
carelessness on the part of the angler lies at the root of the 
evil, and it is not fair to lay the blame on the man who sells 
the gut, which varies in quality so much that it is quite a chance 
to get a good hank of it. Good ‘ made-up’ single-gut casting 
lines can be bought at any of the leading fishing-tackle makers’ 
establishments, but the greatest care should be taken in the 
choice of one. If there is but one link in the cast of uneven 
thickness it will be better to put it aside. A cast may be to all 
appearance perfect, but if the thin end of one of the links is 
knotted to another which is thicker, there the weak part of the 
cast will be, and it will be very apt to break at that point. The 
same care must be taken in making up one’s own casting line. 
Each link should be of even thickness throughout the whole 
length of the line, and round without a flaw or ascratch. A flat 
strand, or one which is coarse-looking, should never be used. 
If every reasonable care is taken in the selection of a casting 
line and a fish breaks it, as will occasionally happen to the best 
of us, the angler has the satisfaction of knowing he has done 
his utmost to avoid such a catastrophe, and will feel the dis- 
appointment far less than if he were conscious a fish was lost 
through his own carelessness. When a casting line gets worn 
and ragged, which will probably be the case after two or three 
months’ use, it will be advisable not to trust it. Some of the 
links may be sound, and may be used in making up another 
cast, but I would rather not trust them, as it is like mending 
an old garment with new cloth. 
All casting lines should be tested every morning before 
going out fishing, and also looked over several times during the 
day. Knots which are often made in casting in foul wind should 
be taken out whenever they appear, for, if allowed to remain, 
Oo2 
