196 SALMON AND TROUT, 
there is great risk of a break even with the strongest line. If 
they cannot be taken out, the link in which they occur should 
be cut out of the cast and replaced by a new one. The most 
severe test a casting line can be subjected to is to take an 
end in each hand and give it a sudden jerk. A line must be 
very strong to stand this, and unless it is intended to go in 
for big salmon, when the strongest line is required, such a 
severe test is unnecessary. In testing a line it is generally 
thought that if it will stand a strong pull it is sound. This is 
not to be trusted, and it should be subjected to an additional 
test as follows : 
Hold the line by the forefinger and thumb of each hand 
about an inch on either side of each knot in succession ; ima- 
gine for a moment that the line is a bit of stick or slate pencil, 
and proceed as if you were trying to break it. If the gut is 
worn at any of the knots it will knuckle at that point, and it 
should be cut off and a new knot made; although it might 
stand a strong pull, a sudden jerk would generally break it. If 
the line does not knuckle at any of the knots it may be assumed 
that it is sound. 
Some fishermen prefer a tapered line, which they say will 
make a neater cast than one of a continuous thickness. This 
may be very well when fishing in low clear water in summer 
time, when fine tackle and fine casting are required, but in 
spring or autumn, or when fishing in a big water, where it is 
necessary to use the strongest tackle, I should prefer, at the risk 
of making an occasional clumsy cast, to use a casting line of 
the same strength and thickness throughout. A tapered line 
is weakest at the end where the fly is attached to it, and as 
a line should be as strong, if not stronger, at this point than 
any other, owing to the connecting knot getting the hardest 
work, I think a tapered casting line is objectionable, and I will 
engage to cast quite as neat a line with one of a continuous 
thickness. 
It is not generally known that gut will quickly rot when ex- 
posed to a bright hot sun. But this is so. Casting lines, there- 
