On Sat, 13 Oct 2007 01:48:48 +0000, Larry wrote:

DON'T PUT ANY SHINY CAN TOP AS A DRAG CHUTE LITTLE SEA ANCHOR TO
HOLD IT OUT TIGHT! "Something BIG!" ate my cat food tin can! It
also ate about 35' off the end of my wire! Musta been a WHOPPER!

"They", whoever "they" are, can't grab just the open-ended wire.

Ships used to dangle a long line with a spinner on the end from the
stern of a boat or ship. It was attached to a mechanical counter. This
was called a taffrail log. [The one you threw was a chip log.]
Sometimes fish would disappear the spinner. I am surprised how seldom
it seems to have happened.

Casady