Actually, the smell reference was that it, the twine has a smell, just like fish has a smell. Not that it smells like fish. It is a petroleum-based smell, like tar. Since it said on the package that the twine was "tarred". Man, am I confused.

The twine was listed as #36. I think mason twine is #18. I don't know what the numbers mean other than possibly a "gauge" or something like that. The twine I bought is thicker than mason's twine. I put the twin on the outside of the backpack that I EDC. The bundles are in those little loops that look like a MOLLE strip going down the pack.