50 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 
A GENERAL ROD. 
Considering the great diversities of tastes which prevail 
on the subject of the exact shape and material of which 
rods for different kinds of fishing should be made—some 
fishermen preferring hollow woods, others solid—some 
stiff rods, others pliable ones—it is impossible that I 
can within any reasonable limits give a detailed razsonné 
account of what is in my opinion the best description 
of rod for each description of fishing: nor if I should 
do so could I expect my brother fishermen to adopt 
my taste instead of their own. In other parts of the 
book, and wherever it seemed necessary — especially 
under the head of Salmon-fishing—I have made such 
observations as occurred to me: and all that I propose 
to do here is to give a description of a general rod, 
which may perhaps be acceptable to those who, like 
myself, have found the inconvenience of carrying about 
with them on fishing excursions a variety of rods, several 
of which they will probably not require; whilst on the 
other hand they are disinclined to risk leaving any 
behind lest it should happen to be the particular rod 
wanted. 
By taking a good medium double-handed fly-rod as a 
basis to start with, and adding an extra butt and two 
or three extra tops, I have had a rod constructed which 
—fancies apart—will be found to answer perfectly for 
‘every practical purpose of fresh-water fishing, excepting 
