314 IMPLEMENTS OP SALMON FISHING. 



would be imagined from the beautiful delicacy of the manufac- 

 ture in its perfection. Most wor]i:s on practical angling contain 

 long and elaborate directions how to hold, and how to tie the 

 feathers on the hook, but all these are, in my opinion, utterly 

 valueless and futile ; nor do I believe that any person has ever 

 learned either to tie a fly, or to cast it when tied, from the 

 perusal of any printed explanation ; any more than the young 

 sportsman has ever acquired the knack of shooting on the wing 

 except by practice and experience. 



The best way to acquire the art of tying flies is to observe 

 carefully the manipulation of some skilful operator, and to 

 obtain from him, during the performance of the work, oral 

 instructions on the subject. From any good tackle-maker, a 

 few lessons can be obtained at a very small expense, and these 

 will, in a very short space of time, render the novice au fait to 

 the trick. 



The first thing to be considered in the angler's equipment is 

 the rod, and it is here well to observe that, for almost every sort 

 of fishing, some difterent and peculiar rod is essential. That 

 which is commonly called a general fishing-rod, is, in fact, an 

 abomination, and is useful only to the bait-fisher, and even for 

 him is an awkward and ineff'ective instrument, it being impos- 

 sible so to regulate the arrangement of the lower joints as to 

 produce that regular and equable degree of pliancy needful alike 

 with a stiff" baiting or with a pliant fly-top. 



For the Salmon, the rod should not be of more than eighteen 

 or less than sixteen feet ; the longer is apt to be a little cum- 

 brous, and deftly to wield a double-handed Salmon-rod, during a 

 whole summer-day, requires no small practice of the muscles. 



