THE SPINNING-ROD. 161 



respondence. In America, whether in the United 

 States or in Canada, eDormous trout and pike have 

 been taken by spinning. At our own doors we 

 know that, generally speaking, all the large 

 Thames trout are taken with the spinning-tackle. 

 It is active angling, not of course so refined as fly- 

 fishing, but it deserves every attention on the part 

 of those who wish to become accomplished anglers. 

 In spinning you cast pretty much in the same 

 way as you do in trolling with the gorge-hook. 

 Spinning-rods are magnificently manufactured in 

 London, and I like those best that are made of 

 East India mottled cane, for they are strong, 

 light, and of handsome appearance. They are 

 generally about twelve feet in length ; and with a 

 rod of that length, ringed in the modern manner, 

 not with wires, but with strong, hollowed-out 

 pieces of brass, and with a thin hard-platted 

 prepared silk line, you can throw your bait to a 

 distance of sixty yards a distance, however, too 

 far to throw, except on trying occasions. For 

 my own part, I would have a spinning-rod made' 

 of a single piece of this mottled cane, fourteen or 

 sixteen feet long, well-ringed, with a screw winch, 

 requiring no winch-fittings ; and though it may 

 be awkward to carry (the only sound objection 

 that can be made to it), the advantages it would 

 offer are very considerable. You can cast wel 

 with it, gather quickly up your line immediately 

 M 



