( 'h lpt. win. /' \'a V 



" but ve.ur humble servant prefers the Lighter rod, and the lighter 

 tackle, not only because it L,'ives more play, but because it is more 

 ■• — what shall I say F — ' scientific.' It is a real pleasure to land a big 

 ■" Gab on light tackle. I know nothing more exciting, bar the charge 

 " of a ' devil ' boar or a fighting tiger. 



"On rod No. - there are fully 70 yards of good 'Cotton Twine 

 '• Spinning Co.V line, and a cast of 'lake trout' gut, and you can 

 " Laugh, if yon are careful, at the efforts <>f a l 11 to 1- lbs. 



" The little rod has not, of course, pretensions to much, but a 6 or 

 " 7-pounder has a bad time of it, and generally comes to grief. 



" This you may say is all 'egotism,' ' boasting,' etc., but let it not 

 " be taken as such. I simply show you what I believe any fairly good 

 " fisherman will do; simply what any man. with a fairly light hand, 

 "and patience 'and 'head' can accomplish, and the satisfaction 

 " u hen yon once reach this stage is a recompense for all one's 

 • troubles " 



Boon, " .1- ' - ." 1st October, 1879. 



" Use also, always, as flexible a rod as you can throw with. It 

 es a lot of ' breakages ' in rough waters, and is generally lighter, 

 " pleasanter to handle, and throws a fly far more neatly than any- 

 - thing stiff." 



One or two extra eyes (brass, not glass), and two or three 

 dozen rings, will not come amiss for repairs in tin's distant 

 land. 



I want a word Or two on sinkers, insignificant though the 

 subject maybe. They are generally sold with a 



Sinkers. . . 



little brass wire loop, jutting out from the lead in 



which the rest is embedded when the mould is east. So far so 



good. But then tackle-makers always insert into this loop an iron 



split ring, whereas if they would simply knot on a small loop of 



gut, it would be much better; it would not he so awkward in 



baiting, for it would bend on one >ide as desired ; and it would not 



stick stiffly out of the bait's mouth and show, as an iron ring 



frequently does. And what if it does v. • little sooner than 



iron, nothing is simpler than to knot a fresh loop. But in practice 



I do not think it does wear, because there is verj little strain 



on it. 



If von have not the time to wait for sink>-rs from home, many 



