1 84 MODERN SEA FISHING 



two tops of greenheart. The longest top and the butt and 

 middle joint should measure each five feet, which together will 

 give a rod of fifteen feet. The second top should be only 

 eighteen inches in length, and strong. It will be found useful 

 for large bass, codfish and conger, and also for spinning. The 

 rod measures with this top n ft. 6 ins., which is a very 

 convenient length for spinning or casting out any moderately 

 heavy tackle. To obtain a very long rod there should be an 

 extra butt, four feet in length, which will fit on to the proper 

 butt of the rod, making the whole rod (now in four pieces), 

 with the longest top, nineteen feet. 'General rods,' which 

 in their various combinations are sold as being suitable for 

 salmon, trout, pike, stickleback or shark fishing, as the case 

 may be, are often and properly condemned. They are only 

 good for any one of these things by accident. But the sea- 

 fishing rod such as I have described is really a useful weapon 

 put together in any of its three lengths. It should be under- 

 stood that the extra butt is only required under special cir- 

 cumstances, and can as a rule be dispensed with. 



A rod of twenty feet is an awe-inspiring, arm-wearying 

 weapon to hold, and those who consult their comfort will do 

 without it so far as possible. 



In this connection I may call attention to the Brobding- 

 nagian weapons which are used at Biarritz by the natives for 

 catching mullet, and are described by Mr. Senior in his very 

 interesting chapter on Foreign Fish. 



When buying a rod it is important to see that the winch 

 fittings really do ' fit ' the large reel which is required in 

 sea fishing. As a general rule this little detail is neglected by 

 the tackle-makers, but of late years a number of most excellent 

 winch fittings have been invented which, within certain limits, 

 take any sized reel plate. Among others I call to mind the 

 Weger, the Universal, and Warner's. The ordinary arrange- 



