FISHING-LINES. 87 



than fourteen feet; though for our own part we think 

 ten feet long enough. The rings through which the line 

 travels should be strong and large ; and in our opinion 

 the fewer the better. 



The rod for spinning the minnow is recommended by 

 some experienced anglers to be made of bamboo cane, 

 and to be from eighteen to twenty feet long, with a stiff 

 top. A similar kind of rod, but only about twelve feet in 

 length, is used by some in angling with the ledger bait 

 for the barbel. 



The rod adapted for roach and dace varies according 

 to the nature of the fishing ground. If the angler has 

 to poke over high banks, or lofty reeds, the rod should 

 not be less than twenty feet and very light ; but if the 

 sport be pursued from a boat, or on water easy of access, 

 a rod of twelve or fourteen feet will be long enough. 



For the convenience of travelling (either in England 

 or on the continent) what is called " a general rod" is 

 the most eligible. It is so contrived, by means of 

 top joints of various degrees of length and elasticity, to 

 answer the several purposes of fly-fishing, trolling, or 

 bottom-fishing. The whole affair may be so packed up 

 as to be no more trouble than a single rod, or even an 

 ordinary walking-cane. 



FiSHiNG-LiNES are made of various materials, and of 

 various degrees of strength and length, depending en- 

 tirely upon the kind of angling for which they are 

 required. 



For salmon and trout-fishing, whatever method we 

 adopt, nothing is so good as a pure horse-hair line. If 

 you have a line for fly-fishing with any portion of silk in 



