40 



improper material, no good qualities in the 

 other parts of your rod can compensate for the 

 imperfection. It is scarcely necessary to add, 

 that there must be a moveable spike to your 

 rod, to screw into the ferrule at the base of the 

 but-end. Such spike or blade serves to fasten 

 your rod in the ground whilst you land a fish, 

 free your hooks from weeds, your lines from 

 being entangled, or whilst you change your 

 casting-line or flies. In tying up your joints 

 after fishing, or in laying them by during the 

 winter, be careful to place them straight and 

 parallel with each other, lest they should con- 

 tract a bend, or get strained, so as to render 

 it a labour of difficulty to bring them back to 

 their original formation.* A. fly-rod is suffi- 

 ciently long at from twelve to thirteen feet : 

 thirteen feet and. a half should be the utmost 

 length.f 



* "To preserve rods after use, let them be well rubbed 

 with salad oil or tallow, and kept in a moderately dry 

 place until the return of the angling season, when, after 

 being carefully wiped, they will be found in excellent 

 order. If the bottom piece be bored for the purpose of 

 receiving a spare top, the inside should be oiled, by means 

 of a piece of rag, fastened to the end of a stick." 



Bairibridge. 



t " The common length of a trout rod is from twelve to 

 fourteen feet. Some persons prefer them even longer; but 

 for the generality of streams the latter is quite sufficient, 

 and for small rivers and brooks the former is much the 

 most convenient and useful size." JBainbridge. 



