39 



tlon in point of locality, can scarcely perceive his fly alight 

 upon the surface. 



On the other hand, the fly-rod is so extremely elastic 

 (being formed so, that, when lashed like a carman's whip, 

 the tip will nearly swing round to the butt), that it can 

 scarcely drop a line into the water steadily, and cannot 

 possibly strike smart and true, as a good bottom-rod does. 



I have heard much of making rods by the aid of com- 

 mon country carpenters, and have had several so manu- 

 factured 5 but, though I certainly did once possess a fly- 

 rod exquisitely true, and, indeed, all that could be wished 

 for, yet it was one of about seven or eight so obtained ; 

 all the residue were very, very bad ! 



My rods were neither one thing nor the other, and had 

 a fair claim to the ludicrous title of " Captain-lieutenant" 

 given by butchers to calves when they are too old for veal, 

 and too young for beef ! 



None of the rods in question cost me less than five 

 shillings in money to the carpenter, for his wood and his 

 trouble. Then I had to purchase and to apply the rings, 

 with their staples ; to weld, and to varnish, and to pay for 

 brass sockets, the spud, ferrols, screws, &rc. &c. before 

 my rod was complete j so that on the whole, not one rod 

 cost me less than ten or eleven shillings. 



Now, as I could purchase an excellent Jly-rqd for six- 

 teen, with brass sockets (which never swell so as to be 

 difficult to separate, nor wear so as to become loose), I 

 -had not much reason to boast of my management in em- 

 ploying a village artist. 



A bottom-rod should be about fourteen feet in length, 

 divided into four equal pieces, joined by brass ferrols, and 

 with brass sockets, as above stated, 



Thia 



