42 



place, viz. under the head of fly-jishings a copious sub- 

 ject, if detailed in that ample manner some authors are 

 partial to, but \vhich I shall endeavour to bring into as 

 small a compass as due explanation may admit, 



The lowest joint of a rod should be sufficiently heavy 

 to forma comfortable balance in the hand, when held at the 

 usual length from the butt. For this it is not very easy 

 to establish any particular rule -, but there is die less occa- 

 sion for so doing, when we consider that each person has, 

 for the most part, recourse to nearly the same position, and 

 that a very trifling remove of die hand will establish die 

 equipoise : or, as hereafter shewn, the butt may be leaded. 



The common practice of hollowing out die inside of die 

 lowest joint, is not admissible in light brittle wood ; though 

 in the heavier kinds it may be allowed, for die convenience 

 of carrying a very short, stiff top, applicable to jack- fishing, 

 &c. where the waters are foul, or the fish run very large, 

 in either of which cases, an ordinary top might be endan- 

 gered. 



This spare top is kept in by a brass screw, with a large 

 projecting head, which should always be put in when the 

 spud is not in use. 



The joints of a rod should be marked in some manner,, 

 either by dots bored into the wood, or by notches filed 

 in the ferrils, serving to shew when the whole are in a 

 proper direction ; so that the rings through which the 

 reel-line passes may always be straight, without which 

 precaution, the line t could not run freely, and would, 

 besides, be subjected to much friction. 



The spud at the bottom of the rod is, in the absence of 

 more proper implements, a very passable make-shift for 

 (Jigging up worms, &c. j but it should not be roughly 



used, 



