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CHAPTER II. 



OF ROD, LINE, AND OTHER TACKLE. 



" Omnia quse multo ante rnernor provisa repones, 

 Si te digna manet divini gloria ruris." 



VIRG. Georg. i. 167. 



" First, all thy tackle thoughtfully provide, 

 Ere April call thee to the Wandle's side : 

 So shall the glory of the streams be thine, 

 The spotted trophies of the tapering line ! " 



LIKE the bow of the Archer, the Rod of the 

 Angler should be duly proportionate in dimen- 

 sions and weight to the strength and stature of 

 him who wields it. The strong or tall man may 

 venture upon a rod about fourteen or fifteen feet 

 long : but to the person who is shorter or less 

 robust, one so short even as twelve or twelve feet 

 and a half, and light in proportion, is recom- 

 mended, as the command will be more easily ob- 

 tained, and with very much less fatigue to the 

 arm. The best materials are ash for the stock, 

 lance-wood for the middle, and bamboo for the 

 top ; the butt should have a hole drilled down it 

 containing a square top, and a spike is made 

 to screw into the end, which is found useful to 

 stick into the ground, and keep the rod upright 

 when landing a good fish. The ferrules of brass 

 should fit into each other with screws. 



