THE ROD AND LINE. 23 



The rings are usually too small ; not allowing 

 such slight obstacles on the line, as can never be 

 totally prevented, to run with sufficient freedom 

 through them ; they should all be of the size of 

 those usually put upon the stock. The rod may 

 not have quite so neat an appearance thus treated, 

 but this will be found to be amply compensated in 

 its use ; for the sudden stops occasioned by an ac- 

 cident to the line, whilst being pulled up rapidly, 

 has often caused the loss of a good fish, the strain- 

 ing of, if not breaking, a good rod, and sometimes 

 a breach of the third commandment. 



Rings may be had (slit down the middle) in the 

 manner of key rings, very little heavier, yet larger 

 than the usual rings. These can be easily sub- 

 stituted upon the little metallic loops in lieu of the 

 smaller rings, by the possessor of a rod himself, 

 without at all injuring it. 



Line. 



The beginner should not take the finest FLY LINE 

 he can buy, but rather choose the strongest line of 

 this kind to be had, since too fine a line will not 

 only be more likely to break than a heavier one, 

 but will not be so easy for him to throw. 



Reel. 



Notwithstanding the many complaints which 

 have been made of the REEL usually sold, no very 

 great improvement upon it seems to have been put 



