112 THROWING THE FLY. 



every part of the reel-line beyond the point of 

 the rod, so as to equalize the weight of each 

 part, and thence render it capable of being 

 thrown with greater facility and precision ; yet 

 it will drop " light as fairy foot can fall." These 

 are trivial errors I admit, even if they be more 

 than differences of opinion ; but when I find 

 authors professing to teach, and laying it down 

 as a rule for beginners, "that the motion in 

 throwing, of the wrist and elbow, is not oblique, 

 but fairly straight backwards and forwards"* I 

 must quarrel with them downright. They had 

 better have left it alone altogether, and have 

 directed the tyro, as some have done, " to 

 manage as he best can,f" than have laid down 

 such thoughtless rules ; being about as wide of 

 the mark as Mr. Ronalds, who says, " you should 

 endeavour to impart to the line a good uniform 

 sweep or curve round the head !" Now a uniform 

 curve with the rod will produce a uniform curve in 

 the line, and unless that uniformity be broken by 

 the two springs, backward and forward, into some- 

 thing of an elliptic figure, the fly will fall short;);. 



* Shipley and Fitzgibbon, 77. 



t Should the fish (Salmon) on being hooked, spring out of the water, 

 the angler must be extremely cool ! and manage, as he best can, to prevent 

 him from breaking the tackle, or getting rid of the hook !" Vide Northern 

 Angler, p. 65. 



t See ante, p. 99, last chapter. 



