46 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 



weighed a 12-foot solid ash and greenhart trolling rod 

 against one of stout East India bamboo, and the weights 

 were: — Solid rod, i lb. Sjoz. ; Hollow rod, i lb. 4 oz. — 

 difference, i J oz. 



At the close of every season, rods which have had a 

 great deal of wear and tear should be re-varnished to 

 preserve the wood ; or, in the absence of varnish, well 

 rubbed with oil (linseed is the best) before being finally 

 stowed away. 



Rod Rings. 



Four considerations must regulate the question of 

 rings : (i) That the material, especially of the top and 

 bottom rings in trolling rods, should be hard enough to 

 resist considerable friction ; (2) that the top and bottom 

 rings should be so shaped as to prevent the line catching 

 round or over them ; (3) that the rings generally should 

 be large enough to let the line run through them with 

 perfect freedom, and (4) — and this is by no means an 

 unimportant point — that there should be enough of them 

 on the rod to prevent the weight of the line " bagging" 

 in the intervals, and yet not so many as unnecessarily to 

 increase the wearing friction on the line passing through 

 them, or curtail the length and freedom of the cast. 

 For every description of fishing I recommend strongly 

 the use of stiff or " upright" rings ; the difference in 

 weight is quite insignificant ; and in addition to many 

 other great practical conveniences, the rings last much 



