6 



ANGLING IN SALT WATER. 



Fig. 1. Snake-shaped 

 Rod Ring. 



best made of East Indian cane, with two tops of well-seasoned 

 greenheart, and, when put up with the longest top, should 

 measure at least 15ft. An extra butt, 4ft. long, bringing 

 the rod to 19ft. in length, will be found occasionally very 

 useful. The angler, of course, does not want to use a 

 heavy, long rod, unless it is really necessary, but to be 

 without one when it is wanted is a great nuisance. For 

 boat work, a short rod is most handy; but from the shore 

 a long rod is advisable. The second top should be only a 

 foot in length, and made very strong. It is for use when 



heavy leads are necessary, as in 

 spinning, or whiffing for big fish, 

 such as pollack and bass, and it 

 reduces the rod to lift, in length. 

 There will, of course, be winch 

 fittings on both butts. The best are those designed by Herr 

 Weeger and bearing his name. They are strong, and take 

 any sized winch. The very best rings for all kinds of rods 

 are what are called snake-shaped rings. They are illustrated 

 in Fig. 1. The line runs through 

 them more easily than through any 

 other pattern made, and never twists 

 round them — a very important con- 

 sideration. The ring I believe to be 

 the best for the top of the rod is one 

 I designed some years ago, and which 

 is commonly known as the "Bicker- 

 dyke " rod top ring (Fig. 2). It works 

 on pivots, and decreases friction by 

 adapting itself to whatever angle the 

 line makes with the rod. I have also 

 found that with this ring the line 

 rarely fouls the top of the rod, for, should it get round it, 

 the ring at once goes flat with the rod, and the line slides 

 off. At the most, a little jerk of the rod is all that is 

 necessary to set it free. There is, sometimes, an interior ring 

 (as shown in the illustration), which is capable of being 

 shifted round when any part gets a little worn. This is 



Fig. 2. " Bickerdyke ' 

 Rod Top Ring. 



