FLY FISHING. 37 



is highly desirable, still this advantage is more than counter- 

 balanced by a weak butt, a fracture of which has so frequently 

 marred my day's sport, and, to my certain knowledge, that of 

 many others besides. There should be a spike at the end 

 of the butt, which is not only convenient to stick into the 

 ground to enable you to land a fish, but also for fixing the rod 

 firmly into the earth when you find occasion to dart it, javelin like, 

 over a hedge, at which time you must be careful to pitch it in 

 such a manner as may insure its taking a fast hold, otherwise it 

 will fall flat with such force to the ground, as in all probability to 

 occasion some serious and perhaps irreparable fracture, of which 

 in more instances than one I can bear melancholy testimony. 



A fly rod ought also to be well ringed, few rods indeed, having 

 a sufficient number, which not only causes an unequal strain on 

 the intermediate parts, but also, when there is much wind stirring, 

 causes the line to bag between the rings, rendering it more difficult 

 to throw- correctly, or to hook a fish when he rises; added to 

 which the line hanging loose from the rod is apt to get entangled 

 in the bushes, which is exceedingly troublesome. Mr. Ronalds 

 also suggests that the rings generally used are too small, and con- 

 sequently prevent slight obstacles in the line from running freely 

 through them, and that all the rings should be of the same size 

 as those usually put on the stock ; the utility of which he con- 

 siders would amply compensate for their want of neatness in ap- 

 pearance. In this, however, I cannot concur. With rings so 

 large, the line would be always bagging loosely between them, 

 causing the very difficulties just before suggested. In fact I never 

 knew an instance of a rod that did any execution when the rings 

 were unusually large, and I have always found that the line, unless 

 entangled, will run freely enough through the rings commonly 

 used, except indeed in the case of a knotted line, and that no 

 skilful fly fisher would ever think of using. In purchasing a 

 rod the material of the rings should also be inspected ; for the 

 greater part of those fixed to fishing rods are execrably bad, being 

 merely stuck together by soft solder, which may easily be detected 

 by a leady-looking bump at the join, where, with a little use, they 

 are pretty sure to give way. Rings that are properly made, are 

 so contrived that the join can hardly be perceived : looking, in 

 fact, as if they were of the same substance throughout ; but rings 

 of this kind are not always to be met with, on account of their 



