186 THE PRACTICAL FISHERMAN. 



weapon." Francis puts it at from 16ft. to 21ft. The Master of Lovat, 

 he says, uses one 24ft. long. For all ordinary usage, however, from 16ft. 

 to 18ift. is ample length, and even a tall man need not necessarily 

 use a 20ft. rod because he is tall. Neither is it absolutely indispensable 

 that a strong man use a long rod because he is strong. Yet some seem 

 to go on this plan in selecting their salmon "pole." I am of opinion 

 that a 16ft. Gin. rod is sufficient for any river, and as I am of about the 

 average height (5ft. Sin.) of Englishmen and average strength, some 

 criterion of the length suitable to himself by the tyro may be arrived 

 at. The rings should be stiff and solid, like those shown in the tackle- 

 making section. 



As to the material of which the rod should be made, opinions, of course, 

 differ again, but it seems that hickory and ash are put out of court by 

 greenheart, which is at once a solid and elastic wood, reducible to the most 

 whip-like proportions, and at the same time retaining all its toughness. 

 The total weight of a greenheart 19ft. rod should not be more than 31b., 

 or an 18ft. more than 21b. lOoz., and, even as some horsemen are said 

 to ride several pounds lighter than their actual weight, i.e., they seem so 

 to the horse, so also a well-balanced rod, when taken in the hand, should 

 not nearly appear its dead weight. The London makers manufacture 

 some exceedingly neat and well-finished salmon rods now, although in 

 years agone a Castle Connell or Scotch rod was ever preferred. I most 

 distinctly pronounce for a ferruled rod in preference to a spliced one. 

 Every rod should have a few spare tops, in case of breakage. 



Of the reel I have little to say. It should be a click or check, one 

 made of brass, and bronzed. Its capacity ought to be equal to about 120 

 yards of line. The handle should be cone shaped, and accurately fitted 

 at its base to the winch plate, so that no line can possibly get round it 

 and there remain. Behind the winch, nearest the butt, it is a good plan 

 to fix a spring so that any line that by chance becomes loose and other- 

 wise would wind round the winch may be thrown forwards and off, on 

 somewhat the same principle as that adopted in the construction of the 

 gates on the barge-paths of the Thames, by which the barge lines are 

 thrown off without let or hindrance. I am an advocate for placing the 

 winch near the end of the butt, both on account of its weight tending 

 by leverage to balance and so decrease the aggregate weight of the rod, 

 and because it is handier when a fish is hooked. 



The line should be of silk, and contain from eight to fourteen strands, 

 plaited. I have one by me now which contains twenty-seven, but such a 

 number is too great, for the reason that the friction in running through 

 the rings soon cuts some of the strands, because of their fineness, and a 

 frayed and disagreeable appearance is soon given to the line, besides the 



