CHAP. xx. Rod. 299 



the tip of one wing to the other between 4 and 5 inches, whilst the female 

 measures from 6 to 7 inches in expanse of wing ; both are of a uniform 

 yellowish brown, having a couple of lunated transparent talc-like spots on 

 each wing, and it is chiefly in the form of these spots that they differ from 

 other moths of the same kind." 



An exhaustive history of these and other silkworms, their food 

 and culture, will be found in an official report on " Silk in India," by 

 J. Geoghegen, Under-Secretary to the Government in India, Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, Revenue, and Commerce, and published at the 

 Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta. 



Rod. For fly-fishing for the smaller fish a light single-handed rod 

 of 10 or 93- feet in length is the luxury. You should have an extra top 

 in case of accidents, and let it be stiff, because you can strike so much 

 more quickly with a stiff rod than with a pliable one. For Mahseer I 

 lay great stress, as you will see, on the rod being pliable, because there 

 you need to be aided in meeting the sudden plunge of a heavy fish, but 

 with small fish, such as chilwas and barils and the minor carps, the 

 object of first importance is quick striking, and this can be better done 

 with a stiff than with a pliant rod. Consequently you will find that all 

 the best rod-makers make their light trout rods much stiffer than they 

 did some ten or twenty years ago. I remember fishing for minor 

 barils with one whom I had but a short time before taught the very 

 rudiments of fly-fishing. The little fish of 3 ozs. and under were rising 

 freely at every cast, and he was hooking them much faster than I was. 

 He thought he had suddenly developed into the better fisherman. But 

 the secret was that he had a modern, I an old-fashioned trout rod of 

 the days of my boyhood, his being both much lighter and also very 

 much stiffer than mine, and I was thereby placed at such a disadvantage 

 that I couldn't hold a candle to him. Of course I saw how it was in a 

 moment, but he didn't, and it didn't seem the civil thing to undeceive 

 him. But I may tell you, dear reader, so as to aid you in the choice of 

 a rod. For small fish lightness and stiffness of rod both accelerate the 

 stroke. The reasons for its doing so are explained in " Tank Angling," 

 page 20, where rapidity of stroke is the sole thing aimed at, and no fly 

 throwing has to be considered. 



For Mahseer, however, you want a double-handed salmon rod, and 

 1 6 feet is quite long enough. I have had 17 feet and 19 feet, and 

 .prefer 16 feet. 



