50 ROD AND RIVER 



conclusion that his selection has been better than 

 my own, though I may have had the advantage 

 of far greater experience in such matters. I could 

 wish that the case were otherwise, for, although I 

 can never resist the temptation of purchasing a 

 new rod if it appears what I like, I often get 

 disgusted with it after a short time, and probably 

 end by giving it away. 



Like many fishermen, I possess a considerable 

 number of rods. Some of these are excellent, 

 or, I should say, have been so, but many are 

 much the worse for wear. I have killed a great 

 many heavy fish on them, and they have done 

 me good service. Some few are still as good 

 as they need be. If I entertain a preference 

 for any, it is for one which is a four-jointed, 

 ferruled trout-rod. I draw the attention of the 

 reader to this fact because I intend to refer to it 

 later on. I have killed no end of heavy fish on 

 this rod, and I have used it for some eight or nine 

 seasons. It has certainly been done up twice 

 during that time, but as far as its power and 

 elasticity are concerned, it is as good as ever. 

 When I first purchased it it was over- stiff, but I 

 persisted in using it, and thereby sprained my 

 elbow-joint, and have never completely recovered 

 from it. In order to make the rod more supple I 

 scraped it with a piece of glass. This had the 

 desired effect, but it was a risky measure to adopt, 



