58 ROD AND RIVER 



shift top ring by means of a bent pin, etc. ; 

 but all these things take time, and are a great 

 nuisance, especially when fish are on the rise and 

 every minute is of consequence, and it is, of course, 

 always at such times that things will go wrong if 

 they can. 



The winch-fittings require to be as good and 

 as carefully put on as the ferrules. Messrs. 

 Hardy, of Alnwick, have patented an excellent 

 winch-fitting. Some of the Irish rods are made 

 with merely a hole drilled through the butt of the 

 rod, the latter being furnished with a spike with 

 a screw at its end, on which a thumb-nut is 

 placed in order to keep it tight ; but they are 

 always in the way, and are for ever fouling the 

 line. 



Every trout-rod should be furnished with a spike 

 made to screw into the end of the butt ; it is most 

 useful, and enables the rod to be kept upright 

 when not in use. It is thus out of the way of 

 danger, and is also handy for fitting on the line, 

 cast, flies, etc. ; but this spear should not be made 

 too pointed. 



A spare top, where one can be carried either 

 in the landing-net handle, or the hollow butt of 

 the rod, is a luxury. I prefer to carry it in the 

 former ; but I will warn the reader to be very 

 careful respecting the description of screw or cap 

 with which either rod or landing-handle is fur- 



