SPINNING 



97 



the butt end, so that in winding there is no 

 danger of catching any part of one's dress with 

 the hands. Such a rod as that known as the 

 " Murdoch " is eminently suitable. The first ring 

 on the butt should be large, upright, and made 



FIG. I 



of agate (see Fig. 1). The top-end ring is a 

 most important item, and should also be of agate, 

 so constructed that the line cannot catch round 

 it and get foul. The ordinary top-rings as used on 

 fly-rods are not suitable, and the best form is 



that shown in Fig. 2. This, as will be seen, is 

 a sort of pipe-ring, with guard so placed that the 

 line cannot foul it. The agate being very hard, 

 prevents the wearing of gutters which are so 

 fatal to the line. 



Intermediate rings are sometimes made of 

 porcelain of very large diameter, but this is not 



