98 SALMON FISHING 



advisable ; as the larger the ring, the more liable 

 it is to get damaged, and porcelain is very apt 

 to chip. If the rings be large enough to allow 

 the line to work quite freely, nothing is gained 

 by increasing the size beyond that measure. For 

 all practical purposes, the " Bridge " rings a little 

 larger than those used on fly-rods are very good. 

 Their shape permits the line to travel freely, 

 while they are not liable to get broken off, or 

 bent like an ordinary snake or upright ring. 

 Some prefer standing agates as in Fig. 1. These 

 are splendid rings, and a less number is generally 

 fitted. An 11 ft. 6 in. "Murdoch" rod carries 

 eleven intermediate rings, i.e. not counting the 

 top or butt rings. In using agates, six only 

 are employed. The smaller number is not due 

 to their greater efficiency, but rather to the fact 

 that they are more expensive and a little heavier. 



In casting several methods are employed. One 

 is to coil the line on the ground, and holding 

 it between the fingers near the reel, with about 

 4 feet of line hanging from the rod's point, to 

 swing it until the desired momentum is attained, 

 and then cast in the desired direction, releasing 

 the line at the same instant, and recovering it 

 again by drawing in with the hand. This is 

 called the "Thames" style, and it certainly is 

 very easy when standing on clean boards, or in any 

 place quite free from snags, conditions, however, 



