ROD, REEL, AND LINE 55 



spot it is aimed. How is a rod to be endowed with 

 this versatility of action ? 



In as far as it is a concern of exact science, the 

 secret is in the hands of a few makers; but it is 

 questionable whether any one of these could build 

 a perfect rod on unaided scientific principles. He 

 could not, although provided with ample materials 

 and the finest tools, simply set to work and say of 

 the result, "Now, that is exactly as it should be."" 

 He would have to try the rod before he could be sure. 

 At the first cast it might show some defect of what 

 he would call "balance." "Balance," in this con- 

 nection, is a makeshift word. It applies not only 

 to the graduated weight of the rod ; it applies to 

 the spring of the rod as well. That also is graduated ; 

 but the graduation is peculiar. The flexibility of a 

 perfect rod at any point is not in proportion to its 

 relative thinness at that point. If it were, the 

 upper half of the top-piece could be bent into a 

 circle without breaking. Exactly how the flexibility 

 is distributed I cannot tell in anything like scientific 

 terms; but it is not impossible to say how the 

 flexibility should feel. It should begin in the butt, 

 a few inches above the winch ; it should not be felt 

 as being in the top-piece, though it is there ; in a 

 particular measure, as you cast, you should be con- 

 scious of it as active in the middle yard of the 

 rod. Of course, the power which drives the fly 

 comes mainly from yourself ; but it should set going 

 a fresh force, that of resilience, about the middle of 

 the instrument. If it does, it is a good rod that you 



