114 THE SCIENCE OF DRY FLY FISHING. 



however, that I advise my reader to leave the tradesman with 

 whom he has been accustomed to deal, and to patronise any 

 one of those whose advertisements I insert. The trade is an 

 honest one, and my experience is naturally limited, and 

 therefore, if he be satisfied with his present treatment, he will 

 be well advised to continue his custom where he is well known. 



But there are specialities and patents which deserve to be 

 known and which cannot be purchased from all dealers ; these 

 I have specially mentioned when well known to myself. 



It is a pleasure to draw the attention of my readers to the 

 fact that, with one exception, the articles I mention are English- 

 made, and to think that in my favourite sport we are almost 

 entirely independent of foreign manufactured goods.* 



THE ROD. 



The student when purchasing a rod, even when he has 

 the help of an experienced friend, should consider which 

 method of fly fishing he is prepared to adopt, and whether 

 he is going to fish up or down stream. 



When selecting a rod for either method the action 

 and balance of the rod is of the greatest importance, and, to 

 determine these points, the rod, with the reel attached, 

 should be grasped in the hand, or hands, as usually held, 

 and switched backward and forward in the horizontal 

 plane with the eyes shut. 



*See page xxiii. 



