MENTAL CONTROL OF THE MUSCLES 207 



In the one the object the blow is achieved at a special 

 fraction of time, and the velocity of the weapon increases 

 to this climax in order to effectually impart its force to the 

 object struck, and so long as this force is correctly imparted 

 it matters not what individual flourishes or evolutions have 

 preceded the impact ; but the reverse is the case with a rod 

 and line the line is always attached to the rod and for so 

 long as this is so all movements of the rod must affect it. 



This fact may be illustrated, for instance, by the difference 

 in the action between a fishing rod and a woomera, or throwing 

 stick of the aboriginals of North Queensland ; for while the 

 spear, so long as it rests in the woomera, requires a definite 

 and continued impulse until it is discharged, yet the spear's 

 onward course is thereafter disassociated with the woomera, 

 which can be dropped to the earth without affecting the 

 flight of the spear. Not so the line, which is not disassociated 

 with the fishing rod after the casting effort is made its 

 forward course being very seriously affected by every after 

 movement of the rod, i.e., until the fly reaches the water and 

 the line comes to rest, until which time a rigid control of 

 the rod has to be maintained. 



The line to which the fly is attached cannot be thrown, 

 and it has been the mistake of the past to try and throw it. 

 It is, or should be, by a continuous motion of the rod, 

 unrolled. 



MISAPPLIED ENERGY 



I notice that in a recent book on the art of fly-fishing, 

 the author emphasizes the necessity of " keeping the hand 

 tightly grasping the rod," but at the same time condemns 

 the use of what he terms a " stiff wrist." This serves to show 

 the extreme confusion of thought which characterizes those 

 who, though they may be able to extend a fly to their own 

 satisfaction, are yet unable to appreciate the muscular control 



