34 THE PRACTICAL ANGLER 



moved immediately, but not so the point ; the rod 

 yields throughout ; and the point, by means of which 

 the line is pulled, may almost be said to remain 

 stationary for a moment after striking, and then 

 moves in a slow uncertain manner; very different 

 from the instantaneous sharp strike of a good stiff 

 rod. 



Lightness we consider an essential qualification 

 in a rod ; the lighter it is, the angler can cast it 

 the oftener, and use it the longer at a time. This, 

 however, is a matter which the angler should regu- 

 late for himself, as a rod that will be too heavy for 

 one will be a mere whip in the hands of another. 



The butts of rods are frequently made hollow to 

 contain one or more spare points ; and to such as 

 have their points made very thin, this is almost 

 indispensable, as it is by no means uncommon for 

 some anglers to demolish one or two of these flimsy 

 articles in a day. If the butt-piece is to be made 

 hollow, it should be made of ash ; the boring of it 

 is a very difficult process, and can only be done by 

 a machine. Saplings are also sometimes used for 

 this purpose, in the centre of which there is gene- 

 rally a considerable quantity of pith, which can 

 easily be scooped out, and the hollow space enlarged. 

 We are by no means partial to hollow butts ; they 

 require to be made so thick that they destroy the 

 symmetry of the rod, and they never bend from 

 the hand as a well-made rod should. It is only in 

 Scotland that hollow butts are much used. English 

 anglers object to them as destroying the bend of a 



