ADVANTAGES OF A DOUBLE-HANDED ROD. 123 



motionless. A maimed bait few trout worth capturing 

 will snatch at. It has attractions only for parr and small 

 fry, and as for a dead worm, they would as soon think 

 of attacking a mutton chop, which, by the way, I under- 

 stand, is the favourite bait of the river cod in some of 

 the Australian rivers. 



I shall now, as undertaken by me, wind up this 

 chapter on worm-fishing, with a few instructions as to 

 the management of the line. Although recommending 

 to the worm-fisher the use of a light double-handed rod, 

 I do not insist upon it, as absolutely essential. It gives 

 him, however, a power or facility over his line, especially 

 if a long one, which no single-handed implement can 

 ever possess. Both in waters that require to be waded 

 and the smallest description of rivulets, it is of equal 

 advantage. Employed on the one, the angler, without 

 any strain, jerk, or extra impulse, which very frequently 

 chafes and injures the worm, is enabled to heave out 

 his bait to the required spot; he possesses moreover, 

 full command in recovering his tackle for a new throw, 

 and, as the occasion happens, can strike his fish with 

 readiness and considerable certainty. Employed on 

 the other, he can drop his worm unsuspected, softly as 

 a snow-flake, behind stone or shelter fence, under 

 banks and below boughs, keeping himself and his 

 shadow concealed and at a distance. Such advantages, 

 as far as concerns worm-fishing, the one-handed rod 

 can have no pretensions to. The leads and weight of 

 the worm are great drawbacks to its power. These, it 

 can neither sufficiently heave out nor recover. In the 

 striking of fish also it is of little avail, except when 

 stiffish and used with a short line. 



I introduce, it may be thought by some, the above 

 observations respecting the kind of rod best adapted for 



