4 ELEMENTS OF ANGLING. 



reversal of military procedure which is justifiable, if 

 not necessary. The supports should also at first do 

 all the talking, and the main body should listen 

 with attention, for much is to be learnt from a battle 

 of expert opinions. 



The first item of discussion will be the rod, and 

 the novice will be invited to inspect a stiff " general 

 rod," made up of two or three cane joints and a 

 greenheart top. Its length will be about i2ft, its 

 weight about 1507., and its cost may be anything 

 from five shillings to thirty. I have an excellent old 

 rod of this nature for which years ago I gave 

 6s. 6d. ; it still sees service, and is Jack of all 

 trades. For half-a-guinea the novice ought to get a 

 weapon which will do all that is required at first. 

 He should try the rod in his hand, with a reel 

 attached to its butt, and so make sure that it feels 

 comfortable, and he should not accept a rod if it 

 feels at all top-heavy and ill-balanced, if the weight 

 greatly exceeds 1602. for i2ft., or if the grip of the 

 butt does not suit his hand. By balancing a rod 

 on the finger one can tell pretty well if the weight 

 is properly distributed. If the point of balance is 

 hot more than about i8in. from the reel the rod 

 will be pleasant to fish with and will not feel top- 

 heavy. It will be more useful if it has a spare top- 

 joint a foot shorter than the other, which will 



