JOINING OF THE ROD. 41 



they may slip. For this purpose, small wire 

 catches should be put at the bottom and top of 

 each piece. 



A well-made rod, when put up, should yield 

 slightly from a little above the hand to the top, 

 and if intended to be used with one hand should 

 balance about a foot above the hand ; if intended 

 to be used with both hands, about a foot farther up. 

 The facility of casting with a well-balanced rod is 

 very great, as the part of the rod below the hand 

 acts as a lever. 



The reel is usually attached to the rod by rings, 

 which is undoubtedly the most convenient plan, as 

 it can be taken off at pleasure. In a one-handed 

 rod, the reel should be as close to the butt end as 

 possible, as its leverage will be greater there ; in a 

 double-handed rod, sufficient room must be left 

 below the reel for the hand. When the weight of 

 the butt end and reel together are not in them- 

 selves sufficient to balance a rod, lead should be 

 added till it balance at the proper place. 



Kings are indispensable to a rod in order to 

 convey the line from the reel to the point. A 

 difference of opinion exists as to whether they 

 should be fixed or movable. For our part, if they 

 could be fixed so as not to move, we would prefer 

 them that way, as they let off the line much more 

 easily ; but they generally have just sufficient 

 stiffness to be troublesome. When they come into 

 contact with anything, they are knocked over and 



