64 ANCIENT ANGLING AUTHORS 



many pieces ; as those which are made of cane, each 

 piece exceeding the other one degree, in such even 

 proportion that being fixed, and thrust one within 

 another they will show as one even, and most straight 

 rush-growne body without any crookednesse or other 

 outward evill favourednesse : these pieces would not 

 be more than four foot in length a piece, and three 

 such pieces, which make twelve foot are sufficient for 

 the stocke of the Rod, besides the top, now for those 

 ends which are the sockets, into which you fit the 

 other canes, you shall hoope them about with fine 

 plates of brasse, an inch and a halfe broad, well 

 sodered, and smoothly filed, which will keep the 

 same from cleaving : and for the top of this Rod, the 

 round whalebone is thought the best, and surely in 

 my conceipt so it is, both for this and any other Rod 

 whatsoever, for it is tough, strong, and most plyant : 

 these Rods are most made to have the small canes 

 thrust down into the wide canes, so that a man may 

 walk with them as with a staffe, and when he pleaseth 

 to draw them forth, and use them as occasion shall 

 be offered : the only exception which is taken at 

 these kinds of Rods, is the bright colour of the 

 cane, which reflecting into the water offtimes feareth 

 the Fish, and makes them afrayd to bite. But if you 

 fish in deepe, and thicke waters, there is no such 

 matter, for the shadow of the rod is not discerned 

 through the Sunne, only in shallow, and cleere 

 Brookes it is a little hindrance, and therefore he 

 which is a Master in this Art will Umber, and darken 

 the Rod, by rubbing it over a gentle fire with a little 

 Capons grease, and brown of Spaine mixt together. 



Markham recommends a line of three hairs for a 

 gudgeon or minnow; the Book of St A Ibans recom- 

 mends only one hair for the minnow. 



The instructions in regard to the clothing of the 



