ANCIENT ANGLING AUTHORS 159 



dapping rod. From his description of the fly-rod, 

 it is evident that Hewlett was acquainted with 

 Variables' Experienced Angler: "But a Fly-Rod 

 ought not to be so very taper; yet both so as to 

 ply and bend gently and equally ; the equal and 

 proportionable bending being the main thing to 

 preserve the Line, next the Skill of the Angler;" 

 " but," says Venables, " my opinion is that the equal 

 bending of the Rod chiefly (next to the skill of the 

 Angler) saveth the line." 



The author recommends that the ground- and fly- 

 rods should be at least 16 or 18 feet long for 

 large rivers. The butt or stock of the travelling 

 rod must contain four tops, one for trout, another for 

 barbel, another for carp, and the last for small fish ; 

 the joints of this rod, which must not exceed two 

 feet and two or three inches in length, are six in 

 number : all the tops are to be tipped with whalebone. 



Hewlett recommends the use of Indian Grass 

 instead of hair for very fine fishing, and gives 

 instructions for dressing it with the fat skimmed 

 from boiled fresh meat. The grass thus treated 

 " will last a long time, and be sounder and stronger 

 than the best single Hairs : especially if you oyl 

 them, when you find they become too dry by long 

 keeping. Or if you cannot get Indian-Grass, make 

 use of the smallest and soundest Bowel or Lute- 

 strings you can procure." The catgut is to be 

 dressed in the same way as the grass, and is to be 

 carefully tested every time before it is used. 



