AND HOW I HAVE CAUGHT MY FISH 47 



that will bend very considerably before there is any 

 danger of a break. The tops are a trifle stouter 

 than for a spinning rod, and from that the size of 

 the 6 ft. 6 in. cane can be guessed. They weigh 14 oz. 

 each. They are fitted with three porcelain rings, 

 of which the top one is fin. in diameter, outer 

 measurement, and the two lower f- in. The material 

 for the rings had been quite a distressing question 

 to me for as long as I can remember, until Mr. 

 Harris solved the problem by making them of 

 porcelain and sending me a set to try. The rods 

 were made to my order and to my satisfaction by 

 Mr. Ogden Smith, of Twickenham. 



Winch. Diameter, 5 in. ; depth, iin. Let it 

 be of best quality, of wood freely running on good 

 metal foundations. Keep all metal and woodwork 

 well oiled. 



Lines. What is the best material for lines ? 

 This has been an oft-fought battle. We have seen 

 as champions tanned hemp, dyed flax, twisted cotton, 

 plaited linen. Then, with loud pronouncement, 

 came the wire lines, drawn out from all kinds of 

 tough metals. They had a short and merry day, 

 kinked and exit-ed. I still recommend plaited 

 silk. Dye it a dark blue Maypole soap does it 

 effectually and without injury and so fill it with 

 mutton fat that there can be no room in it for 

 rotting sea-salts. Also mark off, with pieces of 

 white silk sewn in, the two distances, 15 yards 

 and 30 yards. 



