206 WHAT I HAVE SEEN WHILE FISHING 



in the first place, dispense with the half-circle 

 swing, and, secondly, a method that can be used 

 all day long with one hand with little fatigue ; a 

 method that almost automatically provides a free 

 coil at an elevation a little below and to the left 

 of tne ring through which the line commences its 

 journey ; so that, when the finger releases it as 

 the cast is made, there is no resistance, and the 

 bait in its flight helps itself to what line it requires. 

 No winch can do this, neither can it supply line 

 with the delicate variations of speed that take 

 place in the rise and fall of the bait during its 

 flight. 



There are numbers who have witnessed, and 

 many who have adopted, amongst others our 

 present Prince of Wales, a plan which so nearly 

 complies with the ideal, which I have roughly 

 sketched, that I will presume that it is worth the 

 space necessary to give full particulars for the 

 guidance of others. 



Get then a light and stiff bamboo rod, nine feet 

 in length, to which add twelve inches of stout 

 tapering whalebone for the top, and let the whole 

 rod weigh not more than i6oz. Have light winch 

 fittings, and three rings only, of aluminium wire 

 with ivory centres, and of such a size that a 

 pigeon's egg could be put through the top ring 

 and a hen's egg through the one that is two feet 

 from the winch fittings. The third ring should 

 be between these two in size and equidistant from 



