14 THE FLY FISHER'S GUIDE. 



regularly taper and pliant from the butt to the 

 point ; for if the spring be not regular from one 

 extremity to the other, the check which the de- 

 fective part causes will severely strain, if it do not 

 actually break, the piece. By the term pliant, it 

 is not meant that the rod should be as limber and 

 flexible as a cart whip, which extreme ought as 

 carefully to be guarded against as too great stub- 

 bornness -, but that it should play easily, and that 

 the bend be slightly perceptible even in the bottom 

 or butt end. In this, however, as well as in the 

 number of joints of which he may wish the rod 

 to consist, the angler will best consult his own 

 judgment and inclination, which can hardly fail to 

 be satisfied at some of the tackle shops in the 

 metropolis, where an endless variety of every de- 

 scription, which imagination or caprice may re- 

 quire, will be offered to his inspection. 



The best rods which the writer has hitherto met 

 with, are manufactured and sold by Henry Swann, 

 of Langholm, North Britain. They consist of five 

 pieces, and have screw joints at each ferrule, 



