106 Fly-rods and Fly-tackle. 



Now what becomes of all this cheap trash, averaging 

 sixty per cent, of the product ? 



He who has been accustomed to pay a reputable dealer 

 say a dollar apiece for nine -foot leaders, and sees on 

 the bargain counter of a department store leaders of 

 similar length and thickness for sale, say at twenty-five 

 cents each, and, thinking he has found a bargain, takes 

 advantage of it, will be very apt to find his gratification 

 but temporary. 



Only those whose time is their own and whose fly -fishing 

 lies at their own threshold can afford to experiment with 

 cheap tackle. I believe I have never met an experienced 

 fly-fisherman who would not unhesitatingly endorse this. 

 I have rarely met a beginner, unless one to whom econ- 

 omy was no consideration, who could be so convinced. 

 Assent in words might be had ; but his expressed faith 

 was inconsistent with his actual works. It would seem 

 to be a lesson to be learned only in the costly school of 

 experience. Injudicious economy is not infrequently 

 the wildest extravagance. 



To this may be added one point. Soak an average 

 strand or two of your gut, tie a loop in each end, place 

 one end over a hook and the other on a spring-balance, 

 and find what the breaking strain actually is. Gut of the 

 same diameter differs so much in strength that this will 

 not be wasted time. I have made an attempt to tabulate 

 the fair average of strength to be expected from gut of 

 certain sizes, but the measurements are so minute, and 

 require appliances so unusual to determine them, that it 

 has been abandoned as of no practical value. I myself 

 always measure gut before purchasing it. Sometimes I 

 have used a Stubb's wire-gauge for this purpose, but it 

 is much too coarse. Uncolored gut No. 28 on that stand- 



