146 Fly-rods and Fly-tackle. 



I have never used one, but the reports that I receive 

 from those who have, do not bias me in their favor. 

 Irrespective of the question of whether they do or do not 

 do in practice what is claimed for them in theory, they 

 certainly, if good for anything, greatly reduce the margin 

 for skill and judgment on the part of the angler, and 

 tend in my opinion to degrade the art to the level of 

 pot-fishing. 



Of what material the reel should be composed remains 

 to be considered. Brass and german-silver, or these metals 

 combined with celluloid or rubber, are usually employed 

 and give good results. I prefer an all metal reel, since 

 metal affords a more substantial hold to the fastenings 

 of the click-machinery than rubber or celluloid. The lat- 

 ter save weight, but I do not consider this as important 

 as some do in trout-fishing, where the reel is habitually 

 located below the hand. A moderate weight helps to 

 counterpoise the rod, and thus overcome the leverage of 

 the longer portion against the angler ; and we all know 

 it is this leverage, rather than the actual weight of the 

 rod, which causes fatigue. 



Reels made of aluminum have been on the market 

 and were at one time popular, particularly with those 

 who had never used them, on the ground that they 

 saved weight. This they undoubtedly did. But when 

 this has been said, all that can be said in their favor has 

 been said. 



When this metal cost in the neighborhood of a dollar 

 and a quarter an ounce and few were practically famil- 

 iar with its characteristics, great hope was entertained 

 of its future utility, could but a cheap method of pro- 

 duction be discovered. This has been done, and, thanks 

 to the electric furnace, aluminum can now be had in 



