Rods and Rod Material. 151 



fly-rods, which he evidently regards as about the proper 

 thing, as follows : 



Maker. Weight. Length. 



1. Gould 13 ounces 12 drachms. 12 feet 8 inches. 



2. Cheek 14 " 6 " 11 " 7 " 



3. Bownes 13 " 4 " 11 " 8 " 



4. Aldred 13 " 8 " 12 " 4J " 



No wonder he recommends that a double-handed rod 

 should be used in preference to a single-handed, giving 

 the following, among other reasons, for his preference : 

 " But to fish a whole day with a single-handed rod is 

 very trying to the forearm, and more particularly to the 

 grasp of the right hand. Many a time has my hand and 

 arm ached so after a long spell of casting, that I have 

 been compelled to leave off to rest them." 



It would be indeed surprising were this not so. After 

 all, what are we after what is the end in view ? It is 

 not merely obtaining possession of the fish, for that re- 

 sult can be had at far less cost and much greater certain- 

 ty with a silver hook in the fish-market. Recreation and 

 amusement are the objects anglers seek British and 

 American alike ; and therefore it seems reasonable to 

 conclude, that whatever methods and whatever appliances 

 best conduce to these results, are the best in themselves 

 even though the total catch be a little diminished thereby. 



Should this meet the eye of a British angler, let me 

 recommend him to try one of our rods or one there 

 made on our plan, say ten or even eleven feet long, 

 and from six to even nine ounces in weight. And if 

 from some local peculiarity of fish or water, of which 

 we are ignorant and cannot imagine, this does somewhat 

 diminish his total catch, still we believe the increased 

 comfort and pleasure the use of such a rod must afford 



