Rods and Rod Material. 155 



apart. To the floats marking each ten feet, appropri- 

 ately numbered tin tags are attached, indicating the dis- 

 tance from the edge of the platform. The weight and 

 length of each of the competing rods is accurately ascer- 

 tained, and the divisions on the rope are verified by the 

 judges before the contest takes place. 



The spectators occupy the bank, while the judges note 

 the results from a boat on the other side of the rope, the 

 boat being moved to and fro as circumstances require. 

 The distance between the edge of the platform and where 

 the tail-fly strikes the water is taken as the length of the 

 cast. A possible error of eighteen inches in the deter- 

 mination of this would be a very liberal allowance. 



Killing power, and the ability to control the move- 

 ments of the fish in those delicious moments which sep- 

 arate the rise from the capture of the victim, depend 

 not on the length, but on the power of the rod ; and this, 

 other things being equal, must be greater in a ten than 

 in a twelve foot rod, since the leverage against the con- 

 trolling power is less. 



Induced by these considerations, and confirmed by prac- 

 tical experience with rods from twelve feet six inches to 

 nine feet eight inches in length, the writer is fixed in the 

 belief that ten feet is an ample length for any single- 

 handed fly-rod, and that with it any fish of any weight 

 within the scope of a single-handed fly-rod, can be as 

 successfully enticed and more easily overcome than with 

 a rod of greater length. If we add to this the difference 

 of comfort in the use of the one over the other, the ques- 

 tion may well be asked, why does any one who knows 

 his business neglect to avail himself of these manifest ad- 

 vantages. Is there no flaw in your premises no error in 

 your conclusions ? Dear reader, I sincerely believe both 



