Miscellaneous Suggestions. 437 



rod by many men, and as a double-handed rod by many 

 ladies, with the result indicated above. 



But one thing must by no means be overlooked, or the 

 scheme will prove a failure. 



Casting with a double-handed rod, while almost iden- 

 tical, yet differs radically in one respect from casting 

 with a single-handed rod. In casting with a single- 

 handed rod, the hand holding the rod is the centre of 

 motion. That is, when the part of the rod above the 

 hand goes behind for the back cast, the part of the rod 

 below the hand moves to the front, and vice versa. 



This method will not work with a double-handed rod. 

 The centre of motion must be the extreme butt of the 

 rod, the upper hand following its motion. That is, the 

 lower hand grasps the butt rather loosely, the rod swing- 

 ing on it like a pivot, while the upper hand moves to 

 and fro with the swaying of the rod. The reason for 

 this is plain. In working a double-handed rod, the rod 

 is held opposite the middle of the body, and not off to 

 one side as with a single-handed rod. The portion of 

 the rod below the upper hand is so long that if the 

 upper hand is made the centre of motion the part of 

 the rod below that hand will swing towards and strike 

 against the body on the forward cast, and the cast 

 will be spoiled. About five minutes is ample time to 

 master this detail, which, even though it may appear 

 difficult in words, is extremely simple in practice. The 

 whole trick turns on one point make the extreme end 

 of the butt the centre of motion, swinging the rod to 

 and fro on that, as a door swings on its hinge. 



Another point before leaving the subject. The rela- 

 tive position of the hands should be frequently changed, 

 say once in every four or five minutes, provided the 



