"The Anglers Equipment" 151 



with the " light-rod " movement ; provided 

 that it be kept well in hand. 



Whether I, personally, am with the 

 movement or no, little matters. What 

 really is of consequence is, whether these 

 extra-light rods will be run after, in ten 

 years' time, as much as they appear to be, 

 at the present moment. 



For the benefit of those who may fancy 

 that they are doing a smart thing in pur- 

 chasing a cheaper rod than their friends, 

 and which looks almost as well, permit me, 

 as an old fisherman, to say a few words. 

 When rods are fashioned from wood (as all 

 my own rods happen to be), the first thing 

 a rod-maker should look to, after the wise 

 selection of the various forms of timber 

 used, is to make sure that his wood is 

 thoroughly seasoned before a single rod is 

 cut out of it. This being done, the next 

 best thing is to select the pieces and com- 

 mence the work. Grant me your attention 

 now. 



In planing down a rod ; knots and other 

 flaws are apt to discover themselves. Now, 

 any rod-maker who is jealous of his reputa- 

 tion discards all doubtful, not to mention 

 bad, pieces of wood. Thus it happens that 

 nothing save picked and seasoned wood is 



