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notably the tendency of the " free line " to get occasionally 

 twisted round or ' hitched ' over. The form of ring alluded to is 

 known as the " snake " ring. I was first attracted to it on theo- 

 retical grounds, but having had it applied to several rods and 

 used it considerably with perfect success and satisfaction, I can 

 now speak of its advantages with practical knowledge. The 

 ring is made of "hard drawn German silver" if I remember 

 correctly. 



MODELS OF 'SNAKE' RINGS, AND TOP RING. 

 The cuts B, C and D, are facsimiles of the rings 8 in all suitable 

 for a 10 foot fly-rod, and taken from the bottom, middle and top. 

 The first figure (A) also shows a form of ring, elaborated by the 

 late Mr. Frank Buckland and myself, and which I can recommend 

 as being the best shape I am acquainted with for the top rings of 

 every description of rod fly, float and trolling. The " snake " ring, 

 I may here observe, is admirably adapted for trolling rods, made of 

 course proportionately larger.* Indeed, it was with a rod fitted with 



* I am glad to find that so excellent an authority as the writer of " How 

 and Where to Fish in Ireland " also advocates the snake ring. " There is," 

 he observes, " a serpent ring used by trollers (not in fact a ring at all) which is 

 excellent." 



