460 AMERICAN FISHES. 



rods. I should not, however, advise any one to make his own rods, 

 unless he has a taste that way, when probably, after spoiling twenty 

 or thirty, if he is a practical fisherman he might hit on the real thing. 

 The least shave too much will spoil the casting of a rod ; so that it is 

 extremely difficult to know when to stop. Another great secret in 

 taking the most out of your rod, is to balance it well. Generally 

 speaking, rods are made with a groove and sliding ring to pass over 

 the foot of the rod ; this should never be fixed unless by actual ex- 

 periment you have ascertained the exact point where it best suits with 

 the reel and line you mean to use. When you have discovered this 

 spot, pin down one ring and cut your groove for the foot of the reel 

 to fit in. For a beginner I would recommend a light rod it will not 

 fatigue him nearly so much ; he will learn to throw a fly cleaner with 

 it than the heavier one. The Whippy rods are far more difficult to 

 use artistically than the others, but for fine-weather fishing they are 

 elegant tools,, I trust I have said enough on this subject to make myself 

 understood. To one that knows nothing whatever on the subject, 

 I have only to say go to some respectable tackle-maker ; ask for a 

 good rod ; tell him you don't understand the matter, and request his 

 advice and choice ; for his own credit as a judge he dare not give you 

 a bad one, lest you should show off his knowledge some other day. 

 He who would do this to you must either be a fool or a rogue either 

 of which aspersions on his fair fame would not be pleasant. 



Our next articles of equipment are a landing-net and gaff, or clip, as 

 it is sometimes termed. I have brought them on the tapis together 

 because the same staff does for both. The best landing-net is made of 

 hickory steame'd and bent into a circle ; on the outside of it, for six or 

 eight inches, an iron plate is whipped on with waxed fine twine ; in 

 the centre of this plate is a knob, on which is worked a male screw of 

 the size to fit the top of the landing-pole, which has a female screw on 

 it. The net can be either of silk or fine whipcord, pretty baggy, to 

 prevent the fish from flopping out. 



LANDING-NET HOOP 



Around the outer edge of this hickory bow a groove is run (suffici- 

 ently deep to hold the cord by which the net. is fastened on), having 

 small holes bored through it every three-quarters of an inch ; this is by 



