THE CHUB. 71 



awful stumps in the Hampshire Stour, from the 

 shelter of which the little greenheart has induced 

 many a chub to emerge entirely against his will. 



Length of rod ten feet two inches, made entirely 

 of greenheart, and in three joints. The butt tapers 

 off thirteen inches from the end of the rod, and 

 the winch fittings are well down towards the end 

 of the butt. I am describing a punt-rod, and in 

 punt-fishing for chub there is little throwing to be 

 done ; having the winch well down on the end of 

 the butt helps to throw 'the rod-top up in the strike, 

 and the weight being lower on the rod adds to the 

 leverage. I have seen fly-rods with the winch 

 below the extreme end of the rod, and am told 

 that the extra-low weight is a great advantage. 

 There are twelve rings on the rod, including the 

 uppermost top-ring ; the lowest ring is twenty-five 

 inches from the end of the butt, which gives free- 

 dom in handling the line. Each ring is three- 

 eighths of an inch in diameter, inside measurement. 

 The rod is of a dull green colour, so that there is 

 no " flash " to alarm a fish. These large rings 

 allow the line to run beautifully, and the rod is 

 fairly springy, just sufficiently supple to whip up 

 the line cleanly in striking without being weak. 

 The rod weighs just under I J Ibs. Another punt- 

 rod, by Slater, of Newark, cane with greenheart 

 top, 1 1 feet 2 inches in length, weighs only f lb., 

 and is an excellent rod for unobstructed swims, 

 but not so powerful as the greenheart. The length 

 of the top, point to point, is forty-five inches. 

 Longer rods are better for bank-fishing, as the 

 striking is altogether different ; instead of the rod 

 being held parallel with the stream, it is mostly at 

 right angles to it, and the longer " throw-back " 



