41 



and be laid horizontally on three hooks, nails, &c. or on, 

 a shelf, or be hung up. 



Nothing hurts a rod more than leaving the joints all 

 separate and loose, or setting them up in a corner. Their 

 own weight will cause them to swag, and so change 

 them, that when the rod is put together, it will be crooked 

 in every joint : such will never strike true ! 



Some rods are kept together, when laid by, with three 

 or four leather bands. When this is done, care should be 

 taken, before the bands are slipped on from the small end, 

 to turn all the line-rings inwards, else they will obstruct 

 the bands, and perhaps be themselves torn away. 



A Jly-rod is intended solely for throwing out a fine 

 line, with one or more artificial flies at its end 5 while the 

 lottom-rod is exclusively appropriated to fishing with a 

 float, or for trolling, roving, &c. of which proper notice 

 will be taken hereafter. 



The peculiar delicacy required to throw out a line, so 

 that the flies, if there be more than one upon it, should 

 fall into the water without appearing to disturb its surface, 

 and which can only be acquired by patient practice, 

 evinces how accurately every part of the rod used for this 

 purpose ought to be tapered, so that no one of its joints, 

 or parts, should, by its disproportionate strength or weak- 

 ness, affect the action of the whole, and cause it either 

 to throw with too much violence, or so feebly as to de- 

 mand additional exertion, whereby precision and deli- 

 cacy are generally over- ruled ! 



Fly-rods are much smaller, in all respects, than ground* 

 rods. As they are used with one hand, lightness is of the 

 utmost importance. With regard to the manner of 

 throwing the line, it is be^t to reserve that for its proper 



place, 



