100 TROUT FISHING 



here they will be interrupted, but our movement 

 continuing and fresh vibrations passing on, at last 

 the accumulated force is transmitted to the top 

 with a multiple of power beyond our calculation. 

 Again, suppose the vibration or waves to have 

 reached the extreme end of the rod, it by no 

 means follows of necessity that the first move- 

 ment given to the end is in an upward direction 

 frequently it is in a downward course that is, the 

 top dips before it rises ; it dips, I say, and before 

 it rises, of course, other vibrations have been suc- 

 ceeding have now reached; and at last, with 

 great force, the top flips up, suddenly pulling with 

 an unintentioned jerk upon the line, and the 

 fish, which will probably be lost. But again, 

 we have only now considered the effect pro- 

 duced on the fish when thus powerfully struck, 

 but let us retrace our steps, for having struck 

 and having set a rod thus in vibrations, we have 

 another effect produced, a new series of vibrations 

 will be sent from the top downwards towards the 

 butt ; nor, as yet, has the first force exerted been 

 lost on the butt; no vibrations still continue 

 from this direction, and as we now have two sets 

 of vibrations set up at opposite ends, the only 

 question which remains is where will these 

 meet ? the answer will be, in practice, speedily 

 discovered it will be at that part of the rod 

 which we called the point of interruption, where 

 the second action commenced, owing to the too ex- 

 tended length of the part disproportionally with 

 its tapering, and the effect of the concurrence, or 



