THE ROD. 15 



stances a twenty-feet rod would not be too long, while lialf 

 that length would be sufficient when fishing from a punt, 

 when it need not exceed thirteen or fourteen feet. If 

 furnished with two or three spare tops of different degrees 

 of stiffness and length, the bottom rod becomes the 

 " general rod," and may be used for nearly every purpose. 

 For roach and dace fishing, the rod must be so light and 

 so perfectly under command as to enable the angler to 

 " strike" with an almost imperceptible turn of the wrist. 



With respect to the material. If you purchase your rod, 

 as ninety-nine out of a hundred do, you will have plenty of 

 choice. You may have them of hazel, ash, lancewood, or 

 hickory, or judiciously combined with a whalebone top, 

 according to price and finish ; but let it be handy, light, 

 well balanced, and supple. Never have your rod in more 

 than four lengths, nor if possible exceed three. One of 

 three lengths with a hollow butt in which to place two or 

 three top-pieces, will be found the best for all general 

 purposes. It may be fitted with a spike at the bottom, 

 ringed and fitted with two winches or reels for trolling and 

 fly-fishing. 



Exclusive of hazel, the woods ordinarily used in the 

 manufacture of rods, are three or four varieties of bamboo 

 cane, ash, willow, greenhart, hickory, and lancewood. 

 Hickory has, however, become to be considered as the rod 

 wood par excellence, as it is light, strong, and solid ; but 

 for butts, it gives way before ash and willow. It will not 

 stand boring, and after all it takes its place as the middle 

 joint, and leaves greenhart or split bamboo for the place of 

 honour, and the humbler woods of home growth in the 

 grasp of the angler's hand. The first time I saw greenhart 

 as a portion of a rod was in Limerick, and there I found 



