20 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



down, thus giving quite a contrary motion to what is in- 

 tended. Again : if you have to fish against the wind, they 

 will not only be found most difficult to manage, but excess- 

 ively fatiguing. There is a rod made in Castle Connell 

 (principally for salmon), after the above pattern ; it has 

 many admirers, who doubtless through experience have 

 become proficient in its use ; still I can speak only from 

 what I know, and my verdict is, leave them to their pres- 

 ent advocates. 



A combination-rod has always been my horror. I mean 

 such as fishing-tackle shop proprietors guarantee to be both 

 a perfect fly and bait rod by only altering the tip. If per- 

 sons will but use their brains they can in a moment see 

 that such is impossible. The two cases are essentially 

 different, requiring the spring and elasticity in totally dif- 

 ferent parts. The act of placing a dull, lumbering tip on 

 the first three joints of a delicate, pliant trout-rod is really 

 absurd. However, some may say, you will find a medium 

 between the two more generally useful. My answer is, 

 what is worth doing is worth doing well ; and if your in- 

 tent is fly-fishing, the most perfect rod for that purpose 

 should be selected. If the river is so discolored or swollen 

 that bait has to be resorted to or you must go supperless 

 to bed, for goodness' sake, go and cut a hazel wand, unless 

 you carry a bait-rod. Hybrids, whether in rod or gun, are 

 to be carefully avoided. I remember being once entrapped 

 into using a hybrid gun, in the township of Markham, Up- 

 per Canada. It was in this way: Going through some 

 brush I flushed a quantity of woodcock. I stated the cir- 

 cumstance when I returned to the farm-Bouse where I was 

 residing. As I had no gun with me the host offered me 

 the use of his, which from his description was worthy of a 

 royal duke ; I therefore accepted the offer. On production 

 it proved to be half shot-gun, half rifle that is, the right- 



>n 



' 



