54 THE SALMON FISHER. 



while many other lakes in the Pine Tree State afford 

 good fishing for the land-locked variety. Twenty 

 years ago I would have thought an 18-feet rod too 

 long for a man of ordinary strength to handle, but 

 now that our American makers fashion rods so light, 

 I am inclined to return to the old English standard 

 of length. The advantage of length of rod in deliv- 

 ering a heavy line as well as in lifting it over mid- 

 channel obstructions, is manifest. The fact is, that 

 any rod of whatever length which is too cumbrous 

 to be wielded with the two hands without the 

 adjuncts of waist belt and thimble, should be dis- 

 carded. Of course the general principles of casting 

 with the two-handed rod are the same as with a light 

 single-handed trout rod, but an expert trout angler 

 will have to practice long before he can cast a sal- 

 mon line skillfully. The upward and outward lift 

 of the line, the checking of the rod movement at the 

 correct angle behind the shoulder so as to give time 

 and scope for play of back line, and the delivery of 

 the straight forward downward cast, are very much 

 the same ; but the motion in salmon casting is more 

 deliberate because the implements are heavier and 



