Appendix. 139 



moft unwieldy inftrument. The fly jokes that were 

 poked at me by my young friend, Pifcator, who, when 

 I firft knew him, was at that age when a rod of a dif- 

 ferent kind was, I doubt not, introduced to his acquaint- 

 ance oftener than he liked, could not, I thought, really 

 be at the expenfe of my favourite. " When ignorance 

 is blifs, 'tis folly to be wife," you will perhaps exclaim ; 

 ftill I mention all this to caution you, if you value your 

 future comfort, to beware, at ftarting, of a long heavy 

 rod ; for if you are pretty fure to be the fame flave as 

 others to the tyrant above-mentioned, there is no reafon 

 that I know of why habit mould not endear to you the 

 beft rod you can procure as well as the worfl. 



The rod I now ufe was made by Copham, of Taun- 

 ton, and as many who have handled it have exprefled a 

 wifh to have its fellow, I have flronger grounds than 

 habit can furnifh for recommending the maker. Though 

 fome inches under eleven feet, it will throw as long a 

 line as you are likely to need ; and from its being fo 

 light and manageable, you can ufe it to your entire fatif- 

 faclion, when a longer and heavier one would but lead to 

 your annoyance. An additional pound on the back of a 

 racer, who knows what thoufands upon thoufands it 

 has loft to the pockets of its unfortunate owner ! And 

 though many a long and weary day it has been mine to 

 travel with the big rod, I never feel, now I have dif- 

 carded it, as I ufed to feel on the following day almoft 

 entirely reft of ftrength in my right wrift and moulder 

 better, perhaps, you will fay, than to be reft of the need- 

 ful, as in the cafe above alluded to. 



