234 BOOK OF THE BLACK BASS. 



butt, and the hand piece, or grip, of course, above it ; for 

 the click-reel, which is used for fly-fishing, is a reel that is 

 intended to "take care of itself" in the rendering of the 

 line, and, therefore, is very properly placed where it is out 

 of the way, and where it adds very much to the balance 

 and general working of the rod. 



The reel-seat in fly-rods is often made entirely of metal 

 and called a " reel-plate," and which, while much admired 

 by many, only adds to the weight of the rod, without be- 

 ing of material service. For myself, I prefer a plain reel- 

 seat, simply a depression, or groove, cut in the butt of the 

 rod, with reel-bands, as in the minnow rod. This answers 

 every purpose, and to my mind there is nothing that can 

 improve the beauty of a handsomely finished wooden butt; 

 and on this account, I am also prejudiced against the hand- 

 piece, or grip, being wound with cord, or ratan. The 

 self-wood, of which the butt is composed, seems to me to 

 be the best and most appropriate finish for the grip, both 

 as regards utility and beauty ; for the cord, or ratan, with 

 which the grip is usually wound, in fine rods, is extremely 

 liable to become loosened and worn off. 



The wound hand-piece and the metal reel-plate look 

 very attractive, but are not proof against wear and tear ; 

 and for my own use, and in accordance with my idea of 

 the fitness of things, I think the less a rod is encumbered 

 with fanciful and ornamental appendages, the better. We 

 should ever bear in mind the original primitive cane fish- 

 ing-pole, upon which model all rods are founded, more or 

 less, and remember that simplicity and utility usually go 

 hand in hand. 



A very good friend of mine, with whom I have spent 

 many pleasant angling days, once owned a very handsome 



