446 BOOK OF THE BLACK BASS. 



then put the tip on the rod swaying and bending, in the 

 meantime, rendering this somewhat difficult to do, but 

 which is finally accomplished by twisting or screwing it 

 on, the butt boring a hole in the ground, the while and 

 in case no one has stepped on your rod (which I have 

 seen done more than once), hold the rod perpendicularly, 

 and settle the joints by tamping the butt-end on a stone, or 

 piece of wood. The reel is yet to be adjusted ; to do which 

 you may either rest the tip on the ground in front (using 

 it as a boring instrument in this instance), or hold the rod 

 horizontally with the butt against the pit of the stomach, 

 to the great danger of some one stumbling over your rod, 

 or of your striking it against a tree or rock while endeav- 

 oring to ship your reel ; and yet " tell it not in Gath " 

 I have seen this very scene played over and over again 

 by those who called themselves anglers; and so they were, 

 in the aggregate, or on the whole, but not in detail. To 

 hold the rod across the body, sitting or standing, or per- 

 pendicularly, while adjusting the reel, is just as awkward 

 and unsafe. 



Remember, then, to remove the plugs and put them in 

 the pocket you will have them then whenever you unjoint 

 your rod, for the separated joints should never be left a 

 moment without the plugs in the female ferrules ; in this 

 way you will preserve the proper shape of the ferrules, and 

 your rod will always go together and come apart easily, 

 provided you keep them clean and smooth. Then, ship 

 the reel; then put the smaller joints together first, and the 

 butt piece last. 



The right way to " unjoint," or take apart, the rod (I 

 will spare the reader the infliction of a description of the 

 wrong way) is first to remove the leader, or swivel and 



