108 SALMON ANGLING. 



in point of real use, and not so liable to "break in the 

 moment of action : or, indeed, even for travelling, I 

 would prefer tied joints, as, wherever a person has 

 time to stop and fish, though only for a day or two, 

 he has at least five minutes to spare for tying up his 

 rod in a sufficient manner. 



Rods are often breaking at brass joints, and those 

 who use them, instead of bringing in a back-load of 

 fish, are often arriving home from the water telling 

 you, " I've broke my rod !" Such sickening news 

 may generally be prevented by tied joints. 



A one-hand trout rod, between thirteen and four- 

 teen feet long, is very convenient and pleasant to use, 

 even when wading deep in the Tweed. But in mode- 

 rate wading, we cannot command much water with a 

 rod of less than fifteen or sixteen feet. I would 

 recommend that a rod be made soft and pliable for 

 about three inches on the top, much more so than 

 is generally done, as a hard springy maintop readily 

 twitches the hook from the trout's mouth. 



ON SALMON ANGLING. 



The greatest requisite in an angler is the art of 

 throwing his line properly. Though some attain this 

 more easily and with less effort than others, yet it 



