THE ROD. 3 



superfluous, which in many cases is more calculated to 

 mar sport than conduce to it. For example, I have met 

 an angler, with quite a superabundance of appliances, 

 accompanied by an attendant with landing-net in hand, 

 watching with eager eye and ready hand to bank every 

 troutikiii his master happened to hook, while the small 

 scale of the river rendered such assistance unnecessary 

 and injurious. 



THE EOD. 



Of the several articles which constitute the angler's 

 equipment, the rod is certainly the most important and 

 indispensable, and accordingly first demands our atten- 

 tion. I need scarcely say that there is a much greater 

 difference in the make and quality of fishing-rods than 

 most people imagine, and I defy the most accomplished 

 angler in Britain to cast a line properly with a bad or 

 slovenly made rod. 



This is true both as regards the quality of the mate- 

 rial and the workmanship. For however well and truly 

 a rod may be made, if the wood is not of the very best, 

 thoroughly seasoned, and entirely free from knots and 

 cross-baits (that is, when the fibres of the wood cross 

 each other transversely or obliquely, instead of running 

 parallel for the whole length of the piece), it will not 

 only warp and cringe, but readily snap whenever 

 exposed to any extra strain, and be an unceasing- 

 cause of vexation to its owner. But rods made by 

 respectable makers are in general excellent, both as re- 

 gards, material and workmanship, and are usually free 



