strangely complex— full of occasional changes requiring swift 

 realisation and treatment, and then fuller of pitfalls in the path to a 

 sound elementary knowledge of its marvels. 



Those who best know will tell us that it were well for the student 

 to pay no attention to certain tricky variations which suddenly and 

 inevitably arise. It is easy enough, they say, for some individuals to 

 get into the knack of the earlier form of the cast, even at sight. But 

 as to the nuiltiplicity of embarrassments, now involving this acknow- 

 ledgment, and now that, with lightning rapidity, e.g., when the 

 violence of the elements has the bad taste to fly in the face of 

 science, to say nothing of covering a fish at right angles, then only a 

 past master of the craft, with personal gifts of a special kind, can do 

 justice to the possibilities at the command of his rod, and to the 

 inspired mind that worked the whole system out. 



Seeing that no man can specify the exact degree of muscular 

 power required, there is admittedly one drawback, even in describing 

 the earlier form. For instance, some people never imagine how little 

 power is wanted until the moment of realisation on the scene of 

 operations. Others, who overstrain the rod, fail. Certain it is, that 

 in giving too much force at starting, the line is lifted too far for the 

 thrash-down to be successful ; and, in giving too little, not far enough. 

 But still, in practice, the earlier form of the cast is a great relief after 

 other methods, as very little effort of the muscles is needed to 

 accomplish it. 



A little practical experience on the following lines may soon 

 make the observant student proficient. 



In practising the " Overhand," for example, use sufficient force to 

 thoroughl)' e.vtend the line in the background ; in tiie " Lhiderhand," 



