FISH : THEIR HABITS AND HAUNTS. 29 



knife, a book of artificial flies, a book of gen- 

 eral tackle. 



Rods and Lines. 



Choice rods are of the utmost consequence 

 to the angler's success ; and various instruc- 

 tions have been given by different authors 

 for selecting proper kinds of wood, and 

 manufacturing rods ; but as excellent rods 

 of every description are now to be purchased 

 in almost every part of the United States, 

 it is sufficient here to recommend such as 

 will be generally useful, and may be pro- 

 cured without difficulty at any of the fishing 

 stores. 



In choosing a rod, be careful to examine 

 if the joints fit securely ; if it be perfectly 

 straight when put together, and if it spring 

 equally in all its parts, from the butt to the 

 tip when bent. The rod for fly-fishing 

 should be thirteen feet long, and light, but 

 not too weak in the middle, — a fault common 

 in fly-rods. A rod for fly-fishing should be 



