ROD AND TACKLE 15 



tendency of everyone using a fly rod is to cast and 

 return more rapidly than the natural pace of the 

 rod. This is a point on which considerable differ- 

 ence of opinion may well occur between the manufac- 

 turer and the proposing purchaser, and both should 

 welcome the simple and practical test of speed as 

 devised by Mr. Hawksley." 



" The rod is still held horizontally, ahd the operator 

 stands with watch in hand close to the place at which 

 the butt is fixed in the vice. Placing his forefinger on 

 the rod a short distance from the vice he presses down 

 on it so as to set the projecting portion vibrating. 

 After a short time, it will be found that the pressure 

 of the hand can be relaxed until it is only sufficient to 

 feel the vibrations, which will then continue at a fairly 

 uniform rate. The number of vibrations in one 

 minute are then counted and registered. It is perhaps 

 as well, certainly for a beginner, to take an average 

 of, say, three separate experiments. After the number 

 of vibrations free have been ascertained those with 

 weights of I oz. and 2 oz. respectively are also 

 taken." 



The method of rod-testing devised by the late Mr. 



T. P. Hawksley, as described 



Rod-testing. in the foregoing paragraphs, is 



the practical one used at the 

 present time, except that the vibrations per minute 

 are as a rule only noted free or without weight attached 

 to the rod-point. Messrs. Hardy have further adopted 

 the practical and admirable plan of recording the 



