ROD AND TACKLE 17 



perform a certain work and so render the day's fish- 

 ing less fatiguing to the angler, but we must not 

 forget that nothing must be sacrificed in point of 

 efficiency. Actual weight is not of so much account 

 in a rod as the disposal of it. Experiment has satis- 

 fied the writer that given two rods of unequal weight 

 the heavier has frequently proved to be the more 

 pleasant and lighter in use, and less tiring to the 

 muscles of the forearm than the lighter one. Balance, 

 i.e. counterpoise, is the important point." 



"It is not desirable that the centre of gravity 

 should be at the centre of the handle. As a matter 

 of fact it will be found that (when the rod is mounted 

 with the reel and line ready for use) the centre of gravity j 

 or balancing point is about 6^ in. in front of the fore- 1 

 finger when grasping the rod in a fishing position." 



" To attempt to use a rod by holding it at its centre J 

 of gravity makes it a very useless tool, and one greatly I 

 lacking in power. There must always be a certain 

 preponderance of weight in the forward part to give 

 force and effect to the cast. The exact amount of this 

 is difficult to determine, and will vary with different 

 rods and with different anglers according to their style." 



" If we take as an illustration the 9 ft. 6 in. ' Hal- 

 ford ' 1912 model, the centre of gravity when mounted 

 for use is 15^ in. from the end of the butt-cap. If 

 the rod be balanced at the centre of the grip and 

 a weight placed at the end of the butt to counter- 

 balance the excess weight and leverage of that part 

 of the rod which is in front of the hand, it amounts 



