14 THE DRY-FLY MAN'S HANDBOOK 



and construction can be compared are length, weight, 

 balance, stiffness, or pliability and speed. Length 

 and weight require no definition and can be easily 

 ascertained. Balance is best shown by finding the 

 position of the centre of gravity or point at which 

 the rod will balance, and for convenience the distance 

 of this point from the butt should be measured. For 

 the purpose of arriving at the stiffness and speed of 

 the rod it must be firmly held in a horizontal position, 

 with its butt in a vice, and the length of the portion 

 projecting beyond the vice should be measured — this 

 being styled the length used." 



" To measure stiffness the rod in the vice must be 

 supported at the tip and at intermediate positions in 

 a horizontal position and the height of the rod-point 

 from the ground exactly marked on a staff The 

 supports being then removed throughout the length 

 used, the butt being still in the jaws of the vice, the 

 measurement of the height of the rod-point from 

 the ground will show the deflection of the rod free, 

 i.e. without any weight suspended from the top ring. 

 A weight of i oz. is then hung on the point and the 

 deflection again measured, and as a final test of 

 deflection the measurement is once more taken with 

 a weight of 2 oz." 



"When an experienced fly-fisherman tries a rod 



_, J . . . he usually advances the opinion 



Slow and quick action ^1 , v ■ , , 



of rods. '^ °° ^'°^ °'' ^°° quick 



for his own use. Generally 

 the complaint is that it is too slow because the 



