RODS. 77 
foot fisherman to wield it with comfort, and I am quite-satis- 
fied that for all ordinary purposes the salmon fisher would get 
more comfort and more sport, too, with a rod such as that I 
have described than with a longer and more fatiguing and 
unwieldy weapon... . 
It should be borne in mind as a mechanical axiom in this 
matter of the length of rod, that exactly in proportion as you 
gain in casting power by the increased leverage, so (the motive 
force being equal) do you lose in the propelling power by which 
only the leverage can be utilised—the practical deduction from 
which proposition is that every man has a length of rod exactly 
_proportioned to his physical strength—a rod out of which, that 
is, he can get the maximum of casting force compatible with 
sustained muscular effort—and that it should be his object to 
ascertain what that length is. Bearing in mind the mechanical 
argument, I am disposed to think that a shorter and more 
powerful rod might in many cases be substituted with advan- 
tage for a longer and lighter weapon, and this principle has 
been carried out with success by Farlow in a 13 ft. 6 in. green- 
heart salmon rod they make according to my instructions. 
With this rod I get plenty of power and excellent casting ; 
fact there is little really appreciable difference in these pea 
between this and the steel-centre spliced bamboo built for me 
by Hardy, except when casting against a strong head wind. 
However, as I have said, these are matters of individual 
taste, and must be left to the appreciation of individual salmon 
fishers. Till we have our fly-rods made entirely of steel—an 
improvement which I take it is only a question of time! 
(unless, indeed, as a reviewer suggests, an objection be made 
1 T have lately seen this prophecy actually realised in a tubular steel trout- 
rod made by our enterprising American cousins. Unfortunately the principle 
of this rod, which was that of a telescope, made outside rings impossible, and 
I found, in practice, that when casting, the friction of the line inside the whole 
length of the rod, made it next to impossible to get out line, whilst with a fish 
on—even a three-pounder—the same result followed, only in a much greater 
degree, and not a yard of line could be taken out by the fish unless the rod 
was pointed straight at him like a gun. 
