FOREST, LAKE, AND RIVER 



shorter, stirrer, and more resilient rod (most of its 

 pliancy being in its upper two-thirds), quicker 

 and more energetic movements are required in 

 casting, though not more muscle, if so much, is 

 exercised in the effort. While the old style was, 

 perhaps, more graceful, the modern style is more 

 vigorous and effective. Conservatism has given 

 place to vim and progress. 



The first radical departure in the manufacture 

 of fishing-rods was the introduction of the " Hen- 

 shall rod " for black-bass bait fishing, a quarter of 

 a century ago. After its superiority to old style 

 long and heavy rods was demonstrated, it became 

 an easy matter to apply the same principles to all 

 other rods. 



The material used in the construction of fishing- 

 rods must embody the attributes of strength, light- 

 ness, and resiliency. All varieties of close-grained, 

 tough and elastic woods have been experimented 

 with, as ash, hickory, hornbeam, cedar, service- 

 berry, snakewood, willow, lancewood, greenheart, 

 bethabara, etc. As rods are made in several pieces 

 for convenience and portability, it has been deter- 

 mined that a combination of woods is preferable 

 to making the entire rod of any one variety, ex- 

 cept in the case of split-bamboo. It has been 

 found that white ash, being light and springy, is 

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