OF WHAT RODS SHOULD BE MADE. 11 



suits best, like the heavy and long rod, the strong 

 arm, and in that case is to be recommended. 



From size of rod, I now come to material, 

 make, and manufacture. The butt of a salmon- 

 rod should be made of the best, long-seasoned ash, 

 fine in the grain, and straight and lengthy in 

 fibre. There should not be the slightest flaw, or 

 smallest knot in it. The old shafts of gigs, and 

 vehicles of that sort, and the handles of old man- 

 of-war boarding pikes, make excellent butts, be- 

 cause they are well-seasoned, and have had their 

 elasticity often tested and called into action. 

 Butts made from them, if they are without flaw, 

 will be lighter, more springy or more lively, than 

 those made of ash, that has never been used or 

 worked in open air and at all seasons. The only 

 objection that can be made to ash for butts, is its 

 general heaviness ; but such objection cannot apply 

 to it when it is of good quality and sufficiently 

 seasoned. On the whole, I prefer it for butts to 

 any other sort of wood. The best substitute for 

 it in large rods, is red Norway deal ; and in small 

 rods, hickory. All the middle pieces of salmon- 

 rods should be invariably made of hickory. When 

 this wood is of superior quality and efficiently 

 seasoned, it is almost as hard and springy as 

 hammered steel. Besides, its i^rain is beautiful, 



