FISHING-RODS. 223 



calipers ; five standing guides, graduated sizes, and a solid 

 metal tij). These mountings should be brass or German 

 silver. The guides should be attaehed at equal distances 

 from the reel seat to the tip; and, having proj)erly fitted 

 the ferrules and reel bands, give the rod two coats of shel- 

 lac or coach varnish. When dry, the rod is ready for use, 

 and will be about eight feet in length, and weighing not 

 more than eight ounces — a single-handed rod equal to any 

 rod made for casting, will be well-balanced and strong, 

 but will lack the pliancy, elasticity and perfect working 

 of a good ash and lancewood rod, yet it will be such a 

 great improvement on the cane-rod, as generally used, 

 that it has only to be tried to be aj)preciated. 



A rod, similar to the above, originated, in Milwciukee, 

 in 1874, in this way : At that time I was the only one, of 

 a large number of anglers, who frequented the lakes in the 

 vicinity of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, who used a short and 

 light Black Bass minnow rod, and which was often the 

 subject of many jokes on the part of my fellow-anglers. 

 But, as it was not always "the longest pole that got the 

 persimmons," some of them, at length, became convinced 

 of the superiority of the short rod in casting and general 

 convenience, though they were loath to alter their hand- 

 some ten and twelve feet rods. 



I suggested to several to have short rods made of native 

 cane, in the manner above described, and Avhich I had 

 formerly experimented with. I referred them to John C. 

 Welles, of Milwaukee, as the proper person to make them. 

 Accordingly, he got up several, and, for convenience, 

 made them in three pieces — two cane-joints, of about 

 three feet each, and a short wooden butt or handle. The 

 result was, that the owners used them afterward in prefer- 



