512 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



inside wood — which is of practically no elasticity. The 

 weapon, from butt to tip, is composed of strips cut from the 

 large butts of the bamboo-cane. These are glued together, 

 and whipped with silk at intervals, and are of course tapered 

 perfectly to allow of the maximum of strength, lightness and 

 resiliency. 



11 The Trout-fly Rod is used usually in the 

 single hand — that is, two hands are not taken 

 to it for its manipulation. The reason for this 

 probably is the fact that the rivers in which 

 the Brook-trout is found are for the most 

 part really brooks as to size, and the larger, 

 heavier and longer fly-rod is not necessary 

 to command the water. Hence the Trout-fly 

 rod in ordinary use in America is seldom 

 more than eleven feet long, and from three 

 and one-fourth to ten ounces in weight. 

 The three and one-fourth rod is admirably 

 adapted for ladies, and the ten-ounce rod for 

 gentlemen who prefer a heavy weapon, because 

 of some inherited fancy; but I personally pre- 

 fer a seven-ounce as the happy medium. One 

 should be able to wield such a rod for weeks 

 J ji without undue fatigue: I have certainly done so. 

 It is difficult, if not impossible, to convey an 

 accurate idea on paper, either by diagram or 

 description, of the appearance of such a rod. 

 Fig. I will give an idea of the proportion pre- 

 served, and the following are the measurements: 

 length of each joint, three and one-half feet; 

 ^ diameter of handle, one inch; diameter just 

 above swell of handle, six-sixteenths; diameter 

 at point just below first ferrule, five-sixteenths; 

 ferrule, five sixteenths; below second ferrule. 



5 k 

 Fig. 



above 



I . 

 first 



three-sixteenths; above second ferrule, three-sixteenths; end 



