236 B0(1K OF THE BLACK BASS. 



metal ; will not rust or tarnish, and if it is used at all, let 

 us use it on its merits; and for decency's sake, avoid the 

 common practice of plating it with nickel, or, what is 

 worse, silver — for the plating soon wears off and exposes 

 the cheat. 



Rings, instead of standing guides, are used, as they are 

 lighter, and on the fly-rod answer just as well ; they are 

 lashed on with spool-silk by means of small metal strips, 

 known as " keepers." The rings should graduate in size 

 from the butt to the tip, and should be of the same metal 

 as the ferrules. The metal tip of the fly-rod is a single 

 ring, which is preferable to a solid tip, or the three-ring 

 style, on account of its extreme lightness, for it will be 

 remembered that the tip, or top, of a fly-rod is of very 

 small caliber. 



