SUGGESTIONS. 219 



merits. When I say stiffness, I mean the steel-like 

 elasticity which causes it to re-act with such quickness. 



For material for fly-rods, bamboo ranks first, lance- 

 wood next ; after mentioning these, there is not much 

 to say. Green-heart is too uncertain. Paddlewood is 

 very fine, but as yet, extremely difficult to obtain in any 

 quantity. 



The balance, or " hang," of a rod is of the greatest 

 importance. Let it be never so well made otherwise, 

 if not properly balanced it will be worthless. 



The elasticity should be uniform, from tip to near 

 the hand ; a true taper will not give this, because the 

 ferules interfere with the uniform spring of the rod. 

 For this reason a little enlargement between the ferules 

 should be made, to compensate for the non-elasticity of 

 the metal. These enlargements cannot be located by 

 measurements, as much depends on the material and 

 the length of the joint. 



Spliced rods can be made nearer a true taper, for 

 obvious reasons ; although there is no doubt that a 

 spliced rod is stronger and much more perfect in cast- 

 ing qualities, yet they require such care to preserve 

 the delicate ends of the splice, and are so troublesome 

 in many ways, that few will use them. 



The details of rod-making having been so often told, 

 I do not purpose making any suggestions on that 

 subject, but will say that, in order to make a good 

 fly-rod, the maker ought to know how to handle it, 

 when finished. 



