40 SALMON RODS. 



in salnion-fisliing it must always be, or if it 

 be applied to a doubled handed rod, — in using 

 which, one hand is kept below, the other above, 

 — the sockets above and below the winch will 

 inevitably become loose and infirm after a little 

 wear. Besides, in packing, if the winch is left on, 

 it is in the way, and inconvenient. 



The Salmon Rod should consist of four parts 

 or pieces : — First, the but of solid ash ; the second 

 and third, which are called "joints," of hiccory; 

 and the fourth, the top, made as I have already 

 intimated. Each part should be at least four feet 

 six inches ; forming, in its whole length, eighteen 

 feet or upwards. Some persons use rods two or 

 three feet longer, which enables them to command 

 a greater breadth of water; though for general 

 fishing I consider eighteen feet quite sufiicient, 

 especially as the greater length increases the 

 labour materially. As the separate parts of a rod 

 are those which mostly break, you cannot err 

 if you have, in addition, three or more spare tops, 

 and one extra joint next to the top. For a 

 salmon-rod by all means have the top, and the 

 joint next it, made so as to splice or " scare " 

 together in the fashion I mentioned. 



The rings of a salmon-rod should be large, 

 very well soldered, and firmly secured to it, rather 

 decreasing in size upwards. That at the point 

 should be of double stout wire, rather larger in 



