39 
CHAPTER IV. 
RODS AND ROD MAKING. 
Ancient rods—Observations on different rod woods. Solid woods— 
Hickory, greenhart, ash, willow, fir. Ho//ow woods—FKast India, or 
mottled bamboo, white cane, Carolina cane, jungle cane. Rod 
rings —Upright rings recommended for all purposes, ‘ pronged 
rings, proper shape for top ring. Ferrules—‘'Tube-cut,’ ‘ham- 
mered. ‘Brazing’ of joints —'To separate ‘stuck’ jomts. A 
general rod described and recommended. 
WHATEVER we may think of the s&z// of our forefathers 
in the gentle craft, it can hardly be denied that the im- 
plements they used were in every way vastly inferior 
to our own, and indeed, it may be added, generally such 
as to make any great display of what we understand as 
science out of the question. 
Of the mechanical knowledge and ability which have 
led to these improvements, probably more have been 
lavished upon the rod than upon all the rest of the 
fisher’s equipment put together, and if the fulfilling of 
every requirement which the most fastidious can 
demand be admitted as proof of excellence, we may 
very fairly congratulate ourselves on having arrived as 
nearly as may be at perfection in this one item at least. 
