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the butt may be of anything, and the top should always 

 be of split bamboo. We have a very nice little rod of 

 spruce, which was made as an experiment by a friend, 

 and presented to us. It will not cast far, but for light 

 work it responds neatly and easily. It is doubtful 

 whether the quality of the wood is wholly decisive as to the 

 qualities of the rod, and should only be taken into con- 

 sideration generally. 



It is the'fashion now to use trout rods, weighing not 

 more than eight ounces. They are artistic and pretty 

 little implements; and for streams or short casts on 

 ponds, are very pleasant. They will not cast a hundred 

 feet, however; no, nor much more than half that dis- 

 tance. But they do not tire the wrist ; and where fish 

 are as scarce as they have become in the more settled 

 regions of our land, they will probably remain in vogue. 

 Where long casts are imperative, and it is important to 

 kill large fish in a reasonable time, they will not answer. 

 They should never be carried to the wilds of Lake Supe- 

 rior, Maine, or Canada, but their use.should be restricted 

 to Long Island ponds, or the trout brooks of the Middle 

 and some of the Eastern States. Although we have rec- 

 ommended fine tackle, we do not approve of what is too 

 fine to be effective. The eight ounce rod in its place is 

 very beautiful, but all places do not belong to it. It is 

 far preferable, however, to a fly-rod that weighs a pound 

 or over, and that is suitable to no place, being not heavy 

 enough for salmon, nor light enough for trout. A trout 

 fly-rod for all work should weigh from twelve to fifteen 

 ounces, according to the physical strength of its owner. 



Similar observations, varied to suit the varied cases, 

 apply to salmon rods. We never use a salmon fly -rod 

 under eighteen feet in length. On the broad rivers of 

 Canada and the British Provinces, the casts are often 



