SALMON-RODS. 315 



The best wood for the butt, which should be very stout and 

 solid, is well-seasoned maple, which is both light and strong ; 

 the second joint of ash, the third of hickory, and the fourth or 

 top joint of equal parts of lance-wood, bamboo, and whalebone, 

 neatly spliced together. 



Many experienced anglers prefer to have their Salmon-rods 

 manufactured Avithout metal joints, but with neatly-cut and 

 accurately fitting scares, which are adjusted and firmly spliced 

 together with strong waxed-end when at the river-side. 



The supposed advantage of this method is the greater cer- 

 tainty of the rod's holding together during a severe struggle in 

 the course of which a joint will sometimes be disengaged from 

 the socket; and a greater equability of pliancy throughout the 

 whole length, from the butt to the end, which is supposed to be 

 in some degree impaired by the metallic ferules into which the 

 heads of the feruled joints are inserted. 



In the present improved state of the manufacture of all sport- 

 ing articles, I must however admit that these objections are, 

 in my opinion, very fanciful, and that the trouble of splicing 

 and unsplicing greatly exceeds the benefit derived from the 

 practice. 



Nothing can be more beautifully regular and equal through- 

 out their whole length, than the springy bend of the best 

 English, Irish, Scotch, and American Salmon-rods ; and I 

 may here record it as my deliberate opinion, that the best 

 rods in the world are now manufactured in the city of New 

 York, and that Conroy is superior, as a fly-rod-maker, to either 

 Chevalier or Martin Kelly, of universal reputation. 



The reel should be very large, capable of containing three 



