216 SALMON RODS. 



I suggest the following improvement in salmon 

 rods. There should be no spare top for trolling or 

 spinning, but merely a spare fly-top, which should 

 be of bamboo cane rent longitudinally into three 

 wedge-shaped pieces, then glued together, reduced 

 to the proper tapering thickness, and strongly 

 ringed and whipped. This spare top should be 

 reserved for heavy work in rivers, in and over 

 which there are rocks and trees, rendering the 

 playing of a fish unusually difficult, and tackle of 

 more than ordinary strength necessary. I have 

 changed my opinion with respect to rods made 

 entirely of rent cane or of any other wood rent. 

 Their defects willalways more than counterbalance 

 their merits. 



Trolling and spinning rods should be about 

 twelve feet long. Those made of mottled East 

 India cane are the handsomest and best I have 

 seen. The above cane is sometimes scarce. The 

 best substitutes are ash for butt, hickory for 

 middle pieces, and bamboo cane for top the 

 latter stout and short. 



