FLT-FISRiya TACKLE. 29 



same time the rod is not inconvenient of carriage when 

 down. 



For trout-fishing a rod from 10 ft. to 12 ft., in 

 accordance with the size of the river, consisting of 

 3 or 4 joints, is generally used, but details are not of 

 such importance in a trout- as in a salmon-rod, as the 

 strain is not as severe. 



In most patterns of rods, joints, or rather joint- 

 fittings, are elements of weakness, and therefore it is 

 as well to do with as few of them as possible ; but as 

 we have to endure them, why should we not select 

 such as will minimize this weakness, or discard the 

 patterns which possess this defect ? 



The rod whose joints are connected by splices is the 

 strongest pattern of all, as by this simple principle 

 what is usually the weakest is converted into the 

 strongest part; whereas in the ferrule-jointed rod the 

 actual joint is rigid, and consequently prevents the 

 entire rod bending together, and causes a series of jars 

 from butt to top, so much so that in time the edges of 

 the ferrule cut into the wood, breaking the skin, the 

 consequence being that sooner or later, when some 

 extra pressure is brought to bear, the rod breaks at the 

 point where nine out of ten breakages do occur in 

 ferrule-jointed rods — viz., immediately above or below 

 the ferrule. The bell-mouthed ferrules now in use to 

 a certain extent overcome this difficulty, but the in- 

 herent cause of mischief still remains. 



Another great objection to ferrules is that sooner or 



