iij and hip-briar ; but the 

 hickary which we import from America, 

 far excels cither of them, nor is it fur- 

 palTed by any wood that I know, ex- 

 cept the bamboo or hollow cane, which 

 we receive from the Weft Indies. In 

 making a top of the latter, care fhould 

 be taken to prefervc the outride, that 

 being the moil elaftic part of it. 



I cannot quit this fubjett without ad- 

 vifmg you to avoid a cuftom that is fo 

 prevalent, of loading top rods with 

 eight or ten inches of whalebone ; why 

 fuch a whim became adopted 1 am at 

 a lofs to tell, and that fo many intelli- 

 gent anglers continue to follow it, is ftill 

 more aftonifhing ; a good top rod fhould 

 be light and elaftic, whereas whalebone 

 is dull, heavy, and much too flexible. 



As moifture is at all times deftruftive 

 to wood, it is neceftary to guard a- 

 gainPc its influence on your rod as much 

 as poffible ; although a fhower of rain 

 will not quite ipoil it ; unlefs- it is pro^ 



teded 



