THE ART OF FLY FISHING. S73 



wood, greenheart, iron wood, cane, or mahoe wood,* may be in- 

 trinsically better than a rod of split bamboo, but the desi made 

 split bamboo is the superior of the best made rods of the other 

 material, in our private opinion either for bait or fly fishing, for the 

 reason that it combines the qualities of all the rest, with lightness 

 added, affording the angler the most sport for his efforts. 



This quality of lightness is a most appreciable desideratum, es- 

 pecially in a salmon rod, and a not trifling advantage to the angler 

 who has a whole day's work before him. As every veteran knows, 

 each additional ounce tells painfully in the long run on arms, back, 

 and shoulders. Abstractly, there is no better rod than the West 

 India cane in its crude native state ; but as this is inconvenient to 

 carry, on account of its great length, ingenuity has contrived a 

 jointed rod which occupies a comparatively small space. Besides, 

 in any given entire cane there are liable to be flaws, which impair 

 its strength and effectiveness ; but by using its choicest parts, which 

 are sawed out and fitted together and firmly whipped with silk, the 

 manufacturer is enabled to produce an implement as perfect as it is 

 possible to make. In trout rods this quality of lightness is really 

 not so essential, and it is not unusual to find professional experts 

 who prefer a rod made of some other material than bamboo. 



As we have said, rods are made in joints or sections simply for 

 convenience ; but as the metal ferrules, being stiff and unyielding, 

 impair the uniform elasticity and play of the rod, there is a growing 

 tendency in salmon fishers to have as few joints and as few ferrules 

 as possible. Hence we find some eighteen feet rods made of only 

 two pieces, and united by a splice, the parts that join being bevelled 

 and firmly lashed together when in use by a waxed end, the ferrule 



* The best bamboo used for rods comes from Calcutta. The bamboo usually 

 sold at country stores is a reed, or else the Chinese or Japanese variety. The 

 Calcutta cane is clouded ; the others are yellow. Greenheart and lancewood are 

 imported chiefly from Demerara and the West Indies generally. The former is 

 heavy and very tough ; the latter lighter and possibly more brittle. Mahoe wood 

 is indigenous to Cuba, and is used for the springs of volantes. Sometimes, though 

 seldom, angling rods are made wholly of greenheart, or even of lancewood, 

 though the latter is generally preferred for tips ; ash, basswood, and greenheart 

 are used for first and second joints. Split bamboo rods frequently have lance- 

 wood tips. These woods are imported in log by Terhune, of Canal street, this 

 city, and one or two other dealers. It is difficult to find a stick or cane fit to make 

 rods of. (See article elsewhere.) 



