512 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



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inside wood which is of practically no elasticity. The 



weapon, from butt to tip, is composed of strips cut from the 



large butts of the bamboo-cane. These are glued together, 



and whipped with silk at intervals, and are of course tapered 



perfectly to allow of the maximum of strength, lightness and 

 resiliency. 



E | The Trout-fly Rod is used usually in the 



single hand that is, two hands are not taken 

 to it for its manipulation. The reason for this 

 probably is the fact that the rivers in which 

 the Brook-trout is found are for the most 

 part really brooks as to size, and the largei, 

 heavier and longer fly-rod is not necessary 

 to command the water. Hence the Trout-fly 

 rod in ordinary use in America is seldom 

 more than eleven feet long, and from three 

 and one-fourth to ten ounces in weight. 

 The three and one-fourth rod is admirably 

 adapted for ladies, and the ten-ounce rod for 

 gentlemen who prefer a heavy weapon, because 

 of some inherited fancy; but I personally pre- 

 fer a seven-ounce as the happy medium. One 

 should be able to wield such a rod for weeks 

 without undue fatigue: I have'eertainly done so. 

 It is difficult, if not impossible, to convey an 

 accurate idea on paper, either by diagram or 

 description, of the appearance of such a rod. 

 Fig. i will give an idea of the proportion pre- 

 served, and the following are the measurements: 

 length of each joint, three and one-half feet; 

 diameter of handle, one inch; diameter just 

 n above swell of handle, six-sixteenths; diameter 



Fig. i. at point just below first ferrule, five-sixteenths; 

 above first ferrule, five sixteenths; below second ferrule, 

 three-sixteenths; above second ferrule, three-sixteenths; end 



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