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it is too weighty. To the fly-fisher of muscular 

 wrist and arm, we recommend it as the least 

 objectionable of all materials. The buts of 

 the greater part of modern fly-rods are made 

 of willow, and, perhaps, for the generality of 

 fly-fishers, the material of that tree is the most 

 appropriate. It is a lighter wood than that 

 of the ash, and is, within a shade or two, 

 equally springy and pliable; and though we 

 give the preference to ash, on account of early 

 habit, and on account of possessing, chiefly in 

 consequence of long practice in wielding the 

 rod, beyond the average muscularity of arm, 

 still we recommend to most anglers, and to all 

 beginners, the but made of willow. The two 

 middle joints of the rod should invariably 

 we heed not the assertions of many authorities 

 against us be made of hickory, and not of 

 lance-wood, which is more generally recom- 

 mended by writers, and which is, as any one 

 may perceive by comparing them, heavier, 

 less firm, and yet less elastic than hickory. 

 The top joint, two of which should belong, to 

 guard against casualties, to every rod, should 

 be made of bamboo-cane, and of nothing else, 

 since no other material, as yet tried, has been 

 found in any degree equal to it. We have been 

 speaking of a four-jointed rod. Should your 

 rod be of five joints, or even of the unusual, 



