14 now RODS SHOULD BE BRAZED. 



according to finish, length, and number of pieces. 

 Spare and rent tops and small-pieces materially 

 add to the value, and, of course, to the price of 

 the rod. I am not partial to spliced joints ; they 

 are troublesome, unsafe, and do not make amends 

 by any extra pliancy or lightness. I prefer joints 

 that are single brazed, and to them I prefer 

 double-brazed ones. The brazing of the shoulders 

 and tongues of joints is now done to such perfec- 

 tion, that no material additional weight is super- 

 induced, whilst the fitting into the ferules is more 

 exact, and, consequently, the shaking or loosen- 

 ing of joints is more effectually avoided. Single 

 brazing is only fit for light rods, and if the wood 

 be thoroughly seasoned, and the tongues accu- 

 rately adjusted in the ferules, I should have no 

 objection to it. I am decidedly opposed to what 

 are called '^ whippy " rods. The line may be 

 rolled on to the water with them, but they fail in 

 straight or round shoulder casts. They also carry 

 heavy lines and large flies badly. Some people, 

 when they try London rods in the shops, deem 

 them too stiff; but this is a fault on the right 

 side, if the material is good and accurately 

 worked up, because a day or two of successful 

 salmon-fishing will do away with the superfluous 

 stiffness, and reduce the rod to appropriate 



