ALWAYS USE THE BEST TACKLE. 



159 



TROUTIXG TACKLE. 



Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4. Split bamboo trout-rod and click reel. The hand-hold above the 

 reel is either velvet or plain wood. This trout-rod is eminently American ; joints 

 and rings of German silver, the rings gradually diminishing in size from butt to 

 top. A spliced top joint is to be preferred. 5. Wicker-basket with padlock, and 

 plate for owner's name ; sliding shoulder-pad 011 the strap. 6. Tin bait-box, paint- 

 ed, perforated lid, and waist-belt. The strap is sometimes so made as to connect 

 with the basket-strap, when the box is worn or left off, at the option of the wearer. 

 In case of connecting the bait-strap with the basket-strap, the basket is supported 

 by the left shoulder, and the bait-strap attaches at the waist, so that the right arm 

 is entirely free for casting. 7. Fly-book with leaves of Bristol-board, or other stiff 

 material, to which are attached short ends of elastic, with a hook to attach a loop, 

 and a ring at the other end of the leaf for the hook. This plan of carrying flies 

 without bending the gut was invented by Mr. Hutchiuson, of Utica, New York, and 

 the cards may either be attached to the book or laid in as leaves, so that the angler 

 may merely take a single leaf of selected flies, and place it in his pocket-book for a 

 day's fishing. 8. Landing-net. Rim of hollow brass wire. Meshes large and of 

 not too fine twine. Handle formed of two joints which screw together, or made so 

 that the joint connected with the net will slide into the butt. Thw oval shape of 

 rim is better than the round one. 



MODERN SPLICE FOR FLY RODS. 



A correspondent of the FIELD (London), January 4,1868, 

 described the modern splice, and gave it his name of the 

 " Robinson Splice," but since then several contributors claim 

 to have used the same splice many years ; and the reason for 

 giving it to my readers is that every angler, when writing 

 upon it, commends it. It is generally used for splices of sal- 

 mon-rods, but I can not see why it would not be equally use- 

 ful for splicing the top joint of a trout-rod. The following 

 is the description : " The splice is of the ordinary length, with 

 a small, thin rim, or flat ring of brass at the thick end of each 



