72 SALMON AND TROUT. 



Messrs. Foster, of Ashbourne, Derbyshire, make a very 

 simple but quite efficient fitting the ' Hold-all 'for trouting 

 and other light rods. Especially suitable for cork handles. 



' HOLD-ALL' FITTING. 



The principle here is the same as that of the * Weeger ' or 

 other Wedge-fasts, but the actual fittings are lightened as 

 much as possible for use with very light rods. 



There are several other variations of the more modern 

 reel-fittings having similar objects to the three examples 

 illustrated, but I think these embrace the most generally 

 important features common to all the others, and leave nothing 

 to be desired either on the score of neatness or efficiency. 



RODS. 



With regard to fly rods I shall say but little. Quot homines 

 tot sententia. Some fly fishers like hickory, others prefer green- 

 heart, or lancewood. Some like a rod made all of one wood, 

 others give the preference to a rod with the butt of one sort of 

 wood and the top joints of another, and a great many of 

 the modern school, especially those with whom price is not a 

 matter of importance, have given in their adhesion to the 

 spliced-cane rods, which are supposed to owe their origin to 

 our enterprising cousins on the other side of the ' Herring 

 Pond.' 



In the * form ' of the rod again, as in regard to the wood 

 of which it may be constructed, it is rare to find two fishermen 

 of the same opinion. Many still hold to the old-fashioned 

 straight-butted rod, which tapered away with almost mathemati - 



