34 ELASTICITY OF RODS. 



the splices together should be strong plaited silk 

 trolling-line, well waxed, one end of it should be 

 whipped on to the " joint;" and on the "top joint" 

 should be a hitcher, which is a doubled piece of 

 wire, whipped flat, half-way up it, to the rod, to 

 secure the other end when the binding is com- 

 pleted. The binding silk should be long enough 

 to bind the whole splice closely, and a little more. 

 Although the longer the splice is cut, the less 

 liable it is to shift ; yet it is less strong than a 

 shorter one, which, by the whipping of silk as I 

 have before recommended, may hold quite as firm, 

 However, when the two splices are bound together, 

 if, on "holding the whole of it in the grasp of my 

 hand, and shaking the rod, I feel more play in 

 the splice, and, consequently, more weakness 

 than in the upper portions of the top, I make it a 

 rule to unbind the whole, and insert a split quill 

 well-soaked in water, previous to the operation, 

 under the entire length of the binding, which 

 secures strength and elasticity at the same time, 

 just as it does in a coach whip. 



THE ELASTICITY OR DEGREE OF PLIANCY 

 IN A ROD. Now comes a part of the subject 

 which is most difficult to treat ; namely, the de- 

 gree or quantity of elasticity a rod should possess. 

 Observe that whatever is the quantity, the quality 

 must be uniform and gradual from one end to 



