170 Fly -rods and Fly -tackle. 



I have used hard shoemaker's wax, gas-fittter's red- 

 wax, engraver's wax, marine glue, Bottom's cement, gut- 

 ta-percha gum, and shellac. The latter is most common- 

 ly used in scales, not in solution unless it be very thick. 

 The desiderata are a cement which will melt and release 

 the ferrule at a low temperature, but which will other- 

 wise hold fast. At the edge of the ferrules is the weak- 

 est part of the rod, and there at least three out of five 

 I think it would be safe to say four out of five breaks 

 occur. To be able to repair such damage with the aid 

 of a few matches and a pocket-knife, and to resume fish- 

 ing promptly, is therefore very important. Even though 

 this could be had but at the cost of ten times the time 

 and trouble at home, the difference of occasion and facil- 

 ity considered, it would still be cheap. During the win- 

 ter, ferrules so fastened are apt to become loose, particu- 

 larly if the rod has been kept in a heated room. But 

 ten minutes' work at the beginning of the open season 

 will remedy all that. If you have the ability to make a 

 rod, you certainly can reset the ferrules on that rod. 



Shellac melts at rather a high temperature for our 

 purpose, and the same may be said of Bottom's cement. 

 Shoemaker's wax and gas-fitter's wax I have used with 

 satisfaction. They melt easily, and will hold through 

 the season, at any rate, very well. Marine glue a com- 

 pound of rubber and shellac is better than either, but 

 expensive and difficult to obtain. But gutta-percha gum 

 seems to quite " fill the bill," and is easily to be had. It 

 melts at a low heat, is extremely adhesive, and sufficient- 

 ly elastic to admit of considerable expansion and con- 

 traction of the wood without losing its hold. Any 

 dentist can supply the little you will require, or you 

 can go to your shoemaker for some of the cement used 



