172 Fly -rods and Fly -tackle. 



friend bought one of his rods, and the very first fish he 

 caught and it wasn't longer than your hand it broke;" 

 or, " after he had used it one season it was crooked as a 

 ram's horn," etc. The facts in such cases are usually 

 true, but they are not unfrequently cases of partial truth 

 only. If you knew in the one case that the fish struck 

 when the rod was perpendicular, so that it could not 

 bend ; or in the other, that the rod was habitually left 

 standing or lying supported on the butt and tip alone, 

 or kept bent month after month in a bag tied tight 

 around the middle, you would draw quite a different 

 inference. To such of my readers as wish to buy and 

 do not care to make, I would say that that maker who 

 has a reputation, will do his best to maintain it. If he 

 once turned out good work, competition will force him 

 to do so still. If he has the skill, you may be sure he 

 will use it. No one knows better than he that one bad 

 rod will do him more harm than a hundred, first-class 

 in every respect, will benefit him ; and if he sells the 

 rod with his name upon it, he believes it, and chances 

 are ninety -nine out of a hundred you will find it, all 

 right, as far as concealed defects are concerned. 



During this digression you are supposed to have fast- 

 ened your ferrules, for which you have had ample time. 

 Now, take your scraper with the semicircular notches, 

 and proceed to round your rod. This is soon done. 

 Joint your rod, put the butt joint to the handle, and with 

 reel in place see how it feels. If any ferrule is not in 

 line, warm and straighten it if you can. If you cannot, 

 set the rod so the crook is uppermost, i.e., so that the rod 

 sets upward from the straight line. If too withy, shorten 

 the middle joint at the small end an inch or two, and try 

 it again. A very little change here makes a great differ- 



