Rod-making. 179 



fitted to end of joint, wooden dowel within, and on which 

 the metal dowel is fitted, boring out recess to receive 

 dowel, and lining same with metal. 



The simple ferrule and its mate are two pieces of plain 

 tubing, one fitted to enter the other. As the male fer- 

 rule in either case may or may not be capped, such cap 

 is not included in the above enumeration. 



Therefore it is clear that, as far as cheapness of con- 

 struction is concerned, the dowelled ferrule is at a disad- 

 vantage. 



3d. It will not be questioned that a large majority of 

 breakages take place at the ferrules. Nor will facility 

 of repair be lightly valued by any one who has once 

 met with this accident when distant from the repairer, 

 and after a considerable journey to his favorite stream. 



To repair the dowelled ferrule on the ground, in camp, 

 or at such lodgings as trouting regions usually afford, 

 presents these difficulties. If the break is above the male 

 ferrule, it becomes necessary to shorten the rod by the 

 length of both dowel and ferrule, to say nothing of ex- 

 tracting the broken wood from the metal parts, and the 

 nice fitting required to make even a temporary success 

 of the job. If the ferrule is secured by that abomination, 

 a pin, the difficulty is increased. It must be borne in 

 mind that not only must the wooden spike, upon which 

 the metal dowel is to be placed, be made central and in 

 line with the axis of the rod, but it must fill the metal 

 nearly or quite its whole length, and also fit tight therein. 

 Otherwise, in the first case, the rod will not come together 

 so as to be safe against that most disgusting mishap of 

 throwing apart ; while in the second case, when the rod 

 is un jointed, the metal dowel will remain behind in its 

 socket. 



