Rod-making. 183 



strain imposed at the same point, under like conditions, 

 upon a like single-piece unjointed rod. 



Therefore, fracture at those points should be more 

 common than at others ; and that such is the fact every 

 one knows. Our theory tells us such should be the result 

 our experience shows such is the result. Therefore, it 

 would seem the theory has stood the regulation verifica- 

 tion by experiment, and that it may be safely accepted 

 as sound. 



A dowelled ferrule must of necessity be long ; a sim- 

 ple ferrule may and should be short. Wherefore it again 

 appears the verdict must be against the dowel. 



But it may be justly urged, the simple ferrule is not 

 new; Thaddeus Norris used it years ago, and advocated 

 it in his most excellent book " The American Angler." 

 You have had your say against the dowelled ferrule. 

 What do its adherents, who, you admit, are the large 

 majority of anglers, charge against the simple ferrule? 



They charge that the simple ferrule will work loose 

 and throw apart, or bend, or burst open when subjected 

 to a sudden strain. It must be admitted that in the first 

 charge they have the inferential support of no less an 

 authority than Mr. Norris himself ; for though silent in 

 words, he nevertheless recommends and figures in his 

 book ferrules provided with small hooks, so that they can 

 be lashed together obviously to guard against this acci- 

 dent. 



These are the standing and only objections of those 

 who favor the dowelled ferrule; and, if answerable, they 

 should be met. They have each, however, one inherent 

 weak point. They are each and every of them devoid of 

 truth. 



