248 Fly-rods and Fly-tacJde. 



such the dowel is absolutely indispensable, since it alone 

 steadies the end of the entering joint and prevents it 

 from shaking. I cannot but think this a vicious con- 

 struction, if for no other reason, because it offers not the 

 slightest advantage over the cylindrical ferrule, while a 

 break of the kind under consideration at once disables 

 the rod beyond immediate repair. 



NOVICE. One other question : bamboo is so dense and 

 flinty that I should think it difficult successfully to mend 

 such a rod by splicing. Am I correct in this ? 



ANGLER. Partly so. Tips may be repaired without 

 difficulty, and a break in the upper portion of the second 

 joint is not hopeless. But I have never been able to 

 make a splice stand in the lower half of such a rod, though 

 I have tried repeatedly. The splices must then be made 

 extra long, and well scored; and with this the user must 

 rest content until he can replace the broken joint by a 

 new one. His rod will then hang together and can be 

 fished with, but he will find its action so impaired that 

 its use w T ill give little pleasure. Does any other question 

 occur to you ? 



NOVICE. No, I think of nothing more. 



ANGLER. Then let us replace that ring on your rod. 

 But I see you have lost the end ring from your tip as 

 well. 



NOVICE. Oh, never mind that; I have another one. 



ANGLER. We may just as well do both, and then at 

 some future time you will be able to aid or instruct some 

 brother angler in both of these particulars. 



If we had some spare rings, or even some small copper 

 or brass wire, it would help matters ; but as neither of 

 these is at hand we must resort to pins for our material. 

 You see I insert the points of these pins in a stick, and 



