THE PIKE. 23 



does not play as I like to see a rod top play. Greenheart 

 tops have more resistance than lancewood, I am aware, but 

 still I have tried both, and the balance of my opinion goes 

 in favour of lancewood. Twelve feet is a good useful length 

 for a pike rod, particularly for live-baiting or paternoster ing, 

 while eleven feet would be much nicer and easier for spin- 

 ning, and as the top of a live-baiting rod should be a trifle 

 more springy than the top of a spinning rod, I recommend 

 two tops for the various purposes, one the full length of the 

 other joints, and tapered nicely to the point for patemoster- 

 ing or live-baiting, and the other nine or ten inches shorter, 

 and a shade stiffer for spinning. The ferrule on the butt of 

 a three-joint rod of this description should not be less on 

 any account than three-quarters of an inch, while it would be 

 • all the better if it went nearly seven-eighths of an inch, in- 

 side diameter ; while the one on the centre joint should not 

 be smaller than from seven-sixteenths to half-an-inch, mea- 

 suring the diameter inside the ferrule ; and I might add that 

 these ferrules should grip the cane properly, and be fixed over 

 the outside; the cane itself should not on any account be 

 cut away to receive the ferrule. Of course it is better to 

 have brazings at each end of the joint, and also a dowel or 

 tenon that fits the hole inside the cane fairly and well, and 

 this tenon that projects beyond the brass counter at bottom 

 of the joints can also be brazed if the angler likes, as it 

 would be less liable to stick tight in when wet. This matter 

 of fitting the joints of a pike rod with properly fitting ferrules 

 and tenons is of more importance than some amateurs would 

 think, because if these joints did not fit tight and close up, 

 the strain of constantly throwing would bend the ferrule out 

 of its proper shape, and the rod look like a dog's hind leg. 

 I should say that the average weight of a weapon of this 

 class would go something like 22 oz. It is diflficult to lay 

 down a hard and fast rule, as the cane varies somewhat; 

 some rods might run up to 25 oz., while a similar one, as far 

 as outside measurements were concerned, would only total 

 up to 19 or 20 oz. The rings also should be a matter of 

 consideration, and they should be fixed on the rod in such a 

 manner and be of such a size that the line, no matter in 

 what manner or style the bait is thrown, should run freely 



