NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLY-FISHING. 447 



they are, I believe, seldom in more than three pieces. 

 The butt-end is generally an ash-sapling, sometimes solid, 

 and at others hollowed out to receive the small joints. 

 The middle joints are almost always made of hickory, and 

 the top joint either of lancewood alone, or of that wood, 

 spliced with the bamboo and strengthened with silk. 

 Many of the best and lightest fly-rods are now made, ex- 

 cept the butt-end, from rent and glued bamboo ; and none 

 are more beautiful and efficient than these if properly used ; 

 but they are very fragile in careless hands, and therefore 

 scarcely fitted for the young angler. The reel is either 

 simple, with a large drum or central barrel, or otherwise. 

 The multiplier is made with a series of wheels, which are 

 intended to give out and take in the line more rapidly than 

 the simple machine. In this desirable point, I am satisfied 

 that the object is attained much more completely by the 

 simple large drum ; for though the multiplier is very 

 pretty in theory, yet in practice it is constantly failing in 

 its powers when tested by a strong fish. Besides this, the 

 large drum actually gives out line much faster than the 

 multiplier, and has therefore that point in its favor ; while 

 in taking it in, he must be a bungler indeed who cannot 

 wind the winch or handle rapidly enough to do all which 

 he wishes to effect ; and it is quite certain, that what is 

 done is better and more smoothly done in this way than 

 by the aid of wheels and cogs, which are liable to jerks 

 and interruptions. Upon this reel is wound from 30 

 to 80 yards of line, varying with the rod and the fish, 

 for which it is to be used. Thus the smaller fish, includ- 

 ing the ordinary run of common trout and the gray- 



