SPLIT CANE PIKE-EODS. 23 



recently made of split cane — bnilt-cane rods they are termed. 

 They are certainly heavier than the rod made of single pieces 

 of bamboo, as East India cane is often called; they cannot 

 stand the wear and tear incident to pike-fishing ; and they are 

 very expensive. For spinning they should be very pleasant to 

 use, and that is all I can say for them. The greenheart rod is 

 an admirable weapon, and lasts a lifetime, but I prefer the 

 rod of East India cane, as it is much lighter, and will, with 

 a little care, last almost as long. It should be between 10ft. 

 and 13ft. in length, according to the height and strength of 

 the angler, and is made, for convenience, in three or four 

 joints. It should have three strong tops of well-seasoned green- 

 heart, the longest the same length as the other 

 joints, the shortest a little less than half that 

 length, and the third very short and stiff. One 

 of these should be contained in the butt, which 

 is frequently hollowed for the purpose. At the 

 end of each top should be one of the rings 

 shown in Fig. 3, which are now, I believe, gene- 

 rally acknowledged to be better suited for their 

 purpose than any other top-ring yet designed. 

 Of course, it is shamefully immodest for me to 

 speak thus of my own invention, but the ring 

 has been so highly praised, and is now used by 

 so many experienced anglers, that I hope I have 

 sufficient grounds for the statement. The ad- 

 vantages of the ring are, shortly, these: It 

 decreases friction by adapting itself to whatever p^^ 3 "Bic- 

 angle the line makes with the rod, and, for the kerdyke" 

 same reason, lessens the likelihood of the top- joint Ring, with 

 getting warped sideways — a common complaint of revolvin^ 

 pike-rods. The line, also, rarely gets badly fouled, phSphor- 

 for, should it get round the top, the ring at once bronze. 

 goes flat, as shown in the engraving, and allows 

 the line (on a jerk being given to the rod) to slip off. For 

 pike-fishing, those made with an interior revolving ring of 

 phosphor-bronze not less than fin. in diameter should be 

 selected. The makers are Messrs. "Warner & Sons, of Redditch. 



