[40 ] 



CHAPTER III. 



Fishing-gear Trout Rods Greenheart Material and Work- 

 manship of Rods Washaba Blue Mahoe Hickory 

 Cane Rods Wear and Tear of Rods Shape of Rods 

 Selection of Rods Mr. Foster's Steel-centred Rods The 

 ' St. Lucas ' Rods Length of Trout Rods Castle-Connell 

 Rods Spliced Rod v. Ferruled Rod Fittings Ferruling 

 Rod Rings Winch Fittings Spears Spare Tops 

 Waxed Silk, etc. Binding a Rod. when Broken How to 

 Wax Silk Patience under Difficulties A Broken Line and 

 how to Splice it A Reel gone wrong Self-help in Diffi- 

 culties Use of Cutting-pliers How to extract a Hook. 



THE list of what may be termed fishing-gear is, 

 even for a fly-fisherman, a somewhat long one, 

 and it is, moreover, absolutely indispensable that 

 each and all of the several articles should be not 

 only practically good, but as good of their kind 

 as it is possible. There is an old saying which 

 I have learned to detest, viz., that 'a bad work- 

 man finds fault with his tools,' for while it is 

 possible that a good workman may be able to 

 make shift with indifferent tools, the reverse is 

 the case in hands unskilful. Nor can a good work- 

 man, be he ever so skilful, make as good a job 

 with bad tools as with good ; it is rather the 



