44 ROD AND RIVER 



more so even than greenheart. Blue Mahoe is 

 also another excellent wood for rods, and has of 

 late years been much used for the purpose. 



Hickory is, of all such woods, the lightest; 

 but if ever so well seasoned, it fails to preserve 

 its shape as perfectly as the other woods. It 

 is otherwise most charming for rods. This 

 one drawback is, however, an insuperable one. 

 I have a salmon- rod made of hickory in my 

 possession, and it is excellent for grilse ; but it 

 is all shapes, and I detest the sight of it. It 

 is, however, so light that I can use it throughout 

 a long day without feeling the least tired. 



Of the four woods which I have enumerated, 

 I pin my faith to a good honest greenheart ; and 

 if I cannot kill fish with such a rod provided 

 it is well made as well as and better than with 

 any other, the fault is my own. 



.Though I have not included it in the list of 

 woods used for rods, there is another material 

 which has of late years found general favour, 

 viz., cane. I do not own a cane rod myself, 

 for two reasons : firstly, because such rods are 

 very costly ; and secondly, because, though I 

 have frequently used them for a short time, at 

 the solicitation of friends who have now and 

 again requested me to try their rods, I have, 

 with but two exceptions, never found any of 

 them quite to my liking. One of these excep- 



