SPLICED ROD v. FERRULED 55 



been frequently told that there is nothing like a 

 spliced rod, and I have tried hard to believe 

 it, and to like them. But each time I use 

 them I am more confirmed in my opinion 

 regarding them. There has been no fault in 

 the splicing, for such has been most carefully 

 done, and every chance has been given to the rod 

 to work its very best. They always seem to me 

 to be wanting in recovering power ; they are too 

 pliant. They are very sensitive, and whether 

 made for salmon or trout, are first-rate when a fish 

 is hooked, and they exhibit great power ; but 

 there ever seems to me to be something wanting 

 when it comes to using them, and especially in 

 heavy wind. I may be called a rank heretic 

 for having such opinions, still more so for ven- 

 tilating them.. Nevertheless that for casting I 

 prefer the ferruled rods, I am well aware that 

 they do not and cannot last as long as spliced, 

 and whenever there is a ferrule there must be a 

 certain amount of weakness. I grant such is the 

 case, and also that a ferruled rod when bent 

 cannot describe as perfect an arc as one which is 

 spliced. But all the same these very joints seem 

 to me to afford the rigidity which I miss in a 

 spliced rod. I will go even further than this in 

 my heresy, and state that I actually prefer a four- 

 jointed rod to one with three joints. I hope my 

 reader will not infer that I should therefore prefer 



