296 ROD AND RIVER 



A good salmon-rod costs about ^3, whether 

 spliced or ferruled. 



For salmon-fishing a spliced rod, when well 

 put together, is charming to use ; but the 

 splices require to be very carefully bound ; 

 and this, unless the rod can be kept up 

 throughout the season, is a nuisance. I do 

 not think I like spliced salmon-rods any better 

 than those which are ferruled, but I like them 

 equally well. For trout-fishing I prefer the 

 latter, for the reasons I have assigned in the 

 portion of this work which has reference to 

 them. 



There is a very great difference of opinion as 

 to whether ' standing rings ' are preferable for 

 use on a salmon-rod to the ordinary * lay-down ' 

 patterns. Personally speaking, I think there is 

 no comparison between the two, and I should 

 never adopt the lay down if I could procure the 

 former ; but the pattern should be that known as 

 the 'snake.' The topmost ring should be of 

 steel, with an inner revolving ring. This arrange- 

 ment prevents the line wearing away the ring at 

 one particular spot, as the inner one can be turned 

 round. 



Every salmon-rod should be provided with an 

 india-rubber button screwed into the butt, as the 

 ordinary wooden buttons are apt to make the thigh 

 sore, and also to slip when the rod has to be held 



