SALMON FLY ROD, KEEL, &c. 43 



form of a hexagon, as shown in the illustrations 

 noticed, but are also built octagonal and nonagonal, 

 as may be seen in Figs. 12 and 13, both single 

 and double, with or without the steel centre. 



Such, then, is the composition of the best rods 

 used by anglers of the present day, and there 

 is a great sense of security in their use, as one 

 may essay the most difficult or long cast with- 

 out fear of the rod coming to grief. You may 

 fail in your cast, or tire of the exertion necessary 

 to reach some far-off fish, but need never fear 

 the sudden smash, consequent on catching a twig 

 or branch, which is so fatal to wood rods. 



The handle of the rod, or, to speak more 

 correctly, the thickening up of the butt to form 

 the grasp for the hands, is made by increasing 

 the bamboo, which is then covered with pig- 

 skin or cork ; the latter being most in favour, as 

 it gives a sufficiently firm grip with a little spring 

 in it, and never feels cold even when wet. A 

 composition of ground cork cemented together is 

 sometimes used on cheap rods, but is very much 

 inferior to natural cork, and only employed where 

 really fine sheets of cork cannot be obtained, or 

 properly manipulated. These sheets are cemented 

 round the bamboo, and turned true and smooth 

 on a high-speed lathe. 



The rings or line guides are of many forms, 

 but the old-fashioned loose ring is seldom used. 



