ROD, REEL, AND LINE 53 



time the ferrules become loose. Now, when a ferrule 

 becomes loose, even slightly so, which may happen 

 without the owner of the rod noticing the change, 

 the wood within its grip is in a position like that of 

 a walnut within a pair of crackers. Suddenly, when 

 in use, the rod will fall in two. It does not need a 

 heavy fish to bring about the calamity. When a 

 rod shows signs of overwork, it is not from battling 

 with fish that it has suffered. Weakness or lack 

 of straightness has been brought about by long 

 struggles with its own weight and with the atmo- 

 sphere. A rod is subjected to considerable strain 

 in the simple act of your throwing a line into 

 the water or drawing it out. All of the few 

 breakages which I myself have suffered, instead of 

 happening at the instance of fish, have been on such 

 occasions. They were pieces of greenheart that gave 

 way. My three built-cane rods, the oldest of which 

 has been in use for nine seasons, are still inviolate. 

 The centerings of steel, while contributing to the 

 good result, do not altogether account for the tough- 

 ness of these rods. That is due mainly to their 

 natural constitution. Their outer surfaces have 

 never been touched by saw, or plane, or file. The 

 skin, which is the hardest part of the wood, is 

 retained. Moisture does not penetrate, and the 

 material does not rot. The cane itself seems never 

 to shrink by a hairVbreadth. The ferrules are as 

 firm as they would be if they were natural and 

 inseparable growths. 



The apparently invincible strength of the steel- 



