THE BAIT-CASTING ROD 25 



ably to division. I came near saying that you might 

 cut it up into coat-pocket lengths without harm, 

 though that is nonsense. Take that Bristol No. 33 

 as an illustration: three joints 18 inches long, and a 

 handle 1 2 l / 4 ; when assembled the rod is exactly 4 

 feet, ii inches in length, called for convenience a 

 5 foot rod. (Of course it can be secured in other 

 lengths.) If the reader has been figuring upon the 

 length of each joint, he may wonder where so many 

 inches are lost; but when informed that the female 

 ferrules chamber 2 l / 2 inches each, the enigma is 

 solved; a fact, by the way, which adds greatly to the 

 strength of the rod. Strictly speaking the steel rod 

 is ferruleless, for one can not call the strengthening 

 phospher-bronze bands ferrules. The rod of which 

 I write is in no sense an "iron pole," nor yet is it 

 cheap; sells, I believe, for $15.00, German silver 

 and agate mounted. "If it breaks"? Of course 

 there is ever that haunting fear. But suppose the 

 horse should run away, suppose the auto should turn 

 turtle, the train go into the ditch, the boat sink, etc., 

 etc. I have never broken a steel rod, but I have 

 always used good ones. Do not buy a department- 

 store, 99 cent rod. 



There is a steel caster upon the market called the 

 "De Luxe" which should be mentioned here, though 

 in truth it deserves more than mere mention. It is 

 rightly named. It is de luxe from tip-top to butt- 

 cap. The makers have spared no pains to produce 



