WET FLY FISHING, ETC. 129 



can with very little loss of time and without difficulty repair 

 the most serious fracture or injury. 



The best plan to adopt to meet such emergencies is to 

 have in your creel a roll of quarter-inch adhesive plaster 

 and a few strong quills. By splitting the quills and opening 

 them out they can be used as splints, and with the adhesive 

 plaster will effectually repair the broken rod. 



If the rod be a cane one, it will not be likely to break, 

 but merely to spring, most often in two or three segments 

 on one side. In such a case, place two quills on the weaker 

 side of the rod and one on the other. These, combined with 

 a good strong whipping of the plaster, will render your rod 

 perfectly fit for use. If you care to make a neater job 

 when you reach your fishing quarters at night, a little hot 

 water will loosen the plaster, and you can then make a 

 more perfect mend of the break, sufficient indeed to last 

 until you see your rod-maker again. 



It may be necessary to place more than one layer of the 

 quills on the rod, but as they fit closely together and are 

 very light, they do not interfere with the pleasurable use of 

 the rod. The quills can be softened by soaking them in 

 hot water. 



If you have not broken a part of your own rod, others 

 may not have been so lucky, and you can help them, and, 

 as the revered father of Huck Finn said, " a good action 

 ain't never forgot." 



The value of this method of splicing or fishing a rod is 

 that it is usable directly the plaster whipping has been 

 applied. 



HINTS. WHIPPING A BROKEN ROD 



When adhesive plaster is not obtainable the whipping 

 should be made with strong waxed thread or silk, and 

 finished as the whipping at the end of a rope is finished by 



10 



