FISHING ROD HISTORY 25 



and wound with silk. Unfortunately he died 

 before succeeding in his efforts to interest a 

 manufacturer in his work. 



In America not much attention has been paid 

 to steel centers or steel whipping for rods. One 

 firm makes a steel center rod, and another one 

 at one time wound both wood and split bam- 

 boo rods with copper or bronze ribbons in much 

 the same manner employed abroad in winding 

 with double spirals of steel. I have fished with 

 one of these metal-whipped rods, and must say 

 it has merit, for with it a fly can be cast very 

 prettily, and it is no doubt strong, but to one 

 accustomed to an ordinary split bamboo it has 

 an action which, while pleasant, is peculiarly 

 its own. Without wishing to disparage these 

 methods of strengthening rods, for my own use 

 I prefer plain whipping with narrow bands of 

 fine silk at intervals of three-fourths to one and 

 one-half inches, and believe these are sufficient 

 for any rod of the class generally made in the 

 United States. 



As previously stated, attempts to strengthen 

 rods by winding them solidly with silk have 

 been made here during the last half century, 

 but while it is claimed for these rods that they 

 seldom break and will withstand severe strain, 

 I would not advise the amateur to attempt solid 



