64 SALMON AND TROUT. 



of all shapes and sizes. The hinder end of the foot plate of 

 the reel is pushed under a fixed band or clasp having a gradually 

 widening orifice upwards, and of course a narrowing one down- 

 wards in other words, it is wedged in penetrating deeply 

 or only a little way according to its size and thickness, but 

 in any case being held or jammed perfectly fast in its place. 

 The upper band, or clasp, is then slid down over the upper 

 end of the reel foot plate, which thus becomes inmovably 

 fixed. A diagram of this reel fastening is appended, in the 

 form in which it was originally exhibited. At my suggestion, 

 however, the patentees have now arranged the bottom clasp so 

 as to completely embrace the circumference of the butt, thus 

 both adding to its completeness in the matter of strength, 

 and at the same time improving its general sightliness. 



I am not, as a rule, a believer in ' finality ' in regard to 

 mechanical inventions, but I must say that as the above fasten- 

 ing fulfils every requirement which the most exigeant can demand, 

 I am really inclined to think that for once, in this particular 

 at any rate, fishing tackle has really arrived at perfection. 



With regard to fly rods I shall say but little. Qt/ot homines 

 tot sententice. Some fly fishers like hickory, others prefer green- 

 heart, or lancewood. Some like a rod made all of one wood, 

 others give the preference to a rod with the butt of one sort of 

 wood and the top joints of another. One good fly fisher, at 

 least, I have known who never used anything but a bamboo 

 rod, made ' swishy ' as to the middle joints, and a great many of 

 the modern school, especially those with whom price is not a 

 matter of importance, have given in their adhesion to the 

 spliced-cane rods, which are supposed to owe their origin to 

 our enterprising cousins on the other side of the ' Herring 

 Pond.' 



In the ' form ' of the rod again, as in regard to the wood 

 of which it may be constructed, it is rare to find two fishermen 

 of the same opinion. Many still hold to the old-fashioned 

 straight-butted rod, which tapered away with almost mathemati- 



