TACKLE AND FISHING GEAR. 67 



rods in the Fisheries Exhibition (' Field,' October 27, 1883), 

 he observes that ' this is always the case sooner or later with 

 these hand-made rods for salmon ; but if eleven years' experi- 

 ence with them be admitted sufficient, I may say that the rods 

 made with the machinery used by Messrs. Hardy, who obtained 

 the first prize for these split-cane rods at the Fisheries Exhibi- 

 tion, for cutting the cane perfectly true, obviate the difficulty 

 satisfactorily.' 



The ordinary butts of split-cane rods, as well as the upper 

 joints, are hexagonal, and are simply made of six V-shaped 

 strips, glued together in the manner described. In the highest 

 class of rods, however, the butt is built double, as shown in the 

 engraving (fig. 2), both the centre and external wall being con- 



FIG. 2. FIG. 3. 



structed of separate layers of the hardest part of the cane. The 

 centre is made first in the usual way, and after it has dried the 

 second, or external, layer or wall is built up round it. Messrs. 

 Hardy inform me that although the labour and expense involved 

 in this double construction are, of course, infinitely greater, the 

 strength gained by the process is enhanced to such an important 

 degree that they make all their split-cane salmon rods in this 

 fashion as to the thicker parts. Fig. 3 shows the structure of 

 all the lighter and upper joints of the rod. 



Complaints have often been made to me that the ordinary 

 split-cane rod is deficient in casting power as against a wind, 

 and I must say that my experience tends to confirm the truth 

 of the statement. In order to meet this objection, however, 

 Messrs. Hardy and a few other manufacturers have endeavoured 



