74 SALMON AND TROUT. 



This ' Irish joint,' as I will call it, had three good points 

 the opening of the jointure being from below the rod, drippings 

 would not easily find their way into the joint ; the ferrule, 

 which is large enough to fit the larger joint, being attached 

 instead to the smaller, there is no cutting away of the latter at 

 what is always the weak point in the rod joint ; and, lastly, by 

 the joint being eventually fastened in its socket with a screw 

 the precipitate partings between the different joints, above 

 alluded to, were, of course, entirely obviated. The fault of the 

 fastening is the weakness of the ferrule, inherent or accidental, 

 and the fact that owing to its having to be slipped over, and 

 twisted easily round on, the larger joint, there is always some 

 slight sensation of ' movement,' or play, of the ferrule at this 

 point. 



A decided advance on the Irish system above described, 

 though working, to some extent, upon similar grooves, is the 

 waterproof registered rod fastening (see diagram) brought out by 

 Messrs. Watson & Sons, of High Holborn. Fig. 4 shows 

 jointure before attachment, and fig. 3 the joint when fixed in 

 position. The ferrule, as in the case of the Irish rod, is 

 attached to the smaller joint, the attachment, however, being 

 made by accuracy of fitting and not by any screws or rivets. 

 The weak point, if any, in this ingenious fastening would 

 appear to be at the ferrule of the lower joir.t. Messrs. Watson, 

 however, assure me that it is found in practice to make an 

 exceedingly strong rod. In common with the Irish rod it has 

 the advantage of keeping the water drippings to a great extent 

 out of the joint. 



Another rod fastening possessing this latter advantage in 

 combination with some other very excellent points, is the in- 

 vention, whether patented or not I am not quite sure, of 

 Messrs. R. Anderson & Sons, of Edinburgh and Dunkeld. The 

 upper ferrule is double (ride fig. 5 in engraving), having a sort 

 of external sheath, into which the upper inch or so of the lower 

 ferrule slips, and is twisted to its place by the hand. It fits 

 closely, and I can well believe Mr. Anderson's assurance that 



