34 FISHING KITS AND EQUIPMENT 



those produced in America are not to be found. If 

 your rod is fitted with good grade, American made 

 ferrules you need not worry about its strength; and, 

 moreover, if you throw it apart in casting, consider it 

 a miracle and let it go at that. It will not happen 

 again. 



Doweled ferrules, formerly the subject of much dis- 

 cussion, are things of the past and not to be found on 

 the best fly-rods of the present time. The fact that 

 they are no longer used is the best argument against 

 them, and we will not go into ancient history. 



Many anglers object to the brightness of German 

 silver ferrules, claiming that the flash of the metal in 

 the sun alarms the fish. Undoubtedly this is true to 

 a certain extent, but its importance is often exag- 

 gerated. The angler who wishes to may have the fer- 

 rules oxidized to his order. Ferrules of German silver 

 will, in time, tarnish to a certain extent, dulling con- 

 siderably. This tarnish can easily be removed, but it 

 is a good plan to let it remain thus doing away with 

 any extreme flashiness of the ferrules. 



The chief consideration in regard to the handgrasp 

 is the material. Handgrasps are commonly made of 

 plain wood, celluloid, wood cord-wound, 

 The Hand- hard ru bber, wood cane-wound, cork 

 graSp ' and "solid cork." All of these ma- 

 terials, with the exception of solid cork, make fairly 

 good grips; solid cork makes the finest possible grip. 

 The rod-buyer should bear in mind that the handgrasp 



