34. FLOATING FLIES 



and safety of the plain suction ferrules with 

 which their rods are fitted, employ no other 

 sort. 



German silver is also the best material for 

 the reel-seat. It should perhaps be noted that 

 " German silver " is a substance varying con- 

 siderably in strength, appearance, and merit as 

 applied to use on the fly-rod; the best ferrules 

 and reel-seats of this material are hand wrought 

 and drawn to almost steel-like hardness. The 

 writer would not advise a "skeleton" reel- 

 seat for use on any fly-rod for fishing either 

 wet or dry. 



It is generally conceded by experienced fly- 

 casters and rod-makers that the very best hand- 

 grasp for the fly-rod is of solid cork, formed 

 by closely fitting a number of thick cork rings 

 over a wooden core. Cheap rods have hand- 

 grasps of thin cork sheathing glued over a form 

 of wood about the most unsatisfactory of all 

 handgrasps. 



Steel guides, of the snake pattern, are pref- 

 erable to those of German silver; in time the 

 friction of the line wears deep grooves in the 

 latter. While not imperative it is, neverthe- 

 less, a good plan to have the rod fitted with 

 agate first and tip guides, thereby eliminating 

 much line-wear and friction, which occurs prin- 



