16 THE FLY FISHER'S GUIDE. 



useful. Indeed^ a true angler ought to be able, if 

 not to manufacture, at least to repair, his own 

 rods, lines, reels, &c., as he will otherwise be fre- 

 quently exposed to great inconvenience, from the 

 numerous and unforeseen accidents to which the 

 practiser of this diversion is constantly liable. 



The best rods are made from ash, hickory, and 

 lancewood ; ash for the bottom piece, hickory for 

 the middle, and lancewood for the top joints. 

 Real bamboo is preferable to lancewood, if it can 

 be procured of good quality, which is extremely 

 difficult. Logwood is sometimes used for the 

 tops, and answers extremely well for salmon or 

 trolling rods ; but this wood is not frequently to 

 be met with of straight grain in pieces of sufficient 

 length for rods ; but if it should be, it is not equal 

 in elasticity to well seasoned lancewood. Rose- 

 wood, and a wood from the Brazils, called par- 

 tridge wood, may also be made use of for top 

 pieces; but yew and briars do not answer the 

 purpose, although frequently recommended by 

 experimenters. 



