18 THE FLY FISHER'S GUIDE. 



tened with silk, and the waxed parts rubbed with 

 a smooth chisel, previously to being varnished. 



The rings must be placed in a regular line, and 

 ought to dimmish in size as gradually as the rod 

 tapers. They are easily made, by twisting a 

 piece of soft brass wire round a tobacco pipe, and 

 fastening the ends together with hard solder. 



The extreme end of the top piece is commonly 

 of whalebone ; and the error of putting too great 

 a length of this material is but too frequent. A 

 very short piece, say of the length of four or five 

 inches, is sufficient : this is generally finished up 

 with a file, any sharp instrument being liable to 

 take it off in regular flakes. 



In this state it only remains to varnish the rod, 

 which is best effected by copal varnish, or Indian 

 rubber dissolved over a slow fire in linseed oil. 

 If a stain be required, nitric acid or oil of vitriol 

 will produce a brown colour, the acid being di- 

 luted according to the shade required. 



To preserve rods after use, let them be well 

 rubbed with salad oil or tallow, and kept in a 



