Rods and Rod Material. 171 



ing the bank and not twenty feet distant from the boat. 

 No sooner had he reached his perch and taken in the 

 situation, than he shouted, "Why he's got him by the 

 tail !" For at least an hour the struggle lasted, and 

 when, after landing his trout, the old gentleman passed 

 me on his way home, I asked him if I might see it. It 

 weighed seven pounds by my own tested scales, and 

 there, sure enough, about three inches in front of the tail 

 and on the right side was the wound of the hook. Per- 

 mission having been granted to examine the rod, no sign 

 could be detected of the fearful ordeal through which it 

 had passed. 



If the amount you feel willing to pay for a rod be 

 limited, an ash and lancewood rod is the safest invest- 

 ment ; but select one in which the ash is white and of 

 wide grain, and the lancewood yellow and free from 

 bluish stains. If, however, the rod is colored, as is fre- 

 quently the case, you cannot judge of this ; then you 

 must rely on the maker, and should buy only from the 

 maker, and from one who has a reputation to sustain. 

 You will probably have to pay a dollar or two more, but 

 you will get your money's worth. This remark holds 

 good, and cannot be too strongly emphasized in regard 

 to all fishing-tackle. 



These bluish stains so frequently seen in lancewood 

 seem not to be inherent in the tree, but to be due to 

 faulty treatment in seasoning. They arise from storing 

 the logs in a close, damp locality, and indicate inferior 

 elasticity and strength. 



CEDAR. 

 Specific gravity, 0.6396. 



We will next consider cedar as a material. 



Such cedar as is used in lead-pencils is worthless for 



