176 Fly-rods and Fly-tackle. 



that little, if anything, is gained by seasoning wood over 

 eighteen months. All woods are hygroscopic, absorbing 

 water from the atmosphere. Some, after the period speci- 

 fied, actually gained in weight by absorption of moisture, 

 while others, though they continued to part with it, did 

 so but very slowly. The difference in weight between 

 green and perfectly dry hickory is therein stated to be 

 nearly one-third. 



These remarks apply equally to seasoning all domestic 

 woods, and are here made once for all. 



An ash butt and lancewood tip will work well with 

 hickory; or if the butt joint is to be of the latter, use a 

 handle of lighter wood, say butternut. 



IRONWOOD. 

 Specific gravity, 0.8184. 



This wood has as many different local names as the 

 black bass. It is known as barwood, leverwood, and 

 hornbeam. Norris gives its botanical name as Carpinus 

 ostrya and the Government Book on Forestry, as Os- 

 trya virginica. In appearance it closely resembles dog- 

 wood. The sapwood resembles ash in color, the heart 

 having a reddish tinge like red-ash. Both seem equal in 

 merit. Two varieties are known, the one having a smooth 

 bark without fissures is inferior. The other has a thin 

 yellowish gray bark, with abundant shallow fissures, but 

 otherwise rather smooth, and this latter is the tree from 

 which the wood used for rod-making should be taken. 



It prefers damp places, and grows from Canada to the 

 Gulf. Further description, with illustrations of leaf and 

 flower, may be found in the American Encyclopedia, arti- 

 cle " Hornbeam." It was a special favorite of Mr. Thad- 

 deus Norris, author of "The American Angler," who 



