Rods and Rod Material. 191 



We are indebted, I believe, to Judge F. J. Fitch for 

 calling attention to this wood. He speaks of it as fol- 

 lows, in the American Angler of June 24, 1882: " Of the 

 various woods that I have used I prefer Amelanchier. 

 Its strength, lightness, and springiness are all in its favor, 

 but great care must be taken in selecting it. The tree 

 should grow where it is exposed to the sun and light 

 not in a dense wood or thicket. It should be straight- 

 grained and free from knots. It is difficult, nay almost 

 impossible, to find one growing straight. If the stick is 

 good in all other respects I do not mind one or more 

 curves. Such sticks I saw out with a narrow saw, fol- 

 lowing the grain of the wood. This I do while the wood 

 is yet green. I lash, or with doubled-pointed tacks se- 

 cure, each stick to a straight board or plank, and when they 

 have seasoned one or two years they come out straight." 



Three hundred different varieties of hard woods grow 

 within the United States. Of this great number the hick- 

 ory, ash, hornbeam, shadblow, and osage - orange, cannot 

 be the only ones adapted to fly-rod making, nor is it prob- 

 able they are the best. It is the duty of every man who 

 aspires to be called an angler, to do what lies in his way 

 to advance the art. It is desirable that anglers should 

 bear this in mind ; and when opportunity serves, seek 

 out and make known any new material likely to prove 

 useful. The field is certainly of sufficient magnitude to 

 promise ample reward for any labor bestowed on inves- 

 tigation always assuming that the well-deserved thanks 

 of the angling fraternity may be considered in the light 

 of a reward. 



To facilitate identification, it may be further remarked 

 that this shrub also bears the local names of Wild-pear, 

 Sugar-plum, and Shad-flower. In favorable localities it 



