208 Fly-rods and Fly-tackle. 



notice. Wood from the trunk of a tree is more dense 

 and stronger than that from the limbs or upper part of 

 the tree. Also of two equally dry specimens of the 

 same wood, that is the stronger which is the heavier 

 or, in other words, the cell walls are thicker in the 

 heavier sample, and it therefore contains more strength- 

 giving material to the same bulk. 



And now, to conclude this subject, I would most ear- 

 nestly recommend the following to the consideration of 

 all who contemplate the purchase of a fly-rod. 



First : Buy the very best and nothing else. 



Second : Insist on the independent handle. By " in- 

 dependent handle " is meant one so united to the butt- 

 joint by a ferrule that the rod may be turned half-way 

 around in the handle and back again at frequent inter- 

 vals while fishing say every half -hour anyway, and al- 

 ways immediately after the rod has been subjected to a 

 heavy strain. Thus the rod is used with the rings above 

 and below in frequent alternation, the strains to which 

 the rod is subject offset and neutralize one another, and 

 the rod will retain throughout its life that perfect iden- 

 tity of action on both the forward and back cast, the 

 lack of which, in my judgment, is one of the very worst 

 faults a fly-rod can have. If I have ever seen a rod 

 wherein the butt-joint and handle were in one piece, 

 which had not this defect after even two seasons' real 

 use, it certainly has escaped my recollection. 



Third : If you already have a rod that suits you, do 

 not buy another, but build up on the old rod by adding 

 duplicate interchangeable parts to it. If economy is an 

 object, add a new middle joint now, and a tip or two 

 when next inclined to buy, and so on. Do not accumu- 



