226 Fly-rods and Fly-tackle. 



standing or lying supported on the butt and tip alone, 

 or kept bent month after month in a bag tied tight 

 around the middle, you would draw quite a different 

 inference. To such of my readers as wish to buy and 

 do not care to make, I would say that that maker who 

 has a reputation, will do his best to maintain it. If he 

 once turned out good work, competition will force him 

 to do so still. If he has the skill, you may be sure he 

 will use it. No one knows better than he that one bad 

 rod will do him more harm than a hundred, first - class 

 in every respect, will benefit him ; and if he sells the 

 rod with his name upon it, he believes it, and chances 

 are ninety -nine out of a hundred you will find it, all 

 right, as far as concealed defects are concerned. 



During this digression you are supposed to have fast- 

 ened your ferrules, for which you have had ample time. 

 Now, take your scraper with the semicircular notches, 

 and proceed to round your rod. This is soon done. 

 Joint your rod, put the butt joint to the handle, and with 

 reel in place see how it feels. If any ferrule is not in 

 line, warm and straighten it if you can. If you cannot, 

 set the rod so the crook is uppermost, i.e., so that the rod 

 sets upward from the straight line. If too withy, shorten 

 the middle joint at the small end an inch or two, and try 

 it again. A very little change here makes a great differ- 

 ence in the leverage, and consequently in the feel and 

 action. If still too weak, shorten the tip at the larger 

 end ; and if the fault still exists, shorten the small end 

 of the middle joint again. This method will at last 

 surely remedy this fault, but whether at too great a 

 sacrifice of length you must judge. But I would not 

 advise that the rod be thrown away as a failure if the 

 material is good, unless you are obliged to reduce it be- 



