150 THE SCIENTIFIC AHGLER. 



with perfect precision. With a view to extend in tlie 

 direction here indicated, we have made many experiments 

 with metal and wood of every variety, as also with other 

 substances of pliancy and strength. Metal, either hollow 

 or solid, is too heavy and cumbersome; wood of green- 

 heart, red locust, snake, and other descriptions, proves 

 strong and pliant, and is so when spliced, like the mast of 

 a ship, or similar to the glued-up American cane rods; but 

 there is no especial advantage to commend them, seeing the 

 weight is increased by something like one-third over the 

 same substance solid and non-glued. The modern three 

 yards rod, as we have said, can be made to deliver more 

 line, and that in a more elegant and sportsmanlike man- 

 ner than a longer one. 



But the question naturally arises, if the fly-rod has 

 been diminished one-half during two centuries, of what 

 dimensions is it likely to become in the immediate fu- 

 ture ? Our reply is, that in the course of a decade or so, 

 still further reductions will take place. The length of a 

 rod, as is now well known, has very little to do with the 

 distance it can be made to cast the fly; the casting powers 

 entirely depend on the pliancy and strength, hence it is 

 that the very hardest, and we may also add, the most 

 weighty (for one characteristic is almost inseparable from 

 the other) woods are so far superior to open-grained 

 northern timber. Bone, as is already known, is too 

 heavy, buffalo horn is too limber when dressed in tops. 

 The result of our investigations is, that a combination 

 of the best metal and the best wood, would, if arranged 

 correctly, and in right proportions, be an advance in a 

 desirable direction. We therefore had a rod made of the 

 very best of strong woods, with a fine bevelled steel 

 centre, and this proved when, after some alterations, it 

 was completed, to bear out the hopes conceived in respect 

 to it. We had been enamored of this idea theoretically, 

 practically it gives every promise of ultimately meriting 



