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unvarnished rod will last a much shorter time than the varnished 

 one, my reply would be that it is of no consequence if it does not 

 of no consequence, that is, in comparison with its fulfilling the 

 all important object of catching fish. . . But it has yet to be 

 proved to my satisfaction that such is really the fact to an appre- 

 ciable extent. I had until recently a two-jointed rod built by 

 Messrs. Edmondson, now Mr. Henry Whitty, of Liverpool. This 

 rod I became possessed of (I am afraid to think how many) years 

 ago but very shortly after leaving school and one of the first 

 things I did to it was to scrape both joints all over with a piece of 

 glass ; rather rough and ready, but quite effectual for the removal 

 of every sign of black-stain, varnish, or polish. Yet that rod 

 did me yeoman's service for something like a quarter of a century, 

 and at the last was discarded, not because it became rotten, but 

 because an enterprising car-driver, in want, I suppose, of a " tan- 

 dem-lasher," thoughtfully relieved me of the upper half. Nor is such 

 a very easily noticed colour as black to be commended for rod- 

 stain. My taste may be vitiated, but I confess I know nothing 

 more agreeable to the eye, or that looks more ' workmanlike,' than 

 the plain, generally light brown, neutral tints of the natural woods. 



RINGS. 



In former essays I have pointed out the advantages of stiff, 

 over loose rings, for all kinds of rods. The loose rings, besides 

 often ' sticking ' pressing down flat on the rod and of course on 

 the line are very easily bent and broken off, leaving an hiatus 

 in which the line bags or loops. But in any case for the getting 

 out of line quickly the stiff or upright ring has a very decided 

 advantage. I used to have my rods fitted with small straight 

 upright rings of steel, but a form of ring has been lately introduced 

 or, if not lately introduced, has only lately come to my know- 

 ledge which presents all the advantages of the upright ring 

 whilst diminishing to a vanishing point some of its drawbacks 



