84 



the Fishing Gazette, and it will be found most ably expounded and 

 emphasised by Mr. H. P. Wells, in his "Fly Rods and Fly 

 Tackle." 



Several other tackle makers have patented rod joint fastenings, 

 including Messrs. Anderson, of Edinburgh and Dunkeld ("Simplex 

 Joint")*; Messrs. Watson and Hancock, of Holborn ("Waterproof 

 Joint") , and Messrs. Williams, of Great Queen Street, Lincoln's 

 Inn Fields ("Screw Cap Joint "). These inventions all propose to 

 effect in different ways the same object, and it may be added, do 

 effect it in a more or less complete degree. I have, however, only 

 space left to notice in detail one other invention, the simplicity 

 and economy of which entitle it to special mention. Moreover it 

 is the only plan which, so far as I am aware, professes to be 

 applicable to existing rod joints. Many fishermen hesitate to 

 incur the expense of new rods or new joints ; whilst others again 

 are so attached to the ' old wands ' that have done them long and 

 faithful service that they odiate the very idea of changing them. 

 To such persons the ' spring clasp,' patented by Mr. Jas. Gregson, 

 of Penny Street, Blackburn, which can be fitted to existing 

 rod-joints at a merely nominal cost, may possibly prove acceptable. 

 The action is sufficiently indicated in the engravings, of which /A' 

 is a section, and ' B ' the complete joint, showing together the 

 position and action of the spring. This, when the joints are being 

 put together, is lifted up by the finger nails at the small end, where 



* I had occasion to speak very highly of this joint fastening in the ' Bad- 

 minton Library,' where also it is figured and explained. In my opinion, how- 

 ever, whatever may be its perfections otherwise, no sensible man would be 

 willing to rely upon a rod which the smallest dent in one of the ferrules would 

 render absolutely unserviceable, and I believe irreparably, so far as local 

 ' doctoring ' is concerned. The very perfection of the ' fit ' of the doubled, or 

 exterior, ferrule, only aggravates the mischief. A " stopper " designed specially 

 to fit this ' duplicated ' ferrule would, as I have pointed out, effectually remedy 

 the danger, but Messrs. Anderson do not see their way to adopting the sugges- 

 tion, and I regret that I cannot, therefore, conscientiously recommend any 

 wandering angler unless furnished with a spare rod to adopt their otherwise 

 very perfect and admirable " Simplex "joint. 



