CHAPTER IX. 



FISHING RODS. 



IT is a source of great pleasure and satisfaction to the 

 angler of the present day to note the inarch of improve- 

 ment in the manufacture of fine fishing tackle, and to ob- 

 serve the commendable enterprise manifested by the manu- 

 facturers in producing light, elegant and suitable imple- 

 ments of the craft. Indeed, the skill, study, ingenuity and 

 good taste employed in this branch of the arts is scarcely 

 excelled in any other ; all of which is highly gratifying, for 

 it would seem to imply that the love and practice of angling 

 has taken deep root, and that fine fishing and scientific an- 

 gling are in a healthy state of growth and development. 



I deem it my province, in order that the Black Bass fisher 

 may be fully informed in regard to these various improve- 

 ments, to mention those that, in my judgment, are especi- 

 ally meritorious. 



In no direction has this improvement been more pro- 

 nounced than in that of fishing rods. Rods of all kinds, 

 both bait and fly-rods, have been reduced in length from 

 one to two feet, and with a proportional lessening of their 

 calibers and weights. 



This reduction in the weight and length of rods necessa- 

 rily implies an improvement in materials and workmanship 

 in their construction. And this is really the case. For 

 instance, if a fly-rod, twelve feet long and weighing ten 

 ounces, be reduced to ten and a half feet and eight ounces, 



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