128 FISHING GOSSIP. 



by one or other of the receipts, of which each work- 

 man has his own favourite. All this could be excel- 

 lently well done, once upon a time, by our old friend 

 Longhry, the village Mulciber of Ballinacarrigy, 

 though he had not had the advantage of graduating 

 in the forges of Birmingham or Sheffield. The handle 

 may be formed of any light, stiff, 'bearing wood. Eed 

 deal, free from knots, answers the purpose well The 

 length should not be less than 16 or 17 feet ; and the 

 greatest diameter not more than about 2i inches. It 

 should be well finished on the bench, and tapered up to 

 the top to about an inch in thickness, where it is ter- 

 minated by a short bracket or handle turned on the 

 lathe. A coat or two of copal varnish will serve the 

 double purpose of keeping out the damp and giving 

 it a finished appearance. I frequently thought of 

 rendering the weapon more portable by constructing 

 the handle in two parts ; but though I cut a screw 

 and fashion brass into all fishing requirements as well 

 as most " outsiders " of the trade, I could never de- 

 vise a joint sufficiently light and strong to bear the 

 strains to which the instrument is exposed in actual 

 use. I recollect having seen with the late Charles 

 Scarisbrick, of Scarisbrick Hall, Esq. Squirissime 

 inter Squiros ! requiescat in pace ! stems of the bam- 

 boo, which he used in jumping the drains of North 

 Moels in his shooting excursions, and which would 

 make admirable handles for the sun-spears, if they 



