ON EAPID STREAMS. 91 



&c., &c., are set forth as the grand attractions to 

 the purchaser, each adornment of brass, or neatly 

 ornamented splicing of purple silk, adding a new 

 feature of commendation, nor diminishing the 

 price of the article, till at last a very superior 

 specimen of ornamental workmanship is produced, 

 which has as much brass, and as many coloured 

 splicings, and as small rings as can delight the 

 fanciful requirements of the mechanic in his work- 

 shop, or annoy the fisherman, by the river side. I 

 do not wish to decry the efforts of rod makers to 

 produce a neat and well-finished rod, far from it, 

 by all means should their endeavours to this end 

 be praised ; but I have frequently observed that 

 the minute detail of ornamental finish has been 

 more attended to, than the elementary points ; 

 the first, selection of wood for the construction of 

 the parts, their proper adjustment and firm con- 

 junctions which form the essentials for use; the 

 brass fittings, colouring, and varnishing being just 

 so much as is superadded to please the eye, and in 

 some measure minister to the convenience of the 

 fisherman, though, after all, to by regarded as mat- 

 ters for secondary consideration. It is true, in 

 some measure, that, inferring from probabilities, 

 the man who could neatly execute these details of 

 workmanship, and would take pains elegantly to 

 finish off all the adjustments of fittings, &c., would 

 carefully endeavour to form a good basis for dis- 

 playing his workmanship, would, in truth, endea- 

 vour to make his bare woodwork perfect as far as 

 he could, before commencing the ornamental super- 



