THE WINCH. 



When this occurs, any difficulty in taking the 

 rod to pieces, arising from this cause, may be 

 obviated by warming the long ferule in the 

 flame of a candle; when cold, it may easily be 

 separated. The rod should also be fitted with 

 strong fixed upright rings. The rings at the 

 end of the tops should be of steel, as the con- 

 stant friction of the line in spinning soon wears 

 away or cuts through any other metal. The 

 same remark applies to the large ring on the 

 butt, which should also be of steel, fitted so as 

 to run round easily in a brass collar, as this ring 

 receives an equal amount of work with the end 

 ring on the top ; for when the line has once 

 cut into or notched the rings, they, in return, 

 wear away the line. 



Besides the spinning rods which are made 

 of mottled bamboo, there are others of hickory, 

 having the butt-piece of ash and the tops of 

 lancewood, either made entirely of that wood 

 or with a piece of bamboo spliced at the end. 

 These are first-rate rods for heavy fishing, or 

 for rough work, but I prefer the mottled cane, 

 as much for the handsome appearance as for 

 the difference in weight. 



The winch should be either entirely a plain 

 one, or what is called a plain check, as a 

 multiplier is not required for Jack-fishing. I 

 prefer the check-winch bronzed, as I have a 

 great objection to the glitter of bright brass on 

 the water. Notice a fisherman with a bright 

 winch on his rod when the sun is shining, and 



