STREAMCRAFT 



and holding an extra big fish, though in the 

 aggregate most of them are required to do 

 much more work in luring than in landing the 

 quarry. The use of the Wells detachable grip 

 or handgrasp is a very important factor in 

 preserving rods from set, permitting, as it does, 

 intermittent change in the direction of chief 

 strain throughout the day's, week's, or season's 

 casting and fishing. Another advantage of the 

 independent handle is that the permanent grasp 

 will interfere with bunching the joints of a 

 number of rods when packing them for trans- 

 portation. The slender tops especially are 

 liable to become bent where the handle prevents 

 these joints from lying snugly alongside of butt- 

 joints. 



Any loosened windings or ferrules or chipped 

 or cut places in the varnish should receive 

 prompt attention; and after a season of long- 

 continued and frequent use the whole rod should 

 have a light rubbing-down with rotten-stone 

 and water and then receive a thin new coat of 

 the best quality of spar varnish. Wood ashes 

 or powdered chalk mixed with linseed oil, 

 Sapolio, or Dutch Cleanser will clean up tar- 

 nished German-silver ferrules or other metal 

 parts; but you don't want them too bright. 



A rod that is too limber or "whippy" to suit 

 the taste of its owner may be stiffened ma- 

 terially by judicious amputation at the end of 

 8 



