SELECTION, CARE, AND RIGGING 



the joints; a half -inch to an inch removed from 

 one or more joint-ends will make a great differ- 

 ence in the action. The best place to operate 

 at first is at the small end of the middle- joint 

 and large end of the top. In many instances 

 the small end of the butt does not need atten- 

 tion, and the butt end of the middle- joint 

 should never be touched. 



To repair a smashed joint (it generally is the 

 top), cut and file the broken ends to a bevel at 

 least an inch long; glue, wind solid with silk, 

 and varnish. If practicable place a guide at 

 the splice. An emergency repair may be made 

 by splicing the fracture with birch-bark or a 

 split reed from the streamside,. and adhesive 

 tape may be used for the binding. 



To prevent the joints of your rod from stick- 

 ing together at the ferrules so tightly as to 

 make it difficult to disjoint them after use, 

 lubricate the male or inner ferrule before 

 assembly with a little mutton-tallow or vaseline. 

 Or you can make use of some of your own 

 natural oil by wiping the center ferrule against 

 the hair at the back of your head; you should 

 have some left there, but if absolutely bald you 

 may resort to the side of your nose. Despite 

 such precaution, if the joints persist in sticking 

 after some unusually protracted period of the 

 rod's assembly, and after a judicious degree of 

 force has not availed to separate them, then try 

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