274 LANCE-WOOD ROBS. 



three joints. The butt should be of ash, hickory, 

 red deal, or lance wood, and all the remaining 

 joints of lance wood. Let me here remark that, as 

 in all other things, our rod should be suited to our 

 strength, height, age, &c., and whatever strength 

 the rod gains by quality of wood, it is at the 

 expense of additional weight. If we are young 

 and strong we should have a rod entirely of lance 

 wood; if not, hickory, which is lighter, will do 

 nearly as well. It is a good plan to have our 

 butt double-ringed, by which means we can turn 

 and change our middle joint and top alternately, 

 which keeps the rod straight from warping, but 

 this requires a groove or furrow, or winch fitting, 

 on both sides of the butt, to enable us to shift the 

 reel to either side. The butt end should be 

 finished off with a round piece of horn, which is 

 preferable to brass for the hand. Many use 

 round the butt leather, or waxed string, similar 

 to that on the handles of cricket bats, to prevent 

 the hands from slipping, and give better purchase 

 in throwing. It would be a good plan if the 

 ends of the ferrules of salmon-rods were van- 

 dyked, and the wrapping to be wound over the 

 vandyked parts, as I think it would prevent the 

 wood from snapping off short at the joints. A 

 slight groove in the wood to receive the vandyked 

 ferrules would look neat and not weaken the wood. 

 "With the usual centre joints I have no fault to 



