16 ANGLING. 



it so highly thought of, that entire rods were made from it 

 It is a heavy wood, but extremely useful for tops, as it 

 combines strength, fineness, and elasticity in a remarkable 

 degree. I have seen yellow pine used for the butt of 

 some old rods, made when hollow butts were unknown. 

 The bamboos and canes speak for themselves. The split 

 bamboo is jungle cane, split into narrow slips, planed, 

 smoothed, and glued until it forms the exquisite top joint. 

 There is a white cane used for roach rods, for which it is 

 admirably adapted. 



The joints of the rod ought to be looked to carefully 

 before the purchase is completed, particularly if the rod is 

 made of reed or cane. In order to give an extra finish and 

 evenness to the rod, the workman sometimes cuts away a 

 part of the bark or cilicious covering of the cane, to fit on 

 the ferule, so that the rod is not only weaker where it ought 

 to be strongest, but it is liable to rot from the impossi- 

 bility of preventing the wet from getting in at the joints. 

 So often has the ordinary brass joints failed the angler in 

 the moment of his need, from this and other causes, that 

 the 



SPLICED ROD finds much favour with those who live in 

 the country near the streams in which they ply their avoca- 

 tion. They are simple and inexpensive, though somewhat 

 rude in construction. As many an ingenious youth would 

 like to try to make his own rod, I will endeavour to ex- 

 plain the construction of two good rods which are within 

 the reach of any country youth. Select a number of pieces 

 of straight hazel, of different thicknesses, in the fall of the 

 year, when the sap is gone, and place them in any convenient 

 place to dry ; Old Dame Barnes says an oven, but that 

 plan is hardly to be recommended now-a-days. They 



