106 FISHITO RODS. 



down into slips of various thickness, proper to form 

 the whole rod, butt and top. Joint up as many pieces 

 as will produce the length you wish, say eighteen or 

 twenty feet long for a salmon rod, and from fourteen 

 to sixteen for a good trout one. Make these into 

 splice-joints of sufficient length, the splice being 

 seven inches at least for the butt-joints, and tie them 

 up well glued, leaving them so until the glue is dry ; 

 then lay the rod upon a straight plank, and have it 

 planed up all in a piece to a proper thickness a 

 person of skill standing beside the joiner, trying and 

 adjusting its elasticity to the proper spring, till he 

 find it please, recollecting to allow something for the 

 weight of the tyings of joints and rings. If the 

 planing could be so managed, the perfection of the 

 rod would consist in having it to taper properly the 

 whole length, from butt to top, and the wood being 

 of the same piece and growth, the spring must be 

 equal and correct throughout. After it is properly 

 planed and smoothly polished with sand paper, cut 

 it across into two, three, or four pieces, as you 

 please. Have your brass ferrules straight, not 

 tapering, but alike wide at both ends and sunk just 

 a little in the wood at the under ends, and left full 

 and flush over the wood at the upper ends, and 

 either with or without screws, according to pleasure. 



