216 SCIENCE OF FISHING. 



can give a few remarks on the most important First, don't 

 throw your rod down, especially in sand or on stones it is 

 a delicate affair and deserves better treatment. Don't get the 

 rod wet oftener than necessary. In jointing up, always put 

 the tip and second joint together first, then attach the butt. 

 Always take your reel off the rod when through fishing and 

 don't put it on again until you are ready to commence fishing 

 again. See that the several pieces of the rod are put to- 

 gether with the guides in perfect line. The ferrules usually 

 have little marks to show, but don't twist one joint to bring 

 these in line remove it by a straight pull and replace it 

 right. Always joint the two pieces by a straight push and 

 separate by a straight pull. When you unjoint the rod, 

 separate the tip and middle joint first. Wipe the ferrules 

 with an oiled rag once in a while and they will come apart 

 easily when you want to dismount the rod. Keep the rod 

 on the form, generally, but in case you find a joint is warped 

 a little, assemble the rod and hang it up by the tip a few 

 days and it will straighten. Perhaps the ceiling of your 

 room is not high enough, but if so, put the middle joint and 

 tip together and hang them up. A solid wood rod should be 

 rubbed lightly with vaseline about every six months, and then 

 burnished with the palm of the hand until it gets hot. 

 Before the fishing season commences, go all over your rod 

 and examine the wrappings, and if they are frayed, rewind 

 them. If the varnish is looking bad, revarnish it com- 

 pletely. If the ferrules or tip are loose, heat them a little with 

 a match and you can remove them, then cement and replace. 



The reel also needs attention. Oil it once in a while, 

 and if it is used for bait-casting oil it every day while in 

 use, using a medium cylinder oil. For other reels some light 

 fine oil will be all right. 



After fishing, always remove your line from the reel and 

 dry it thoroughly. Your line will last much longer if you do 

 this. An enameled line is supposed to be perfectly water- 



