308 AMERICAN ANGLER'S BOOK. 



of shoemaker's wax pressed between the folds of a stout 

 piece of leather, for it may be that he will have to splice his 

 line or rod, or repair other damage. 



FLY-RODS. There is as great a diversity in the size and 

 flow of the waters where Trout are found, as there is in the 

 size of the fish found in them ; it is therefore expedient for an 

 angler who fishes all waters, to have two rods for casting the 

 fly.. For the rivers and lakes of Maine, the streams of Canada, 

 and wherever Trout are found in large waters, a good stout 

 rod of not less than twelve and a half or thirteen feet is best ; 

 it should weigh at least twelve ounces. Though withy, it 

 should have a stiffish tip ; the line, leader, and flies required 

 in such waters being larger than the fly-tackle in general use. 

 For the lively tributaries of the Susquehanna, Delaware, and 

 Hudson, the streams of New England, and for brook-fishing 

 generally, where wading is necessary, a rod from seven to 

 nine ounces in weight, and from twelve to twelve feet four 

 inches long, is most suitable. A rod of this size is so light, 

 that incessant casting does not weary one, and the size of the 

 fish does not make a rod of greater power necessary. 



Having a preference for such streams as last mentioned, 

 I give my notion of what a rod for such fishing should 

 be, from one made for my own use. Using a scale with 

 minute fractions of an inch and a pair of callipers, I find 

 the diameters at various distances from the lower end 

 of the butt, as follows : The grasp of the rod, say at 

 eight inches from the lower end, is one inch ; at eighteen 

 inches, f ; at twenty -four inches, ^ ; a ^ f ur feet (the first 

 ferule), U ; at six feet, /^ ; at eight feet (the splice, or upper 

 ferule), ^ ; at ten feet (the middle of the tip), 3% ; at the 

 extreme tip, j\. 



The butt of a fly-rod should be of well-seasoned white ash, 

 the middle joint of ironwood, and the tip of quartered and 



