The Outfit -Pods. 33 



nent parts of which are scattered beyond supporting dis- 

 tance of one another sure to be beaten in detail if seri- 

 ously attacked. A true curve in a rod is like personal 

 integrity in a man with it he can be relied on; without 

 it he cannot. 



The best method of testing this is by fastening a string 

 from the end of the tip to any convenient projection. 

 One person then puts a strain on the rod, while the pur- 

 chaser studies the curve. The strain should be tolerably 

 severe and the curve quite pronounced. The curve may 

 be parabolic in character, that is, with the bend mainly 

 on the upper part of the rod; or it may be a true arc 

 of a circle, or any curve between these two extremes, 

 according to the style of action the rod may have it is 

 immaterial which. But the curve should be an even one. 

 One single place in the whole length of the rod which is 

 either unduly straight or unduly bent should condemn 

 the rod. Perhaps a suspicion of liberality may be shown 

 to the neighborhood of the ferrules, but only a suspicion. 



This brings us to the question of how the rod should 

 be joined together, for clearly a salmon-rod all in one 

 piece is out of the question. 



In the Provinces the American angler will find spliced 

 rods decidedly predominant. The sight of a ferruled rod 

 operates with the certainty of hot water and mustard on 

 one who is accustomed to a spliced rod, and he can no 

 more refrain from doing a little missionary work on be- 

 half of his favorite method than he can refrain from 

 breathing. The more ingenuous will admit, though with 

 reluctance, that it is rather a nuisance to join such a rod 

 properly; also, that the ends of the splices are delicate 



