TViXi* HOOKS, REPAIRING RODS, ETC. 325 



the end under one turn of the silk, making a loop, and drawing 

 it down. The hidden knot is the better and most secure mode. 

 To repair a broken joint. Should you be so unfortunate as 

 to break a top or joint, which misfortune, brother angler, has 

 happened to many a more careful and scientific sportsman be- 

 fore you proceed in this manner. Take your two broken 

 parts, and with your knife, or a plane if you can get one, 

 smooth down each part in an oblique direction, fitting them 

 closely together, and rubbing some shoemaker's wax on to the 

 parts to make them stick ; now take a long length of waxed 

 thread or silk and wind it around, similar to the commencement 

 of hook-tying, merely to keep the parts together, continuing it 

 a little beyond the extreme end of the fracture ; then carefully 

 and firmly whip it evenly around until you pass the other end of 

 the fracture : here halt, and wind the three last turns on the fore- 

 finger of the left hand, extended for that purpose ; now pass the 

 end of the silk or thread under the windings, carefully drawing 

 out your finger, and pull it through, and you have the hidden or 

 inverted knot, as before described. Be careful in finishing, see 

 that your thread does not get loose, and your whippings are 

 firm and even. In all cases of winding, see that your silk is 

 well waxed. Some take a small piece of wax and rub it evenly 

 over their hook or rod windings, which adds somewhat to its 

 security. 



To splice a rod properly at home, when you can have every- 

 thing you desire, the parts should be sawed with a fine saw, and 

 afterwards tiled down evenly with a fine file; they should 

 then be well glued, and left to dry before winding ; to finish 

 neatly after winding, take a round, smooth piece of wood or 

 bone and rub down the surface of the thread ; then give it a coat 

 or two of thin varnish. 



