consider the arguments for and against the composite rod. 



One form of it is constructed of two different kinds of wood. 

 For instance, a rod made partly of ash and partly of lance is still used 

 on the Spey. Surely it may be taken as an axiom that no two kinds 

 of wood are similar in grain, or would behave in the same way as far 

 as pliability or weather-resisting qualities are concerned. The closer 

 the grain, the less chance of injury from wet weather. Ash is an 

 open grained wood ; lance, on the contrary, is close grained. The rod 

 that approaches perfection for general fishing is such a delicately 

 balanced whole, and does its work so evenly and regularly, that to 

 have one part working with a spring initially different, or liable to 

 sudden changes differing from those which take place in other parts, 

 cannot be advantageous. 



As to this class of Spey rod it appears that, even for Spey 

 casting, any possible advantage gained by the top of lance wood is 

 utterly lost in the thrash-down, because of the inflexibility of the ash 

 butt, which too slowly responds to the action of the more lively lance. 

 The fact is that unless the wave of force set up by the quicker action 

 of the top joint is maintained down to the winch fittings, the line in 

 ordinary hands refuses to go beyond a limited distance. 



Another, and curiously enough, a fashionable form of composite 

 rod, is that composed of cane with a steel centre. Now, the steel 

 centre is hardly thicker than a good-sized pin, and in one style of cane 

 rod continues all the way down the three separate joints. When one 

 tried to realise the purpose of this steel core at the dinner table the 

 other day, he said it called to mind the irate father shouting in Les 

 Fourberies de Scapin, " Que diable allait-il faire dans cette galere." 



" Oh ! Oh ! " (exclaimed another). 



