135 



STEEL-RIBBED RODS. 



Ill coiitradislmclKin io tlic icinarkablc progress at Alnwick in 

 cane is the new departure at Ashbourne in greenheart. Messrs. 

 Foster, the well-known manufacturers there, have introduced a steel 

 •jvire net-work that fits over their own made rods as well as those of 

 other firms. The Fie^d of October 12, 1900, spoke very highly of 

 " this ingenious invention," and after a clever description, Mr. 

 Cummings went on to say : " The rod is of the highest grade in rod- 

 huikluig, and the wood used is of the finest quality, well-seasoned and 

 straight grained." Then the Editor observed: — "The one sent (to 

 him) is a very handy, strong, and light little weapon. It has most 

 excellent ferrules, a kind of cap on the male ferrule overlapping, and 

 effectually keepmg out the wet." 



Writing from Ayr Barracks, Quarter-Master-Sergeant C. 

 Stephens says : — ■" I am delighted with the rod, it has had a good 

 trial, and on no occasion was the rod in distress." 



The Assistant Secretary of the Piscatorial Society, Mr. A. H. 

 Rolt, expresses himself to this effect: — "The rod has answered per- 

 fectly for years." 



The Rev. F. W. Tracy remarks: — -"The best rod I have ever 

 handled." 



Owing to what appeared in the Field, I sent for one of these 

 rods, and so far as one can judge of the action indoors it appears to 

 be correct. The rod was sent by me to a brother angler to try, who 

 wrote afterwards and said: — "In my opinion Foster's rod equals 

 yours in balance and power, liut I don't like the ferrules at all." 



