Fishing Eods. 163 



cleats, and strings, which have been proposed to secure the 

 joint, and prevent its separation in casting. 



Ferrules should be short, and perfectly cylindrical. It 

 is not necessary for the female butt ferrule to exceed two 

 and a half inches in length, nor two inches for the second 

 joint. The male ferrules should be of a corresponding 

 length, say one inch, which will give all the "hold" re- 

 quired. The ferrules should be perfectly fitted to each 

 other throughout their entire extent. The lower end of the 

 male ferrule, and the bottom of the female ferrule should 

 be protected by metal caps or disks, soldered on, to exclude 

 moisture. The ferrules should be fitted without cutting 

 the wood, and a wrapping of silk put on at the ends for a 

 finish. A good plan is to wrap on a guide or ring imme- 

 diately below the female ferrules, so that the upper wrap- 

 ping of tlie guide extends to the ferrule, which thus serves 

 a double purpose. 



Swell feiTules are unnecessary, and are neither so good 

 nor strong as cylindrical and uniform ones. The ends of 

 the ferrules may, however, be split, or serrated, or be 

 swaged into a hexagonal form for split-bamboo rods, to 

 give a more perfect fit, without any disadvantage in other 

 ways. Ferrules may be banded if the metal is very thin, 

 which is apt to be the case with those drawn from German 

 silver, which cannot be drawn so thick as brass. Ferrules 

 should be affixed with shellac or cement instead of using a 

 metal pin, which has a tendency to weaken the rod, and 

 renders the removal of the ferrule morei difficult for the 

 purpose of repair. 



The Little Giant Eod. 

 On page 91 is mentioned the hibernation of black bass 

 under the ledges and in the crevices of the reefs about the 



