10 PIKE AND OTHER COARSE FISH. 



pith and converting the skin into water-pipes. It is this skin, 

 or rind, only, with which we have to deal in rod-making, and 

 that must be taken from a cane about as thick as a man's 

 wrist This is split up into narrow slips, and these slips, when 

 planed and smoothed down, become the solid grained-looking 

 pieces of wood constantly forming the upper splices of top 

 joints. 



But to my text One of the most charming spinning-rods 

 I ever possessed — or rather possess, for I am happy to say it 

 still exists— came to grief in the butt, and instead of having a 

 new butt of the same wood, bamboo, made in its place, I 

 thought I would try an experiment and had substituted for the 

 injured member a butt made of ash. The composite weapon 

 thus produced— ash butt, second and third joints bamboo, top 

 greenheart — seems to combine in an exceptional degree the 

 qualifications to be desired in a spinning-rod. Especially the 

 play and casting capacity of the rod are remarkable, and I think 

 of all the spmning-rods I have, or have had pass through my 

 hands, this is my favourite. The two centre bamboo joints are 

 all that remain of a mottled East Indian cane which I chose 

 from amongst the hundreds m Mr. Farlow's warehouse when 

 a stripling. It has since had tops enough to stock a tackle 

 shop. Can it be that association has prejudiced me also 

 in favour of my schoolboy friend ? Many memories may cer- 

 tainly cling round an old rod, and, perhaps, few veteran anglers 

 could be found to dissent from the following lines in which 

 Stoddart has given expression to the sentiment :— 



THE OLD WAND. 



The wand that hath done service fair, 

 From thy boyhood to thy prime, 

 Onward to thine after-time 



Cherish. It is worth all care. 



Many a fair-spoken friend 



Hath less friendship in his heart 



Than this passive piece of art 

 And will fail thee at the end. 



