26 ANGLlSG. 



cess for preserving rods from the attacks of insects ol 

 damp. 



The ferules and joints of an ordinary rod call for some 

 remark. Common rods are fitted with brass ferules, 

 into which the end of the upper joint fits. When the 

 latter is of p'.ain wood it is apt to swell by exposure to 

 damp or rain, or shrivel and shrink in the heat of the sun 

 or a dry wind, and, consequently, likely to come asunder 

 in the most critical time. No joints are to be trusted but 

 those which have turned brass sockets and brass tips to fit 

 them. Even the " bayonet-joint " is sometimes essential, 

 though by no means indispensable. Should the brass 

 joints become " set," by damp or other causes, they may 

 be released by turning them in the flame of a candle or 

 lamp ; and even the varnish may be preserved by twining 

 & piece of writing-paper round the joint previously. 



The Keel, or Winch, may be considered as almost an 

 integral part of the fishing-rod, for it is useful in bottom- 

 fishing, though not necessarily so essential as in fly- 

 fishing or jack-fishing. The characteristics of a good reel 

 are lightness, strength, and plainness. There are three 

 varieties in use — ^knowu as plain pillar-reels, stop-reels, and 

 multiplying-reels. The latter is sometimes spoken of as 

 " an ingenious and valuable contrivance." Ingenious it 

 may be, and valuable to buy, but practically worthless in 

 everyday experience. It certainly enables a long length 

 of line to be wound up in a short space of time ; but, as it 

 has been remarked, "with a great waste of power" when 

 a fish is at the end of the line. Their use is much afliected 

 by those anglers who admire fancy and scientific (?) contriv- 

 ances. The plain piUar-reel, with deep narrow grooves 

 and side-plates, and a tolerably large axle, still main- 



