NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLY-FISHING. 447 
they are, I believe, seldom in more than three pieces. 
The butt-end is generally an ash-sapling, sometimes solid, 
and at others hollowed out to receive the small joints. 
The middle joints are almost always made of hickory, and 
the top joint either of fancewood alone, or of that wood, 
spliced with the bamboo and strengthened with silk. 
Many of the best and lightest fly-rods are now made, ex- 
cept the butt-end, from rent and glued bamboo; and none 
are more beautiful and efficient than these if properly used ; 
but they are very fragile in careless hands, and therefore 
searcely fitted for the young angler. The reel is either 
simple, with a large drum or central barrel, or otherwise. 
The multiplier is made with a series of wheels, which are 
intended to give out and take in the line more rapidly than 
the simple machine. In this desirable point, I am satisfied 
that the object is attained much more completely by the 
simple large drum; for though the multiplier is very 
pretty in theory, yet in practice it is constantly failing in 
its powers when tested by a strong fish. Besides this, the 
large drum actually gives out line much faster than the 
multiplier, and has therefore that point in its favor ; while 
in taking it in, he must be a bungler indeed who cannot 
wind the winch or handle rapidly enough to do all which 
he wishes to effect; and itis quite certain, that what is 
done is better and more smoothly done in this way than 
by the aid of wheels and cogs, which are liable to jerks 
and interruptions. Upon this reel is wound from 30 
to 80 yards of line, varying with the rod and the fish, 
for which it is to be used. Thus the smaller fish, includ- 
ing the ordinary run of common trout and the gray- 
