ROD AND TACKLE 9 



" Rod rings are a very important item in all kinds 

 of angling, but to none more so than in dry-fly 

 fishing. In some respects a perfect ring may be 

 compared to the barrels of a shot gun, which are not 

 of much value unless they shoot well. So with the 

 rod rings, which must be of such a character that the 

 line can pass easily so that it may shoot well. The 

 ring should present as little surface as possible in 

 order to reduce friction. Its inner edge must be 

 smooth, or the passage of the line is retarded, and, 

 worse still, the line itself is liable to get frayed, and 

 good shooting largely prevented." 



" To refer to materials ; soft metal rings, such as 

 German silver, nickel, and untempered steel, soon 

 wear into grooves, which are most destructive to the 

 dressing of lines. Hardened steel is good, but un- 

 fortunately, when in contact with water or damp, it 

 rusts. It would appear, therefore, that we have little 

 choice, and that the best material, so far at any rate 

 as the surface which comes into contact with the line 

 is concerned, appears to be agate. Hitherto agates 

 have been largely used on fly rods as butt and end 

 rings, while on spinning rods which are comparatively 

 stout, they are often used throughout." 



" The employment of these rings on fly rods has 

 hitherto been handicapped by the difficulty in mount- 

 ing the agates, which must be well protected. The 

 trouble has been to do this effectually without add- 

 ing undue weight. This, however, has been success- 

 fully accomplished, and a perfect dry-fly rod fitted 



