8 THE DRY-FLY MAN'S HANDBOOK 



great disadvantage. It is, however, overlong for the 

 rack of a railway carriage unless the passenger has 

 one side of the compartment to himself, so that, as a 

 general rule, rods in three pieces are preferred nowa- 

 days. 



A solid wood protector, into which each joint is 



packed in a groove cut for the 

 Rod protectors. purpose, is often supplied, and 



when put away in a simple 

 rod bag is a great boon. A rod packed in the 

 ordinary partition bag is liable to be injured or broken 

 when travelling. I believe that the idea of this solid 

 wood protector was originated in the United States. 

 Personally, I always use a spear for the purpose of 



standing a rod up and saving 

 Spear. it from the risk of being 



trampled on by fellow-anglers, 

 cattle, etc. Some anglers object to the spear, and of 

 course its presence must to some degree increase the 

 weight of the rod. The arrangement patented many 

 years since by Messrs. Hardy, by which the spear 

 when not in use is packed in the thick end of the 

 handle, is a most convenient one. 



The following remarks by Mr. J. J. Hardy, in 



reference to rod rings, are the 

 Rod rings. outcome of a discussion I had 



with him on the subject, and 

 I think that the new agate rings referred to therein 

 constitute a marked improvement on anything 

 attempted before. 



