76 SALMON AND TROUT. 
to make the split-cane rods with a steel centre to each joint, so 
as to increase their ‘stiff springiness,’ so to speak. The little 
dark mark in the middle of fig. 4 exhibits this steel centre or 
core. The spring is first tapered and then tempered in the 
same manner that the main spring of a watch 
would be. After this it is coated with a water- 
proof and finally built up into the centre of 
the rod. 
T have a light salmon rod made for me on 
this principle by Messrs. Hardy with which I 
find I can get plenty of power, whether the 
wind is high or low, and from whatever direction it blows. 
In the case of a strong head wind especially, Iam disposed 
to think I can make better casting with this rod than with 
any I ever used, and it is withal a very handy and fairly light 
weapon, but quite stiff enough for any ordinary fishing. Its 
length is fourteen feet. I find that on a calm day I can cast, 
with heavy salmon line, over thirty measured yards on the level 
grass, and this, in my opinion, represents as much as is often 
wanted to be done in practice ; in fact, most casts with the 
salmon fly will, if measured, be found, I am satisfied, nearer 
twenty than thirty yards.! Of course, I am aware that there are 
some rivers and, perhaps, some casts here and there on most 
‘salmon rivers, in which a longer rod would enable the fisherman 
to reach some favourable point otherwise inaccessible, but when 
this cannot be done by wading I am content to put up with the 
loss of an occasional good cast in exchange for the constant 
‘comfort and convenience which I find in a rod of the propor- 
tions indicated. 
It is all very well to talk lightly of casting forty yards, and 
so forth, with a twenty-foot Castle Connell, but the man who 
wishes to do it, and to go on doing it all day, must be of 
stronger mould or greater height than the ordinary run of 
mortals. In my opinion a twenty-foot rod requires a seven- 
4 T fully agree. An ordinary fly fisher seldom casts more than twenty yards 
Properly, ED. 
