May, 1919 
FOREST AND STREAM 
247 
the other a “Uniqua” 6 oz. The lighter 
reel has enough soft lead wire wound 
round the bottom of the spool to bring 
its weight up to that of the heavier; 
because with the heavier end the rod is 
in perfect balance. 
Fishing with an unbalanced rod is not 
a very great pleasure and it is wonder- 
ful what a difference it makes when 
using the same rod correctly balanced. 
I HAVE found that the effort required 
to pick up a line (when well rubbed 
down with deer fat) off the water is 
much less than that required to retrieve 
an equal length of line that is not float- 
ing on the surface of the water. Some 
of the selling points in connection with 
rods in English catalogs was written 
possibly 30 years ago, and I suppose 
they keep on printing it from force of 
habit. We must remember however, 
that not everybody likes the same things. 
Some of us prefer rare meat; others 
want it cooked until it is black in the 
face. Someone who possibly had a great 
local reputation years ago, used a rod 
with an “extra heavy tip with maxi- 
mum lifting power.” Those who were 
not quite so fortunate or skillful, attri- 
buted the success to the top heavy rod, 
and in all probability ordered similar 
monstrosities for themselves, hoping 
thereby to change their luck. Conse- 
quently the maker of such a rod had a 
demand for it, and one can’t blame the 
j poor man if he continued to list it in his 
i catalog. 
1 
T he illustration showing the taper 
of my rod is only approximately 
■ correct. However it does illustrate 
' very clearly the difference between an 
even taper from butt to tip and a vari- 
■ able taper. 
I If a drawing was made full size, the 
i difference between an even taper and a 
variable taper, such as is shown would 
1 be hardly noticeable to the naked eye, 
I nevertheless when we get down to busi- 
] ness and use a micrometer to measure 
1 the diameters we find that the rod is 
I not an even taper, and in order to show 
I this plainly it is necessary to multiply 
I the diameters by at least 5 and divide 
the longitudinal distances by about 10. 
I I venture to say that there are no 
I good dry-fly rods that are a uniform 
I and even taper from tip to butt. Meas- 
■ ured in a casual manner they may ap- 
I pear to be so, but if we go after the fig- 
I ures accurately I think we shall find 
I that the taper is a variable one and I 
I believe that one of the secrets of suc- 
cessful rod construction is knowing just 
how to taper the rod to get the required 
results. 

AN OLD FRIEND 
(continued from page 245) 
life that Forest and Stream is endeav- 
oring to preserve to the American boy. 
' The father who is a hunter and makes 
I a companion of his boy in the fields, 
j the mountains or at the streams does 
! much to build up a manly man. And 
such an association in the after years 
is a heritage of rich recollections. 
I 
Really your huntlno# fishing or vseallon outfit is NOT complete without one of 
these collapsible, storm-proof, canvas houses. Carried in a roll, light, strong, 
easily set uj> without tools. Ventilating shutters, screened against mosquitoes, 
. delightfully cool, open to the breeze or closed storm tight or just partly 
^ closed, as you wish. Eight sizes. An ideal house for all outdoor purposes. 
Very durable, will withstand heavy winds. You will be delighted with it. 
Write today for prices and full description. 
Outdoor 
Sleeping 
Summer 
Housekeeping 
For Hotels, 
Golf Clubs, 
and Summer 
Resorts 
CLOSE-TO-NATIRE 
COMPANY 
650 Front St., Collax, Iowa 
CAMP OUT IN 
_-TO-HATURE 
CANVAS HOUSES 
Vacation in the Pine 
Scented Lakelands 
of Canada 
In the “Highlands of Ontario,” 
that wonderful region of scenic 
beauty, you can Fish, Swim, 
Golf, Canoe, Camp, Hunt — 
spend a vacation you will never 
regret or forget. Mirror -like 
lakes set in the grandeur of 
forests of pine and balsam. 
The purest of air, 1,000 to 
2,000 feet above the sea, and 
i hay fever is unknown. 
Famous Playgrounds for 
Outdoor Men and Women 
“Algonquin Park” — “30,000 
Islands of Georgian Bay” — 
“Kawartha Lakes”— “Muskoka 
Lakes” — “Timagami” and the 
“Lake of Bays.” Modern 
hotels — or “rough” it if you 
I prefer. Any Grand Trunk 
Agent will gladly plan your 
trip for you. Write any of 
the following for descriptive 
literature: 
C. G. Orttenburger, 907 Merchants Loan & 
Trust Bldg., Chicago, 111. 
W. R. Eastman, Room 510, 294 West Wash- 
ington St., Boston, Mass. 
H. M. Morgan, 1019 Chamber of Commerce 
Bldg., Bulfalo, N. Y. 
J. H. Burgis, 819 Dime Bank Bldg.. Detroit, 
Mich. 
A. B. Chown, 1270 Broadwav, New York City, 
N. Y. 
S PEED the days when 
the thrill of the hunt 
returns. 
The B.S.A. will resume 
its place in forest and field 
— at targets and traps in 
friendly rivalry. 
B.S.A. rifles and guns will 
be made as before the war, 
for all these purposes, and 
their reliability and accu- 
racy will again be unbeat- 
able features. 
With peace established, we 
shall manufacture: 
B.S.A. lever cocked air 
rifles. 
B.S.A .22 calibre sporting 
and target rifles — single 
shot and magazine. 
B. S. A. rifles of various 
bores for long-range 
target practice and 
game shooting. 
B.S.A. shot guns. 
B.S.A. patent Rifle Sights. 
We want our friends — old 
and new — to know more 
about these “will be” 
products. 
Therefore, will you write for 
further information and for 
rifle books, free on request? 
THE BIRMINGHAM SMALL 
ARMS COMPANY. UMITED 
Dept. 20, Birmingham. England 
