RODS. 
23 
the Angler much trouble ; as, in case of accident, his rod is 
always at the place of destination. 
The rods used for Trout are from 12 to 1C feet in length; 
the butt of maple, the second and third joints of ash or lance 
wood, and the last joint, or top, of lance wood, for bait ; if for 
fly-fishing, of spliced lance wood, bamboo, and whale-bone, 
similar to the salmon rod : in fact, a trout rod may be called 
a small salmon rod, and is very often used for the same pur- 
pose. 
The general rod is very useful in travelling where the 
Angler expects a variety of sport. It is composed of various 
kinds of woods, with a hollow butt, commonly of maple, and 
is made to coutain several spare tops, of different sizes, by 
which it can be altered to suit any kind of fishing. 
The walking-cane rod, if well made, is also a very useful 
article for travelling, or where the Angler does not wish his 
business or profession known. Each joint is made to slide 
into another, and the whole is contained in a hollow butt, 
similar to the walking-cane. Tliis rod suits very well for 
trout, perch, or any light fishing, but will not answer for 
heavy fishing, as it cannot be made sufficiently large to be 
strong. Heavy rods have been made to slide into metaleases, 
but they are large, and more inconvenient to carry than the 
ordinary jointed rod. 
The true Angler should if possible have a separate rod for 
each kind of fishing. All the varieties of rods above men- 
tioned are for sale at the principal tackle stores in the Union, 
put up in compact form, in linen, woollen, and canvas bags, 
or neat leather cases. 
The Angler will therefore bear in mind, that in choosing 
a rod of any description, it is necessary to observe that it is 
perfectly straight, tight in the joints, without shaking, a grad 
ual tapering from butt to end, and that it springs equally in all 
its parts. 
