2 2 2 
[Feb. 8, 1908. 
If you wish to make a double cork grasp, the 
reelseat and taper shown in Fig. 18 are neces¬ 
sary. In this case the corks for the lower grasp 
are followed with a pine sleeve a quarter-inch 
shorter at each end than the reelseat. This is 
cemented on and another cork pressed down until 
it butts against the sleeve and is pierced slightly 
by the upper end of the reelseat. More corks 
are glued on until the desired length of the small 
upper grasp is attained, then the glue given time 
to dry. The cork is then worked down, taper¬ 
ing forward until the small metal taper finishes 
it off. This is cemented lightly in place. 
A double grasp, cord wound, requires more 
care. It is first necessary to obtain a pine grasp, 
bored through. These come in the shape shown 
in Fig. 32, and much longer than necessary. Saw 
in the middle, fit, and wind the lower grasp, 
try the reelseat and cut off the cylindrical part 
of the grasp so that the joint will come under 
the reel, rather below the center. Attach the 
reelseat permanently and fit the upper grasp, mak¬ 
ing it fit snugly, but allowing for the thickness 
of the cord to be wound over it. Now wind a 
dozen turns of cord over the upper grasp (see 
Fig- 3 d) and try it, removing the cord and tak¬ 
ing off a little wood until it will butt against the 
other end under the reelseat. Replace the cord, 
coat the rod and inside of sleeve with glue and 
push it home. Continue the winding until the 
upper grasp is covered, then tie off and fit the 
taper (Fig. 18) snugly in place. 
These cord-wound grasps should be given two 
coats of shellac and one of coach varnish as soon 
as they are dry. It must be remembered that 
small cord, when varnished, is somewhat slip¬ 
pery when wet, and large cord harsh to the hand. 
If the size is equal to that of D or E silk line 
it will make a good grasp. 
I prefer the cork grasps for many reasons, 
among them being the ease with which they can 
be made after one has had a little practice. Cork 
must be humored, as it were. If you find that 
sandpapering the grasp lengthwise does not re¬ 
sult in a velvety finish, secure the rod in a vise 
after wrapping it with several thicknesses of 
cloth, and with a long strip of the finest sand- 
paper, go over the grasp just as a bootblack does 
with his polishing cloth, turning the rod occas¬ 
ionally. You will soon learn to impart a nice 
finish, and this will prove that you can, on a 
pinch, get'along without the use of a lathe. 
Am&teur Rod Making. 
Liberty, N. Y., Jan. 28. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: I have been much interested in your 
articles in re rod making. Some of the finest 
split bamboo rods I have ever seen were the 
work of amateurs, but it is very curious to note 
the style of action preferred by some. One 
friend, for instance, turns out rods that are stiff 
as pokers in butt and middle, with thin, weak 
tips. He always fishes drawn gut. His rods are 
well made, but I would not care to use them; it 
would be misery. I have tried Athenian’s (H. 
G. McClellan) wax—rosin and turpentine—but 
do not like it for fly making. There is nothing 
like well made wax. I made some two years ago 
that was first-rate, but what I have now is pretty 
poor. I think it would pay some one to make 
good wax to sell, say in small boxes. I know 
that I would be glad to buy rather than make it. 
Theodore Gordon. 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
The Chicago Tournament. 
Chicago, Ill., Feb. 1.— Editor Forest and 
Stream: Plans for the international tournament 
of fly- and bait-casting, to be held during the 
month of August at Chicago, are being shaped 
up. This tournament will be held under the aus¬ 
pices of the National Association of Scientific 
Angling Clubs, which comprises a membership 
of over 2,000 fly- and bait-casters scattered from 
coast to coast, and from the Great Lakes to the 
Gulf. The tourney is given by the Illinois Bait- 
Casting Club, of the South Side, Chicago, and 
will very likely be held at their lagoon in Wash¬ 
ington Park. 
At the annual meeting and dinner of the Illi¬ 
nois Bait-Casting Club the spirit of fellowship 
was at its best, and the fine enthusiasm which 
prevailed over tournament plans was gratifying. 
Another incident that will be of interest to clubs 
throughout the country was the decided approval 
MtHg-i:'. 
FRENCH SEA ANGLERS AT LA POINTE PLATE. 
of the plan of degree buttons which the club put 
in practice last season. These gold buttons are 
for proficiency at target contests during the sea¬ 
son, and are awarded for averages of all the 
scores made in the twelve events of bait-casting 
and eight events of fly-casting by each contestant, 
no button being awarded unless all scores planned 
were completed. 
The officers chosen for the coming year are: 
Chas. W. Keiser, President of the club; E. H. 
Matthews, Vice-President; H. E. Rice, Secre¬ 
tary-Treasurer, and Geo. A. Murrell, Captain' 
Executive Committee—The above officers with 
Chas. P. Clifford, H. R. Winfield and Wm. Stan¬ 
ley. 
The newly chosen president took up the tour¬ 
nament affairs at once and appointed the follow¬ 
ing committees: 
Finance—Chas. w’ Keiser, Chairman; C P. 
Clifford, P. J. Linderman,-J. H. Reynolds, E. H. 
Matthews, Wm. H. Clegg, J. M. Ranney, Wm. 
Stanley, C. S. Lawrence. 
Tournament.—Members of the Club, Execu¬ 
tive Committee, and ex-officio H. Wheeler Perce, 
President and H. E. Rice, Secretary of the Na¬ 
tional Association of Scientific Angling Clubs. 
Programme and Prizes.—H. E. Rice, Geo. A. 
Davis, Chas. W. Keiser. 
Publicity.—L. E. De Garmo, M. W. Pinckney, 
Dr. Chas. H. Lodor, Dr. B. L. Rawlins, L. N. 
Place. 
Grounds and Equipment.—Geo. A. Murrell, W. 
W. McFarlin, L. E. De Garmo, Chas. Gustraine. 
J. E. Amann,*J. N. Schroeder, A. Wagner, N. C. 
Heston. 
Entertainment.—W. J. Strickland, Chairman; 
H. C. Chapman, A. C. Cobb, Harry English, 
James Lindauer, A. S. True, W. O. Van Trese, 
F. F. Porter. 
Reception.—Geo. Eulette, Chairman; B. Green¬ 
wood, B. Hardenbrook, F. W. Hemminghaus, W. 
J. Jamison, W. S. Lockwood, W. H. Spencer, 
David R. Linder, J. D. Jones, John E. Diehl, H. 
F. Wait. O. C. Wehle, Geo. Hof. 
Trophies.—H. R. Winfield, Chairman; A. H 
Whitley, Dr. B. L. Rawlins, N. C. Heston. 
These tournaments, national in character, have 
proven to be the one long needed bond to draw 
the angling fraternity closer in touch on matters 
affecting their pleasure on lake and stream, as 
well as developing the finest spirit of friendly 
rivalry on the casting platform. 
Anglers affiliated with the casting clubs and 
those who are as yet unattached will find an un¬ 
usually attractive programme coming to their at¬ 
tention as the plans mature. 
It is assured the attendance will be by far the 
largest ever witnessed so far in the pursuit of 
the sport, the honors more than ever worth 
striving for, and given favorable conditions, the 
records to be made will unquestionably be the 
highest yet attained, while the “forward look” 
toward measures for protection and propagation 
of game fish in fresh and sea waters will be 
widened and the standard of sportsmanship 
among anglers raised to a higher plane than ever. 
It is planned to give every visiting angler the 
time of his life in the pleasure of “the game.” 
L. E. De Garmo, 
Chairman Publicity Committee. 
Forty-Foot Sea Rods, 
In sea fishing at Biarritz, France, some re¬ 
markably long and heavy rods are employed, 
according to the London Fishing Gazette, which 
says: “We think a twenty-foot salmon rod or 
roach pole is a pretty good length, but our 
friends at Biarritz use rods over forty feet in 
length.” 
In fishing from the walk at the lighthouse the 
rods are balanced on the railing by means of a 
wood rest fitting the iron bars. A line about 
the length of the rod is used, three or four hooks, 
and a light sinker. At La Pointe Plate, shown 
in the picture reproduced herewith, rods of les¬ 
ser length and weight are used, but even these 
are not featherweights, by any means. Reels, 
according to Vicomte Henri de France, are 
known to these sea anglers, but are seldom used. 
All the fish laws of the United States and Can¬ 
ada, revised to date and now in force, are given 
in the Game Laws in Brief. See adv. 
