American Fisher Flv- ume 1 lum~e Keturn lrip

The split-cane I-otl, in use by Sly ness, hut the long-term succrss of the nicluc. But was he? We'll let you dccitle. in this couritt-y fot- l~atnboorod can be attributed, quite We tlevotc this issue 01 the An~~ricn~z more thitn a ccntut-y,hzts l~eenI he sirnply, to its durability ;tnd its lightness. Fly Fi.shpr lo the history of the develop- most disc~tssctlimplement of all Furthermore, bamboo can be efficiently tnrnt of the split-cane rod in North Amer- ~~~srctot-ialrcgali;~-and rightly machined to very high tolerances, so a ica. We havc rcprintetl, in addition to so. Aftcr all, without this rc- wide selection of tapers can be easily Henshall's aforcmcntiot~eclOZL~ITZR arti- m;trkahlv tlelic-ate instrument, achieved. cle, several picccs that have :I direct bear- etitlowed with just thc right amount of Rut what of the history of tliesl~lit-cane ing on the topic. These wot-ks have been "power" ant1 "action," c.onstructctl I)y rot1 in North Arncrica? The six-strip con- SI-rqnently~uoted and ;iIludcd roovcr thr omnisciet;t c:-::ftsrnen possessed of mysti- struction techniqrt', with the cane's years by numerous ;ttngling wr-itet-s/liis- cal powet-s ancl skills, how could wc3make enamel on the outside, has Ixen in ttsc torians; 1)ut to out- knowledge, this is the the pet-fect i:incty-foot ~1strrcluir-etl to since circa 1845 and is genrrally consi- first time this original material c-atcll the fish ~isingtight "11 ;tg:tinst a dered to hr of American ot.itrin. For the has bccn collcctivc~lyp~~l)lished. Our hank, in ;I 1xtc.kwatct-,;tnd utidcr ;tl)out history of split-cants rod constr-uction in intention is to provide an easily accessi- three hertat-es (:I dense hr-ush, while the this coittitry, we are indebtecl to Dr. James ble point of rcfcrcnc-c for those intcrestrcl I~lnckflies ;tntl moscluitocs at-c Sict-ccly A. Henshall, ~rhoseprclirninary account in the histot-y of thrc.anc r-otl. We make no attacking ;111 csl~osctl;trc:rs of our epitlci-- on thc subject appcared in his Book of claim as to esha~~stivcncssant1 invite our tnis! Special rod t:t~)ct-s.unicl~tcly cngi- Blnrk Bn.s.5 (1881). An amplified, revised readcrs to :ttlvisc 11s of additional matet.ial ncercd let-rules, special glues, impregria- version was published in O~~ti~zgrnag:t- pertinent to tliia arcit of arigling history. tion, ancl secret varnishing tc.chniclues dine (May 1902). Since then much has Mo~.co\,ct.,we fee1 it is itnpt~tat~\~cto re- arc among the to11ic.s usu;llly ~tssoi.i~ttcd been published concerning just who was tlati to the soul-c.cs1)c.r-iotlic-ally-nor only with the mystical lore ol split-cane rot1 responsible for the invention of the six- to glcitn new inaiglit. 11r1t to tn;tIic sure nianufacturc. Sure, sornc of thcsc things strip canc rod. Henshall gives Samurl that histot-iral al~crt-;ttiorishavc not oc- arc germane to the cane rotl's effective- Phillippr credit for first using thc tech- c~trrctlclue to S;tulty transcription of fact. d Volume 13 Number 3

Split Bamboo Rods ...... 2 T. S. Morrell Making Split Bamboo Rods-Amateur Work ....4 T. S. Morrell The Split Bamboo Rod-Its History, Etc...... 8 William Mitchell The Split Bamboo Rod-Its History, Etc...... 10 Iskender The Split-Bamboo Rod from a German Standpoint 11 Iskender Anleitung zur Angel-Fischerei ...... 12 Richard Hoffman Charles F. Murphy ...... 14 Fred Mather Origin of the Split-Bamboo Rod ...... 20 James A. Henshall Notes and Comment ...... 26 Books ...... 27 Museum News ...... 28

:lr/ l)fr?, lor LI;II tli:~l'i1011. AI~I\v~II

(.'O/)\~ /';//ftflJ I)~;III:Ibl. MIJIIt,\ Split Bamboo Rods by T.S. Morrell

T. S. Morrrll, a nznrlrrnth-crn- well made, with proper rare should last a stand them on end on a piece of white tury rportlng ZLI~Z~PTUI/LO wrote life-time. I have one that has seen eigh- paprr, draw a lin? around [the] outside under the psrudonym Old Izaak, teen years of use all over this section of with a pencil; if for six-strip divide the contrzbutrd thr follozuzn,q artzcle country, and has never needed repair. I circumference into six equal parts with a to the March 13, 1880, znur (7101. would state that my best rods I never lend pair of compasses, then rule a line from 13, no. 5) of tllr Ch~cagoField. (I keep ash and lancewood ones expressly point to point, so that they all meet in the After Pytollzng t/!r uzrtue~ of for this purpose.) I propose to give some centrr. Thc difference in size of ferrules splrt-cane rodr, /zr ~II~Td~rrctzon~ for description of the split bamboo rod and will show thc amount of taper required. tlzrzr constructzon. HPcrrd7tsE. A. Grren some account of their inventor. For the, butt draw a plan on paper of the for thr znz~rntzonofthr ~pl~t-bamboorod. The best bamboo, in fact the only kind swell of the hand hold; from this plan Both Morrell and Grrrn rerzdfd zn worth cutting up, is the clouded Calcutta mark your bamboo clearly with a pencil, Nrwark, Nrw Jercry. cane. The clouded appearance is formed and saw it out; never attempt tosplit it for by the burning off of little vine-like there may be just enough twist in it to NEWARK,N. J. branches growing from each knot or spoil your joint. If you have grooved EDITORCHICAGO FIEI.D:-That the split joint; these branrhes wind around the boards the size of each strip you can plane bamboo rod is the best for any or all stalk tightly, and are so tough that burn- your strips quickly and accurately. If not, angling purposes is now pretty generally ing is the only practical method of remo- trust to jack-knife and file, or use a piece admitted, though I often meet with those val. It is very difficult to get good of stc,el, withavcut intoit theshape your who dispute it, and swrar by therecital of bamboo, not one cane in a hundred is fit strip shoulcl be, sharpen this, and draw wonderful catches of many and big fish to cut up. The best test is to cut across your strip over it until redured to the by ash, lancewood and greenheart-, that grain with a sharp knife; if it leaves a correct shape. In gluing your strips the latter cannot hc beatm. I have only to smooth glossy surface, at lrast half uJny togethrr much care must he taken; have ask these grntlcrner~to try for oneday ;I sis- througli, ant1 from the inside you can the glue thin and boiling hot; work in a ounce split 1,alnl)oo against a rod of :uny pull off long, tough threads, your bam- warm room; spread with a brush the glue other material of thr s;llncs propol-tions. boo will pay for cutting. If it is dry and on the bamboo for about one foot, com- which ~roul(lI)c. at least I hrclcs ounces brittle it is good for nothing, The thick or mencing at the thick end wind it tightly heavier. Your ac.hing h;ic-k ant1 wrist butt end only should be used. Four-strip and closely with a fishing line, draw it would scbttlc the rnatter I)cyontl tlisl~ute. rods when glued together are nearly very tight as far as you have put on the Split bamboo rods are now made for all square, the corners are filed off to approx- glue, then proceed as before until you sorts of angling. The righteen or twenty imate rounclness. The six-strip when havr wound your joint. Now straighten feet salmon, the eight to ten-feet striped glued together is hexagonal, and if in- your piece carefully and lay it on a shelf bass, with jewrllrd guides and tips, the tended to b' round only a small portion for twenty-four hours. Finish off with a skittering rod of sixtren feet, the chum- of the enamel has to be filed off. They are filr and sand paper and it is ready for the ming rod, perch rod, black bass rod, and a great improvement on the four-strip. frrrules and silk lashings. Care must be lastly the elegant fly rod for trout. Before cutting into the bamboo get taken in putting on the ferrules, so that A split bamboo of first-class material, your ferrules, take them for each joint, thr rod will be straight. If you have made Masthead of the Chicago Field in which Morrell's article on thesplit- bamboo rod appeared. The Chicago Field runs a short-li71rd sporting miscellany (1878 to 1881) .similar to Forest & Stream. Its drpartmrnts included Trap Shooting, Rifle, Kennrl, Amusrn~ent.s,Game and Shooting, Fish and Fishing, Natural History, and The Horse.

your joints the size of the outside of the Andrew Clerk and Mr. Conroy, who each ferrules very little filing will make them expressed their approbation, and sug- fit on easily. The edges of the enamel of gested that he should find a good mech- the strips to be glued together should be anic to make some for sale, and Mr. Green very sharp, and the surface to be glued persuaded Mr. Charles F. Murphy to try perfectly flat, then the joints cannot be the experiment.These rods, though then seen. extremely high priced, were eagerly pur- I have thus hastily described the work chased by some of the most expert an- of an amateur (not of the professional rod glers, who appreciated their beauty, maker), because many like to make their power and lightness. Murphy is still own tackle, con amore, which is precisely making rods, and they have a reputation my case, for I think there is nothing saved all over the country as being perfectly by it, or not enough to pay for the trouble. satisfactory. Murphy is a very conscien- The idea of the split bamboo was taken tious, careful workman, using only from the English-built rod of several sound, well-seasoned bamboo, and kinds of wood split and glued together. I spending more time on his work than is am glad to learn that a complete assort- profitable, and consequently is poor. ment of Conroy's rods will be sent to the Mr. Green has done nothing for many Fish Congress at Berlin, by Professor years except take care of his large prop- Baird, among the United States exhibits, erty, and spending most of his time hunt- which, taken as a whole, will be a credit ing and fishing. He and his confrere, Fig. 63. 11 to the country as the appropriation by Samuel Streit, go every Summer to Can- Congress is a liberal one; the Smithson- ada after salmon; they have had the lease ian collection alone would do us credit. I of several rivers, and last season were on A technique for planing bamboo predict that the collections of split- the Marguerite. There is scarcely a hunt- strips for a split-cane rod. The bamboo rods will excite more admiration ing or fishing resort on this continent illustration is from Henry than all other implements there exhi- with which they are not familiar, and a Parkhurst Wells's Fly-Rods and Fly- bited. pair of more expert fly-fishers it would be Tackle (1885). Wells (1842 to 1904) The inventor of the split bamboo rod is hard to find. Mr. Green is getting along zuas the originator of the renowned Mr. E. A. Green, of Newark, N. J. Mr. in years, but the zest for the sport in- Parmacheene Bell?, a gaudy wet fly Green is a retired mechanic of large creases with the years. He still uses the that he fished successfully on means. and an enthusiastic mortsman. rods for salmon and trout, which he first Maine's Magalloway River (see the He is the inventor of numeroui applian- made, and they have never needed repair. American Fly Fisher, uol. 2, no. 4). ces for the rod, rifle, and shot gun, and is a His five-and-a-half ounce trout rod is the first-rate workman. The first rods that he most perfect I ever handled. May he enjoy - made of split bamboo, he showed to Dr. his sporting for many years to come. § Making Split Bamboo Rods- Amateur Wor by T. S. Morrell A second article by Morrell. This bamboo shaped to an edge so sharp that it , one appeared in the April 28, cut my finger so that the blood ran. Bind- Typical trouting tackle of the late 1883, issue of the American An- ing up the finger, I set to work again, but 1860s. The illustration is from gler (uol. 3, no. 17). According to succeeded better in cutting my fingers Genio Scott's Fishing in American Morrell, only the butts of Phil- than I did the bamboo. I worked faith- Waters (1869).Note the split- lippe's rods were constructed of fully at that butt for many evenings, and bamboo rod and its description. split cane. (Morrell obuiously had my hands became so sore that I had to Bnri1c.r seen a Phillippe rod). Morrell also take a resting spell, and give them the states that E. A. Green taught him how to benefit of some salve. make split-bamboo rods and that C1zarles I have never since come across any Murphy was the first to manufacture bamboo that equalled that for hardness. these rods for the trade. The sharp edges were something wonder- ful to see, and more wonderful to feel, as A number of years ago I was very desi- they slipped under the skin when least rous of possessing a split hamboo fly rod, expected. Before I had been a week at the but could not afford to purchase, as the butt, I wished I had not begun, and was price was high, even for the four strips sick of the job. But there was one thing wound tightly and closely with a fish- (forty-five dollars). The six strip had been that was born into me, and that was stick- line so far as glued, or rather not quite so introduced, but had not, as now, entirely to-it-ativeness, in anything once attemp- far, for fear I should leave an inch or more superceded the former. ted; and I stuck to that butt until I got it without glue. This is an important part; After pondering the subject in all its into shape; though my hands were for if the smallest space is left unglued, bearings, and because I had recently covered with cuts, and somewhat like a the joint will warp. Then I finished as I broken beyond rapair my old ash and file in feeling and stiffness. had begun, until the whole of this joint lancewood rod, and must have a new one, The middle joint and tip gave me less was glued and tightly wound with twine. I concluded to try my hand at making a trouble, though four different times I Then straightening the piece carefully split bamboo. gave up the job in disgust. But I went at it (for the hot glue had made it sott and I first set about finding a first-class again; and after a month's work (odd pliant), I laid it away on a level shelf. The piece of bamboo. This I secured from a evenings) got the rod ready to glue middle joint was treated in the sameway. reliable rod maker, who assured me that I together. The butt gave me more trouble, for I would never see better stuff if I lived a Before putting the rod together, I went had not strength of hand sufficient to hundred years. to see my friend Charley Murphy, andgot bring the strips tightly together where it I tried to saw it into strips, but could some points about gluing. Charley swelled to form the hand-hold. I pro- not. It was worse than sawing ivory; the wanted to finish the rod for me-but, no! cured a number of iron rings of different saw was not fine enough or of sufficient I had begun, and must finish it alone, sizes, and driving them on tightly suc- temper. Then I split it; and luckily it split without anyone's help, but I was thank- ceeded in getting the strips together so straight, which I have found in subse- ful for useful hints. that the joints were perfect. quent attempts is not likely to be thecase. First I made a glue pot; two common At first I had difficulty in winding on I began first with the butt, splitting strips pressed-fruit cans, one just small enough the line sufficiently tight, but after sev- wide enough to form the hand hold, and to fit easily into the other, and a piece of eral experiments I did it, by first taking a shaving down to a gradual taper. I did wire attached to each for handles, were few turns around the end of the joint, not attempt a six-strip, but concluded first fitted by cutting into the top of the overlapping the line to secure a good pur- that four strips would beas much as, with smaller a number of half-inch cuts, and chase; then I dropped the line and let it mv limited tools. I could succeed with. turning out the edges, so that the inner rest on the floor. Placing my foot firmly Having a good oil-stone, I sharpened can rested on this rim in the outer. leav- upon it, I turned the rod in my two hands, my knife and set to work, going at it with ing an empty space of about an inch winding the line firmly and strongly. confidence and vigor. One or two shav- between the bottoms of the two cans. After the joints had been glued two or ings came off without much trouble, but This makes a good glue pot, and requires three days, I fastened on the ferrules; first after that the knife required re-sharpen- but little time to prepare. giving each piece a thorough dressing ing. Having the glue boiling hot, and just with fine sand paper. The ferrules I fas- Giving it a few turns on the oil-stone, I of the right thickness, neither too thick tened on with shellac. Jointing the pieces got a good edge, and again set to work. I nor too thin, I was ready toglue the strips together, I turned them in the ferrules found that after every three or four cuts together. With a small varnish brush I until I had the rod perfectly straight. I into the bamboo, the knife required re- spread the glue quickly and evenly on then marked the places for the rings, and honing. about eighteen inches length of tip, com- fixed the reel-seat in a corresponding After a while I succeeded in getting the mencing at the thickest end. This I line. As this was a fly rod, the reel-seat TROUTINGTACKLE. Snnlhers 1,2,3,4. Split bamboo tront-rod and click reel. The hand-hold above the reel is either velvet or plain wobcl. This trout-rod is eminently American ; joints aud rings of German silver, the rings gradually diminishing in size from butt to top. A spliced top joint is to be preferred. 5. Wicker-l~nsketwith padlock, and plate for owner's name; sliding shonlder-pad on the strap. 6. Tin bait-box, paint- ed, perforated lid, and waist-belt. The strap is son~etiniesso ~l-rfideas to connect wit11 the basket-strap, when the box is worn or left OR, at the option of the wearer. I11 c:se of connecting the bait-strap with tlie basket-strap, the b:wket is supported I)y the left shoulder, and the bait-strap attache? at the waist, so th:~tthe right arm is entirely free for c:~stiiig. 7. Fly-book with leaves of Hristol-l)ofilmil,or other stiti m:lteri:Il, to which are attached short elids of elastic, with n hook to attach a loop, :ultl a rillfi at the other end of the lcnf for the hook. This ]>In11of carrying flies tvithout bellcling the gut was in~entecl1)y Mr. Hutchinson, of Uticn, New I-ork, 2nd the cards may either 1)e ;ittached to the book or ]:lid in ax I~~vcs,so tllfit. the angler may nlercly take :1 ~jllgleleaf of r;clectcil flier, and place it ill his po~kt.t-l)ookfor n ,lay's firhiljg. F;.Lan(lilig-llet. Iiim of hollow br:lss wire. Meshes I;lrge :~ndof llot too fi~let\vinc. 1I:~ridleformecl Of two joints which screw to,cet,hcr,or ~t~leso that the joint conl~ectctl\villi tlie ]let will slide iuto tlle butt. Tile oval shape of rinl is better than the round ollc. was behind the hand and untlcrnmth the out the other side. I sawed six pieces ious kinds of fishing, and had come to the rod. exactly alike in size and taper for a joint. conclusion that it was unprofitable work, The rod was now ready for the silk The manner of getting thesizecorrectly is and I would attempt no more. lashings. Taking fine red sewing silk, I to take the male ferrule for the thick end Not long ago I saw an advertisement in drew off the spool about four feet of silk, of the joint, and the female ferrule for the THEANGLER of a manufacturer who and, threading a fineneedle, began wind- small end; stand each on end on a piece of stated that he was prepared to furnish ing the tip joint. I took only a few turns, paper and make a circle outside; then strips of bamboo shaped and sized for the and running the needle under these drew with a b air of small comDassrs measure different joints, and at very moderate pri- the thread through and cut off with a the circle into six equal parts, and draw a ces, with ferrules and mountings to fit. As sharp knife as closely as possible. 'The line from point to point across the circle, I wanted a heavy fly-rod suitable for the first lashings were placed an inch apart, so that all the lines meet in the centre. large and various kinds of fish in Florida increasing in breadth and furthrr ;lp:~rtas This will show the size and taper of each waters, I wrote him to send me the strips the rod became thicker, so that at the butt piece (strip), and the exact shape. and mountings for such a rod. These near the hand-hold they wrre two inches "The board on which I sawed the strips came duly to hand, and I set to work, and apart and a quarter of an inch in width. has .grooves cut so that I can easily plane succeeded far beyond my expectations in I should have stated before, that when the inside of the strips; any inequality I making a rod that, I think, will even pass the rod was glued the pieces wrre nrarly finish off with a file. muster with the work of professional rod square, and that theedges were filed off to "I now place my six strips together, makers. At least so those experts who approximate roundness. winding twine around tightly some dis- have seen the work tell me. I am now After the lashing were all on, I gave the tance apart, so that I can get my thumb putting on the silk lashings, and as soon rod its first coat of varnish, putting it on and finger between, and by pressuresee if as the rod has had its several coats of with a fine brush as thin as I could spread they come well together. varnish I will send it to the office of THE it. The rod received four coats of varnish "For the butt, I draw a plan on paper, AMERICANANGLER for exhibition before I before I considered it finished. that is, enough to represent the hand- put it to service in the Adirondacks in This rod has done many years of service hold; measure with compasses the dis- May. Next winter I hope to test it in Flor- and has taken hundreds of trout and tance across each strip, or cut a pattern of ida. I wanted to make this rod round, but black bass, and has never neetlccl repairs, paper, lay it on the bamboo and mark it the end of the ferrules being hexagonal, I other than everv winter anotI1c.r coat of out. For the tip and middle joint, when I finished it in that form. varnish. glue the strips together, I wind hard, I desire to say further that I do not make After my succcss with this rod, I made tightly and closely together with twine; any rods to sell, but only for my own use. sevt*ralothers for frrsh and salt watc'r fish- now I straighten them carefully, and lay If any of the readers of THEANGLER wish ing, of various calibre anel wcaight, all of away for twenty-four hours. to try their hands at this work (only six-strip bamboo; hut I never coultl get "For the butt I have iron rings of many because they cannot afford to buy), and any material equal to that of the first rod. sizes; when the strips areglued together, I get into difficulty, if they will write tome Most of these rods were successful, so far force on these rings, driving hard and stating what the trouble is, I will give as usefulness is concerned, hut could closely together. This brings the glued them by letter the benefit of what little hardly be called fine pieces of workman- strips so tightly together that the joints experience and knowledge I have on this ship. They cost so much for the mount- cannot be seen. Twenty-four hours after- subject. ings, and so much time was taken to put wards I take off the rings and wrapping of In making the first rod I received most them together and finish, that I came to twine, and finish off with file and sand- of my instruction from Mr. E. A. Green, the conclusion that it did not pay, and paper; then fit on the ferrules, which I who claims to have been the first to have that it was about as cheap to purchase. fasten with cement. made a complete split bamboo rod. The I cannot better describe. the work of the "Before putting on the g~~idesand claim I made for him several years ago in six-strip rod than to quote the letter I metal tip, I joint the roc1 together and the Chicago Field. The claim was dis- wrote Doctor Hensh:ill, and which he turn it in the ferrules until I get it per- puted. Doctor Henshall wrote to me for published in his hook on thc black bass. fectly straight; then mark the places for further information, as he wished to give "I have just finished a rod patterned the guides, so that they are all in a the honor in his forthcoming Bookof the after that describecl by you in 'Hallock's straight line, that the fishing line may Black Bass to whom it was due. I gave the Sportman's Gazeteer,'-a on(.-hand rod have as little purchase as possible. I now Doctor all the information I had, and he for black bass. I will briefly describe my cement on the metal tip, and lash on the published his conclusions in his book. method of manufacture, as I learned it guides with a string, simply to hold them I knew when I wrote that article that from Mr. E. A. Green. in place ready for the silk lashings. there were several claimants for the honor "The rod is eight ancl a half feet long, "The rod is now ready for thelashings. of the invention; there being two of them in three joints of six-strip bamboo. The I wind the guides first, winding on residents of Newark, and both my per- ferrules, reel-bands, butt-rap, and guides, smoothly and closely. When one side of sonal friends. From them I had often I had made to order, not bring an expert the guide is wound, I cut off the silk, heard the story of how the thought came in working metals. leaving a half yard, which I thread in a to them and of their first experiments. "I first sawed the bamboo in two strips fine needle, and, pushing the latter under One of those who most strenuously com- with a fine sharp handsaw; then I took a the lashings, draw it through tightly, a~~dbatted my claim for Mr. Green as the board with a perfectly straight slit sawed cut off close. Then I finish the other side inventor, quoted Mr. Charles H. Luke, the length of a joint of the proposed rod. in the same way. I now mark with a pen- an old angler and companion of Phillipi, Laying the flat part of one of the strips (I cil the places for the lashings, the whole to whom Doctor Henshall gives thecredit had just sawn asundcr) on this boardover length of the joint, tip, or butt, on which in his book. the slit, I carefully placed it soas toget the I am working; then draw off from the As Charles H. Luke was for many years requisite taper, and then tacked it at the spool about four feet of the silk, cut it off my angling companion and long loved edges firmly to thr boarcl. T!len with a and thread the needle; this is enough for friend, I can with perfect safety say I rule and pencil I drew on the bamboo a several lashings of the tip. The further know all he had to say about it, for I have straight line, being careful to taper it finishing of the rod I have before des- talked with him many times on this sub- right, and sawed it out; then taking out cribed, and need not repeat." ject. The rods he saw old Sam Phillipi use the tacks replacetl the strips so as to saw I had made a half-dozen rods for var- he never claimed were completed of split Two tackle advertisements that - V appeared in the September?0,1865, issue of Wilkes' Spirit of the Times FISHING-TACKLE. (vol. 13, no. 5). Clerk's ad is --MMMMh .-y.c-\zc-~.~. especially interesting; the Excelsior 18HING TACKLE. fly rod is described a.r being BNDRZEW CLIERK L Co. "manufactured from split bamboo." ENo. 48 Maiden Lane, N. Y., offer to the pnblic the We have not (as yet) been able to eat and beat aaeortment of flehing lmkle ever examine earlier issues of Wi1ke.r'~ la, ezbited ln the United Sta. The particular1J publication for Clerk's advertise- licit attention to their nne ualled coE ection of - ments; however, Joyce Tracey at the TROUT, BASS, AN% SALMON FLIES, American Antiquarian Society (made to ttern or copied from the insect.) The advises us that the ad first appeared BXC&L~I~FLY ROD, manufactured from s lit barn- in the January 21,1865, issue (~01. boo, stronger, lighter, and more elastic t i'an an 11, no. 21). Todate, this is the other. The London Bronae and German Silver ~ee! earliest mention of a split-cane rod The N r t bs8Line, Mother-of-pearltrolling bait, in a tackle advertisement that we've Clerk9a=erican bss0, sah-10 and trout hooks, uncovered. The Pritchard brothe7.r' waterproof braided eilk linea, 9e C. etc. Partiee fit- (Thomas and Henry) tackle shop at ted ont with appropriate tackle for hnethe Adiron- 94 Fulton Street was a popular dac region, Canada, and the Provincee ; deo for Long gathering place for New York City's Island and the mountain brooks of the neighboring anglers. Henry Pritchard, a rod state& builder of some repute, held a N. B.-Sole I.uI~o~~xBof WarNm'0 OeIebrated Drilled patent for an early type of ring Eyed Nesdl~. [me guide (1859) and an all-rubber, molded rod handle (1881). See Fred ISHING TACKLE.- Mather's My Angling Friends (1901) BROS., 94 Fnltan street., for more on Henry "Harry" wouldF res ctfnlly inform Trout and Salmon fisher- Pritchard. men that 8ey Mil have the largest and best aeeortmen of FLIES ever offered in this country to the lovere of the sport for the coming season. Owing to the large demand lor Fliee during the last season, our stock wae early dimhiah and we were unable to supply our matomem with% e different varieties that were want- but will use our best endeavors to keep a good and 7thl aesorbnent for the entire coming season. Constant1 on hand a ood assortment of TR&T B~O&AMI BASS RODS at all pricee. heo, everything that is needed lor fbh- "$C JoBuINa PROMPTLY ATTBNDXD TO. N. B.-We are the only parties in the United Sta9 ea that. can make Fliw from any pattern. [22%rn

bamboo, but that the butt was of natural split bamboo for tips belongs to England, into the wilderness with him, though bamboo, into which the middle joint or where they were in use nearly a century time is making her marks upon us both. split was inserted. The first maker of the ago. The East India Company's ships As the silver locks cluster around the split bamboo rod for the market it is not when returning home light, would fill heads that were formerly of darker hue, disputed was Charles F. Murphy, of their holds with bamboo for want of bet- and the eyes grow dim, and the vigor of Newark, and to him is due more than any ter ballast, as this wood was of some valur manhood departs from us, we live much other the honor of introducing a perfect to commerce for its adaptability for in the past. As one after one of our loved rod that has captivated the fancy of the cabinet ware, baskets and various uses. angling friends leaves us and lay aside best anglers of both the new and old My old friend Luke has gone to his their rods forever, their memories cling to world. long and silent home, full of years and us with a hold that time cannot loosen. Mr. Green never made rods for sale, but beloved by all who knew him. He was As I am making preparations for my trip only for his own use and those of his with me last spring in the Adirondacks, to Long Lake the thoughts of Luke and particular friends, to whom he gave where we had such glorious sport. I shall his never ceasing stories of the angling of them. Mr. Green's work was practical go there next May with a chosen party, fifty years ago, and his happy manner of and artistic, he being a good mechanic but I shall miss the old gentleman sadly, telling them, brings the old man up both in metal and wood; while the rods for I loved him with my whole heart, as before me. He seems to be standing by my that old Sam Phillipi exhibited, to use he oftne [sic] told me he loved me. He and side as I write. May I be as ready to go to the words of Mr. Samuel Streit and Grant J. Wheeler, of Montclair, who has the happy hunting grounds when the Samuel Atwater, who knew him well and been my companion in many a pleasant Great Spirit calls as he was. often fished with him, were coarse affairs, trip, were nearly of the same age. My old the joints looking as though they were friend Wheeler still lives, and is as fond of We would be pleased to show the rod puttied together. fishing and as genial a companion as made by Mr. Morrell to all who will call Whatever honor there is in the use of ever. I hope to take many a pleasant trip at the office of THEANGLER.-[ED. 3 The Xitchell Bode.'' The W. MITCHELL, Split Bamboo PIS IlI G-nOD MAKER*, Rod- (Still in the Field). Its History, jt6 3~0s 26 VANDAM STREET, N. Y, E tc. " William Mitchell's advertisement as it appeared in th~June I?, 1878, issue of Forest & Stream (vol. 10, no. 19) by William Mitchell

William Mitchell of New York I have been able to find, is as follows: made the first completesplit bamboo rod. City made his first split-cane rod A. G. Wilkinson, Esq., of Washington, This date cannot be far astray, for Mr. in 1869 (see advrrtisement), using D. C., in an article in Scribner's Magazine Green made (that is, glued up) for the not Calcutta cane, but Chinese (now the Century) for October, 1876, on trade a few; and I find my record made at (Tonkin?) cane "which is much "Salmon Fishing," page 774 says: the time, to be Sept. 16, 1863. These rods harder, and more homogeneous "I have taken not a little pains to get as were made in four sections. Mr. Thad- than thr former." Mitchell's arti- far as possible, a correct history of this deus Norris, of Philadelphia, is men- clr appeared in the May 19,1883, issue of somewhat remarkable invention." tioned in connection with the invention, the American Angler (nol. 3, no. 20). Mr. Wilkinson gives the year 1866 as but he never claimed it. In 1863, or 1864, Mitchell gizws E. A. Green credit for mak- the one in which Mr. Phillippi, a gun- Mr. Murphy, an acquaintance of Mr. ing the first rod (four-strip construction) maker of Easton, Pa., made a glued up Green, commenced to manufacture split entirely from split cane. He gives H. L. split bamboo rod in three sections, or part bamboo rods for the trade; these were in Leonard credit for thr first split-cane rod of one. He was followed by Mr. Green, four sections. of six-strip construction. Henshall, on and Mr. Murphy. The first rods constructed in six sec- the other hand, assigns both these honors Dr. Henshall, in his "Book of the Black tions that were put into the market were to Phillippe (vide infra). The editors of Bass," pp. 201-203, under the caption of made by Mr. H. L. Leonard, of Bangor, the American Angler make the claim that "Origin of the Split Bamboo Rod" says: Me. This was about 1870, and Dr. A. H. Mitchell "con.structrd the first fly rod "For though purely an American Fowler soon followed; Mr. Murphy, made in America" (see footnote). Wefind invention as now constructed, the idea or however, claims to have made one some this last statement hard to beliez~e. principle is really of English origin." time before. The Doctor then gives the date of the The first split bamboo rod that I made The "split bamboo,"-"rent and glued first split bamboo rod made in this coun- myself was in June, 1869. It was put bambooH-rod has been generally sup- try by Samuel Phillippi, as about 1848, together in four sections; made not of posed to be an American invention. The but all dates are from memory, and I Calcutta bamboo but of Chinese, which first split bamboo rod I ever saw or heard believe thedategiven by Mr. Wilkinson is is much harder, more homogeneous and of was made by Wm. Blacker, 54 DeanSt., the nearer approach to the correct one. more difficult to obtain than the former. Soho, London, and to order, for James Mr. Phillippi never made a complete rod I have thus traced the record of the split Stevens, an old and well known angler of of split bamboo, only a tip and joint to a bamboo rod on this side of the "herring Hoboken, N. J. This was in 1852, and it three pieced rod, the butt of ash, and the pond," and now will look into its history was given to me for repairs and altera- joint and tip made in three sections. Mr. on the other side. tions in that year. I am certainof thedate, Phillippi died about 1878. Thomas Aldred, of London, claims, as I made a rod for Mr. Stevens on his visit Mr. Murphy of Newark, N. J., in an and I have never seen it disputed, to be the to the London Exhibition in 1851. I have article by Mr. B. Phillips, on theoriginof inventor of the three-section glued up the records of both dates, taken at the the split bamboo, published in the New bamboo rod. The date under which Mr. time, so that no mistake can be made. The York Times gives the date as 1848, when Aldred claims, I have never been able to rod is still in the possession of the family Mr. Phillippi used the natural bamboo, find. It was, however, previous to the of Mr. Stevens. and subsequently made a joint of bamboo. Crystal Palace exhibition in 1851. There The first attempt to give the history of The next date given is about 1860, were three exhibitors in the Exhibition at the split bamboo rod in thiscountry, that when Mr. E. A. Green of Newark, N. J. the Crystal Palace at London in 1851, viz.: H. L. LEONARD, lbnufacturer of every variety of FINE RODS for SALMON, BASS and TROUT FLY FISHING TACKLE. FISHING.- Tlirddcas Norris, Split Bamboo Rods a Specialtv 20s West Lognn Squnrc, Fhiladclphin, Penn. - 3LARES TO OItDEI1 AND KEEPS ON IIAKD Every Rod bearing my nnmc is Nix 8trand~from butt to extreme tip$,and monntecl wit,h nly patent FlXE TROUT AND SALMON RODS waterproof ferrule, and warrantec\ ugainrt imper- 0." IIlON I1700D. L.4NCE WOOD, GItEI

Ainge & Aldred, J. Bernard, and J. K. lished in 1842, I have also not been able to triangle, and when glued, is from center Farlow. The rods exhibited were all of consult. The author was a practical rod- to circumference. But, put the outside of three longitudinal sections, the whole maker and made the split bamboo rod I the bamboo on the side of the triangle or length of the cane, and not in sections refer to in the beginning of this article. apex, then, the enamel is all gone, no between the knots and glued. Ainge & In 1856 there was published in London matter in what number of sections the rod Aldred also exhibited the same rod at the an edition of Walton's "Complete An- be made. Exhibition in 1853 at New York. gler," edited by Edward Jesse, with notes On the whole subject of enamel there is The first record I have been able to find and papers on fishing tackle by the pub- much misunderstanding. No split bam- of the construction of the split bamboo lisher, Henry G. Bohn. On page 325, in boo rod ever was, is, or can be made, with rod, is in Ephemera's (Edward Fitzgib- the article on rods, he says: the enamel intact, no matter what num- bon) Handbook of Angling, second edi- "The split or glued up rod is difficult ber of sections or form of its construction, tion, page 255, London, 1848, where he to make well and very expensive. It is for the following reasons: recommends a ti^ for a salmon rod to be made of three pieces of split cane, which Calcutta bamboo, (Bambusa arundi- made of bamboo cane rent longitudinally some say should have the bark inside, nacea) which is the bamboo used for into three wedged shaped pieces, then some outside nicely rounded." making rods, is one of the most useful glued together and reduced to the proper In January, 1857, the third edition of and important of the grass family, and tapering thickness, ringed and whipped "The Practical Angler," by W. C. Ste- consists of a culm or cylinder (except at with unusual care and neatness. He adds: wart, was published in Edinburgh. On the nodes or joints which are about ten to "I have changed my opinion with respect page 33, Mr. Stewart, in speakingof rods, fifteen inches apart) and a solid at the to rods made entirely of rent cane or any says: nodes; with a projection on theoutsideof other wood rent. Their defects will "The strength of bamboo lies in the one fiftieth to one thirtieth of an inch all always more than counterbalance their skin, and in order to turn this to best around, except at the axil, where the merits." account, rod-makers lay two or three branches grow on alternate sides. This I have not been able to see a copy of the strips together so as to form a complete projection has to be taken off in making first edition of Ephemera's book which skin all around. Rods are sometimes the rod; then going through the thickness was published in 1844, in which he had made entirely of bamboo, but they pos- of the enamel from five to eight times, for evidently recommended the rent and sess no advantage over those in common the space of from one to two inches at glued rod; the book not being in the use to compensate for the additional each node, of which there are three in Lenox or Astor library or in any private expense, a twelve foot rod of this material each of the six sections (which is the best library that I know of. costing f3 to f4." number of sections from which a split I now quote from Blacker's "Fly Mak- At that time bamboo rods were all bamboo rod can be made). These nodes ing and Angling," London, 1855, page made in three sections with the enamel being the weakest spot in the bamboo, in 82: on the outside. I know that Mr. Wilkin- "The rent and glued up bamboo cane son says the rods made by Alfred & Sons * The history of the split bamboo rod has excited much interest among the craft and rods, which I turn out to the greatest per- were put together with the enamel on the literalrurs generally; and, at our request, fection, are very valuable, as they are very inside, but I think this must bea mistake, Mr. William Mitchell (who constructed the light and powerful, and throw the line unless he means that the enamel was on first fly rod made in America) wrote this with great facility." one side of the longitudinal section article, which will prove of value as a The first edition of this book, pub- extending from the apex to the base of the contribution to angling literal1rrr.-ED. I The Split Bamboo Rod-

Split Bamboo-. . Rods. Its History, E tc. THE ORIBISAL HES.\GOSAI. HVVP. - The Buprrinrlt~nf the Vnwier HNI. .\S IT IS SOW by Zskender MADE. IU hPTonrl rornparls.an rlrll rtnv of 1t.p Imlrlr- tlnn'i ~~llcrt~tlby plrrlles In the trdolr. Barnplrs of my HOD mng he sc?n at JOHN W. 1IUTCII1Sr;OS'r. Following closely on the heels of and where lightness is required the whole 81 CIIanlhvrR alrtrt. S. S.. Mitchell's Angler article, Law- rod may be made of cane. The few makers Or at my piace of huulnrsu. that have as yet attempted solid cane or 4. 11. QO\VI.Er:. rence D. Alexander, writing un- Senel lor c.lrc:ular and pri,,, 11-1 to der the pseudonym of Iskender glued up rods, have generally placed the Fowler & TIadel, (American Angler, June 2, 1883, bark or hardest part of the cane inside in mar'& 11'uACA. N. T. vol. 3, no. 22), responds to Mitch- gluing, and then reduced the jointsdown ell. on the outside to the usual ta~ering In his May 19, 1883, articlr in the shape. Give me, however, the workman American Angler, William Mitchell Since reading the interesting and valu- who glues the splices with the bark out- mentions that Dr. A. H. Foroler was able article by my old friend, Mr. William side, and then gives his rod a true and onr of thr first to make six-strip Mitchell, which appeared in your issue of correct action, allowing the three differ- canr rods for thr trade. Hprr 1.7 May 19, I have consulted a modest ent barks to beseenvisibly on theoutside Fou~ler'sad from thr April 4, 1878, angling library (which has always been at after he has rounded the whole." zssue of Forest & Stream (7101.10, no. his service, as he well knows), and found "If the pieces are skilfully [sic] glued 9). that it contains both the works which he together they will require no reducing, was desirous of seeing. except at the corners, to bring the rod The first edition of the "Handbook of from the three square to the roundshape. Angling" by "Ephemera" (Edward Fitz- I am prepared to prove that there are not gluing up the sections they are never put gibbon), was published in 1847, not 1844, more than three men in London capable on a line with one another, but one is and it was owing to this mistake as to of making, perfectly, rods of solid cane, moved up, say, twoinches; thenextdown date, no doubt, that it was not to be found rent, glued, and then correctly finished two inches, so as to make six less weak "in the Lenox or Astor library, or in any with the bark lying on the outside." Mr. spots in the circumference of the joint private library." Fitzgibbon goes on to say: and eighteen in each joint. Blacker's first edition (1842) I dismiss "In my opinion rods made entirely of All the Calcutta bamboo imported into from the discussion, as it contains no lancewood are the worst; and those made this country or England, is burned, allusion to the construction of split ham- entirely of rent and glued jungle cane are before being exported, with a red hot iron boo or to any kind of rod, in fact, but is the best. They must be most carefully of elliptic form and from one-half to devoted to the "Art of angling and com- fashioned, and no maker can turn them three-quarters of an inch wide, which plete system of fly-making and dying of out without charging a high price. I am destroys the strongest fibre immediately colors." also of opinion that they will last longer in contact with the enamel, and loosens Mr. Fitzgibbon, in the first edition of than any other sort of rod, and are far less the latter, so that, by estimate, about one- his work, pp. 278 et seq., in speaking of liable to warping. I have a high opinion fifth of the enamel comes off in the work- the construction of a salmon rod, says of their elasticity, and Mr. Bowness, fish- ing. As you cannot retain it all on the rod, that he consulted a "Mr. Little, of 15 Fet- ing tackle maker, of No. 12 Bellyard, it is just as strong if all the enamel is ter Lane, rod maker to His Royal High- Temple Bar, showed me once a trout fly- taken off; in fact, the enamel or silex on ness, Prince Albert," who described the rod, made in this, my favorite way, that the outside of the bamboo only stiffens process of making the top and middle had been for many years in use [the italics but does not strengthen it. Glass is melted joints thus: are ~~~~-IsKENDER.]and was still silex, and no one would think a rod was "They are to be made from the stoutest straight as a wand. I never saw a better strengthened by giving it a coat of silex pieces of bamboo cane, called 'jungle,' single-handed rod." varnish. and brought from India. The pieces Allowing a reasonable construction to It will be seen from the foregoing, that should be large and straight, so that you the expression, "for many years," this in 1848 Ephemera's Handbook on An- can rend them well through knots and would seem to show that rods of "rent gling, second edition, mentions the com- all. Each joint shouldconsist of three rent and jungle cane" were made as far back as plete three section split bamboo rod as pieces, split like the foot of a portable 1830-40. being in use in England, and that the first garden chair, and afterwards glued It would be interesting to know what edition of this book published in 1844, together; knot opposite to knot, or imper- led to the sudden change of opinion as to has reference to the same rod. In 1851 rods fect grain opposite to imperfect grain, the merits of such rods on the part of of similar make were exhibited at the but the best part opposite to that which "Ephemera;" that is to say, within the Crystal Palace by three manufacturers, may be knotty or imperfect, so as to space of a twelvemonth-the period and two other writers on angling men- equalize defectiveness and goodness. The which elapsed between the dates of publi- tion these rods in their books published ~~aruralbadness of the cane you counter- cation of the first and second editions of in 1855 and 1856. The earliest date of act by art, and none save a clever work- his book. As a not absolute disbeliever in manufacture in America of the complete man can do it. The butt of a salmon rod bamboo rods, I, for one at least, confess to split bamboo rod is that of 1860, when should be made of plank ash or ground a good deal of curiosity upon this point. Mr. Grern, of Newark, N. J., made a few ash, though many good judges prefer ISKENDER. rods of this character. 5 willow or red deal, as being much lighter, New York, May 30, 1883. ff The Split-Bamboo Rod from a German Standpoint by Iskender

The German Connection. Law- ing capacity. In choosing it great care the inexact expression, "a number of rence D. Alexander (Iskender) should be taken that the wood contains years ago," is all that he has given us. contributed the following piece no deep longitudinal fissures, and that it Compare with this the equally uncertain to the September I, 1883, edition has not been attacked by the wood-worm, language of "Ephemera," as quoted in of the American Angler (uol. 4, as is so often the case. This worm carries my former article on the origin of the no. 9). Here, we are introduced to on its work unobserved under the hard split-bamboo rod and it will be seen that Wilhelm Bischoff, a German bark of the reed, and causes its inevitable its chronology is still unsettled. So until angling writer and author of Anleitung destruction. Its presence is proved by the the Irish, Dutch and Danish, Russian, zur Angel-Fischerei (Introduction to discovery of small round holes in the French and Spanish, are heard from, not Rod-Fishing), second edition (1882). wood. Some of the reeds are rotten, in to mention the Egyptian and other

Bischoff>, mentions two German rodmak- which case the bark is usually of a grayish anglers of antiquity, we must rest. ers who were making six-strip cane rods color. The black spots on the reed which It was my good fortune to hear from prior to 1882. In addition to the translated in its original condition is entirely yel- Mr. William Mitchell a description of a excerpt from Bischojj's work giuen by low, are produced by burning it, which is Japanese or Chinese split-bamboo rod Alexander, we include a more inclusiue done before it is put upon themarket. No which he had seen; so that after all, we excerpt translated by Richard Hojjmann. reason for thus decorating it can be may be indebted to our brethren of the found. If the burning has been carried too Flowery Kingdom for this valuable As appropriate to the discu5sion of the far some part of the reed may be weakened invention. as we are for that of the mari- origin of the split-bamboo rod, I translate by it. ner's compass, gunpowder and other val- the following extract from a work en- "One who lives near the water or who uable articles, as is usually admitted. titled "Anleitung zur Angel-Fischerei" can keep his rod near it in a proper Mr. Bischoff especially recommends ("Introduction to Rod-fishing,") by Wil- manner, i.e., hung up, should select for the "Djungel-reed" as most desirable for helm Bischoff, 2nd edition, Munich, salmon or pike fishing, such a bamboo, the manufacture of such rods. His opin- 1882, newly revised by the Bavarian Fish- whole, unjointed, and arranged for that ion coincides with that of "Ephemera," ing Association. particular kind of fishing. Anyone who who on p. 282 of the first edition of his "The best materials for rods are hick- has ever used such a fly-rod will have "Hand Book of Angling" says: "In my ory, lancewood, greenheart, ash and satisfied himself that it surpasses all oth- opinion rods.. .made entirely of rent and split-bamboo, the latter especially for fly- ers in flexibility and elasticity. glued jungle-cane are the best." rods.. . . The hexagonal fly-rods of split- "In making a bamboo-rod, in order to It is fair to assume that the variety of bamboo made by H. Hildebrand in obtain the requisite degree of diminution bamboo known to both the English and Munich, (an idea which had already been in thickness towards the tip, and the the German rod-makers by thisname had carried out by Mr. Thoma, adjunct of the proper flexibility, it is often necessary to been found from actual experiment to be Royal Administration of Mines and Salt cut a piece ten to twenty centimeters long the best for this purpose; and this of itself Works, and a member of the Bavarian out of the reed, or even to take a suitable is a little curious in considering the Fishing Association, who died a number piece from another reed and fit it in. subject. of years ago, and for whom the honor of When the reed has been properly put From the general high character of Mr. having originated the notion may justly together, if it be found todeviate from the Bischoff's book, its clearness of descrip- be claimed), are well worthy theattention straight line, it may be straightened by tion, excellence of methods, common- of all lovers of the sport, although our warming the bent piece over a spirit sense rules, and fine illustrations, in experience with them is as yet very lamp, meanwhile keeping it constantly which it surpasses most recent works of limited. While very elastic they are also moist by means of a sponge." angling, I am inclined to attach consider- very light, and the material of which they The above, while of considerable inter- able importance to the accuracy of his are constructed also assures their durabil- est, would be more satisfactory if the statements as to priority of invention. ity. For salmon, pike, and small fish, author had stated definitely the period I do not despair of further information however, the black-spotted bamboo when Herr Thoma, Adjunct of the Royal upon this subject before finally leaving (Djungel-reed) in its original condition, Administration of Mines and Salt Works, it, and should my researches be rewarded is especially adapted for rods, on account etc. etc., first made his "hexagonal fly- I propose laying the result before the of its great lightness, elasticity and carry- rods of split bamboo;" but unfortunately readers of THEANGLER. 3 Anleitung xur Angel-Fischerei, Pertinent Excerpts translated by Richard C. Hoffmann

Thr following rxcerpt.~from the on the other hand also to be able rightly ogy any significance?]. For the bottom ,srcond edition of thr Grrman to judge the quality of a rod. rod Indian cane can also be used, but one publication, Anleitung zur Angel- The different kinds of fishing as well as madr from split [grspaltrnrm]ash with a Fischerei (IR82), by William the various natures and sizes of the fish tip of lancewood [p. 91 will also achieve , Rischoff, wrrr translatrd for ZL.S require different tackle and, thus, also the purpose. The six-sided fly rods of byIIIe I-'rofr,s.soraskrd himIiichard to lrarz.slatr tloffmanrz. all different rods. Since it cannot beour task spliced Indian cane made by H. Hilde- -. ' - to tlcscribe all the various forms of tackle brand in Mrrnich (an idea that had pa.s.tagr.s rrlrzlant to thr manufnclurr of and rods present in the various lands and already been carried out by a member of .split-caneA fly rods. A tran.slation of part continen~s,so shall also here only be con- the Bavarian Fishing Association, Mr. of this u~orkwas inrludrd in Lazorrncr D. sidcred thoscb rspecially suited toour con- Thoma, Adjunct of the Royal Mining Alexandrr's American Angler urticlr ditions ant1 kinds of fishes. and Salt-Works Administration, now (prrcrding piece). For historical pur- For our conditions are recommended deccased for some years, and for whom posrs, zor frlt that a morr.scholarly, morr only single-handed rods, of which thc fly- the origination can well rightly be inclu.siz~rtran.slation zoa.7 warranted. and worm-rod are wielded freely in the claimed) well deserve the attention of all hand like a whip, while the minnow sportsmen, even though we still lack a [? Fi~chchrr~],pike, and huchen rods are long experience with thrm. These are, [p. 71 Resides skill in casting, the qual- supported on the hip hy means of an with their great elast~city,vely light, and ity of the fishing roc1 is above a11 of great of the lower part of the handle. thcs chosen mater~almay al\o speak for importance. There is a considcrable dif- Resides the principal forms here named their durability. For huchen, pike, and ference hetween thc simpl? branch of are also to be mentioned the bottom rod, minnow rod5, however, is most especially hazel or fir with which very many get by mainly for fishing barbel, and the so- wc.11 suited thr black spotted Indian cane and the carefully worked roc1 of the called universal rod, of which the latter is (j~lnglecane) in its unchanged form, just sportsman, construc.tcd accortling to all not to be taken literally despite thc praise for its lightness with great elasticity and the techniral rulcs. A good fishing rod given it in various books on angling. strength. Only in the selection ol the should above all be light, so as not to tirc Because one cannot do for everything. same, special attention must be given the angler unneccss:rrily; it should, how- Two figures, 12and 13, show the set-upof that it has no large and deep longitudinal ever, also possess thc, necessary elasticity, a heavy and a fine rod. splits and, as is often the case, that it has resistance, and tIural)ility to l)cahleeasily A good rod should have the greatest not been eaten by the wood worm, which to overcome the hookcd fish. In this thr possible elasticity and lightness for the carries on its work unnoticed beneath the size, strrngth, and clexterity of the angler required load capacity. It should, when hard rind of the cane and causes unavoid- come cclually into consideration. A large the line is mounted through the guides al~lefractnrca of it. Small round holes strong man will also 1)eabletofish with a and loaded with an ;rppropriate weight, demonstrate the prescnce of this beast. longer and hcavicr rocl. If it may be for show a uniform curve and, when the Also somc. of these canes are rotten in the many a pleasant pastime to construct ;I weight is removed, return itself to a wood, which rlsually gives to the rind a fishing rot1 themselves, still this is not as straight line. When the fly rod is swung, changed grayish coloration. On thecane, easy as it rnay seem to the uninitiated.To the motion should reach as far as the which in its original natural condition is produce tackle suited to all rc~cluirements middle of the handle. It is a great error if wholly yellow, will be seen, even before it requircs not only a rather prac,ticed hantl the rod is topheavy, that is, if, when held cBntersthe trade, the black spots from and the necessary tools, but also a crrtain horizontal, the tip hangs strongly down. burning, althotrgh no actual reason for understanding both of the matcsrial to br Recommended materials are hickory such an external embcllishment can be chosen and also of its working-up ancl (American walnut), lancewood, iron- found. On the contrary, a too-strong finishing. Whoever is not entirely sure in wood, grrcnheart, ash, [and] then espe- hurning will only weaken the affected this must work from a good model or cially for fly rods, spliced bamboo [liter- part of the cane. So that, too, is to be ~voultldo better to buy the rod. Mr. H. ally, "Indian cane," grsp1ir.sste.s indis- observed whcn making. a selection. Hildebrand of Munich has a wcll- chrs Rohr]. For the rod made from For someone who is in a position to appointed shop with reasonable prices. hickory or lancewood the upper part of live near his water or to store the rod Still, it is advisa1)le to be familiar with the the tipshould beconstructed from at least suitably thrrc, namely to hang it up, most [P. 81 manufacture, in part to be ahlr to 30-50 centimeters of yellow barnboo [grl- recommended especially for huchen, undertake everyday repairs oneself, I)ut bem Ram,bus; has the different terrninol- pike, anti minnow fishing is a rod from this Indian cane of one piece, not sec- tioned, rigged and finished for this fish- ing. Whoever once used such a one-piece cane or a well-joined-together one-piece fly rod will have satisfied himself that it far earns first place for bending, swing- ing, and elasticity. 30 For ease in tranmort rods are made to be taken apart and put together. Recom- 1. mended here are the hardest-drawn brass ferrules with well-fitted plugs. These fer- - . c$+ d L423 rules [p. 1 I] are best, after they are well 21 fitted, made fast with sealing wax by n spreading this on the wood or reverse part I of the rod and then heating the ferrule. .,p All other arrangements, like ferrules with .p -2 'S.4 threads or bayonet mounts, are less good. /f, . .... a,. \ The fewer parts, and thus ferrules the 4 /#,-j better, because each ferrule causes a more I\'. ., or less dead point and increases the A- \7. .! weight of the rod, which is especially to --. --j 7-,f7 "A be observed in fly rods. Among the take- v, .-.,>,:,,I rC - apart rods, therefore, the three-piece rod, *I," .' ,<: , if less convenient for transport, is the II' . . best.1 G.& , .:. " d

W A lanceolate point is customarily d,. screwed into the bottom part of the han- " dle to be able to stick the rod into the -7 ground when resting. This is, however, ---.- suitable only for fly and worm rods, - ,i while those for huchen, pike, and min- now just use a capsule of brass or, still i better, a knob of horn or coconut- Illustration from Anleitung zur Angel-Fischerei ribbed, in order to stop its slipping when rested on the hi^. To make the handle hollow for the sake of storing a spare tip therein may therefore seem unsuitable, regular distribution and at continually with which relatively heavy fish-among because a spare tip is necessary only for diminishing intervals. them a hurhen of 1%kilos and a grayling rods for fly-fishing and occasionally For the fly rod the rings must be as ot 1%were taken and fortunately landed- worm-fishing, [and] either by the hol- small and light as possible with the same weighs at a length of 3.50 [meters] not lowing or through the more deeply cut diminution and spacing as given above, quite 350 grams. . . . grip, the durability or the elasticity will but preferably one more in number, total- [p. 141 The lighter and more flexible be lost. The spare tip is better kept in the ling about eleven or twelve. These are the rod in general, the lighter and thinner handle of the landing net. best tied down with silk in windings laid can the line be, which is in fly fishing In the making of a rod from Indian precisely next tooneanother and without especially to be observed. A proper rela- cane, in order to obtain the proper taper cutting a depression into the rod for them tionship of line and rod is very important and rightly curved bend, it is often neces- as often is done. In order to get a smooth in order to be able to cast far and acru- sary to cut out from the cane at the point lie and a flat attachment, the parts of the rately. An improper relationship, i.e., a of division a piece of 10 to 20 centimeters, ring (fig 15) a and b, which are tied down stiff and heavy rod with a weak and light or even to select from another cane a suit- to the rod, are filed flat on the underside line, hampers casting and can have as a able piece and fit it in. If, then, after and somewhat tapered on the ends. result the breaking of the line or, in the assembly [p. 121 in the correct relation- [p. 131 The late J. Schneider, Superior reversed case, the rod. ship the cane deviates from the straight Machine Master in the Royal Telegraph The rod is normallv finished with var- line, this can be bent straight by warming Office in Munich, once a distinguished nish or lacquer, but in recent times, after the bent place with a spirit lamp while angler and a master at his own construc- one has gone over the windings once with continuously dampening it with a sponge. tion of tackle, had made fly-rod rings out rod lacquer, they are polished. The The rings through which the line runs of aluminum, a metal that because of its Indian cane easily takes a fine polish. (fig. 14) are best made fixed and, to be most unusual lightness would be most .... 5 sure, from brass or nickel-silver wire. suitable if the fabrication and the cost did Rings from horn are less commendable- not offer difficulties. besides other disadvantages-just be- 1. For the above text about the angling cause of their thickness. For the pike and rot1 we thank in the most part the pcn of huchen rod the first should stand approx- the tleccasrtl Dl-. L. Stcirhrlr, a mastrr at imately a meter from the lowest part of .. . A fly rod in four parts, the butt of angling and tackle. construrtion and the the handle and be at least a centimeter in hickory and the other parts of lancewood, disciplr of J. Sc-tineitler, who still does diameter with supports attached to the 3.45 [meters] long, weighs 400 grams. A survivr. sides. Those following further are in a fly rod of three parts, all in hickory, also Here are two of the Museum's four Murphy rods. Both are three-piece, 11-foot, split-cane trout rods built of six strips. The butts, mids, and tips all measure 45%inches long. The handles are rattan wrapped, and the reelseat bands are nickel-silver. Murphy's name, "C. F. Murphy, Newark, N.J.," is engraved on the upper reelseat band in each case. The lower of the two rods is said to have been owned by Augustus Belmont of Belmont Park (race track)fame. This rod was recently given to the Museum by Gerald Pons of Maryland, and we're most grateful for this extraordinary donation. Photo by Will Gantley Charles F. Murphy by Fred Mather

Wr nrr In drbt to Frrd Mnthrrfor place where anglers most did congregate, home, getting an occasional shot as long tllr /olloz~~znqpzrcr on Chnrlrs F. and then for the first time hearing that as we could see him. Before he left us he Murphy. If zs part ofn collrctzon there was a better material for rods than asked me to fish for striped bass with him of bzogrnphzcnl rkrtchrs pub- ash and lancewood. I listened with next day at Bergen Point, above Staten lzshrd 112 book form nc My An- wonder to the talk of angles, tapers, glu- Island-a thing I had long wanted to do. gl~ngFriends In 1901 HrrrMath- ing and other details, until I thought that "Never mind bringing bait or tackle; I'll rr qzz~rcMurphy rol~crrdztfor/hr the building up of a split-bamboo rod have plenty." ki~17~~rat1on of thr splzt-ennr rod, alld required more careful attention than the "You'll have a good time with Mur- quotrs Murphy to that rffpct. Murphy grinding of a lens for a great telescope, phy," said Gelson. "He is one of the few knrzcl of Phzllzppr's rods, but, accordinq and I looked with admiration on a man men that I would divide shot with when to Mzcrphy, just thr tzf~sand mzddlr rpc- who could make one with a good, even out for a day; but Murphy would do the /Ions of tlzrrp rods utrrr co~zctructrdof action. A wooden rod is worked down same for a friend. You'll find him good splzt mnr. Murphy clnimr to 1an-c~~mndr from the outside, tested, sandpapered company and well informed not only Ihr f?rst all rplzt-tanr rod (four strzpc). here and there to get the proper curve about field sports, but other sports. He HISflrst czu- and rzqht-strzp rods zorrr under a strain, and that ends it. But the knows all the prominent volunteer fire- nzanufncturrd 1r2 1863. In 1866 (7) hr split-bamboo, which our trans-Atlantic men in New York, and used to run with arrnn~rdto hnzlr Andrew Clrrk and Com- friends call a "built cane rod," must be so the machine himself until the new system pany rrll thrs~rods. Could on? of thrcr worked from the inside of each of its came in. He's a good fisherman and a fair 11nzjr hrrn thr Eucrltzor fly rod ndz~rrtzsrcl strips that it will be perfect after they are shot, a little given to brag of his exploits by Clrrk In 1865? Prrlanps Murphy'r joined, for there can be no taking down of and to think that no man can equal them. rc,rollrrtzon of tlzr 1866 dntr IS zn rrror. the outside enamel, where the strength If this kind of talk does not weary you, a and resiliency lie. In factories the tips and day with him will be well spent." Mr. Murphy was the maker of the first second joints can be culled over until a Th~swas a fair sketch of Murphy, as I split-bamboo rod. Like the late William perfect rod is found, but as to a single afterward learned, and onealways likes to Mitchell h? was one of the old-time rot1 hand-made rod I can't understand how know something of the man who is going makers who did all the work by hand. one can be made perfect unless with elab- to be his companion for a day or more. Tllev sawed the ash. hickorv or lance- orate tests of each strip in each joint, This talk was held at our nooning, which wood into strips, hung it by one end to which seems nearly impossible. was a long one, for our dogs were very prevent warping while seasoning, and One September day, while I was snipe tired from working in the long, coarse then with plane, rasp and sandpaper shooting on the Hackensack meadows grass, and we were in the samecondition; would turn out the best rods that rould be with George Gelson, who was an old but shooting later in the day was not as had in those years, which lie almost half a man then, we came across Murphy with a good as in the morning, and we had a centurv behind us. These men had great good bag-for birds were plenty in those little shot left when we reached the ferry, reputations for excellent rods, and their days; but he was in distress, having so that our playing the Good Samaritan customers extolled them as mastrrs of stepped into a hole, and in falling he had not put us to any inconvenience. cunning work. These were thedays when caught the spring of his shot pouch and In the morning we met to fish the a split-bamboo rot1 coultl not be bought lost all his shot. From my knowledge of mouth of Newark Bay and the Kills, for a dollar and then provr to be far infc- him afterward he seemed to be unfortu- where they enter New York Bay. It was a rior to an alder l~olecut on the bank. nate in usually meeting with an accident new kind of fishing to me, and I looked I rememhcr fi~stmeeting Murphy in of some kind, but we helped him a little over the baits and tackle with much inter- 1865, in Conroy's, on Fulton street, then a from our pouches and he turned toward est. He had the saltwater sand worms and -- --A ------Split Bnnz boo Fly-Rocls. white worms, clams and shedder crabs, I have on 11antl ~cveralfine trout rods at $,3; each, short rods, reels, and sinkers to suit the 2nd ;irn retltly t,o fill ordew limited nnlnl~er. strength of the tideat different times. The to u Atl- tide was right-he had looked out for drers ('HAS. T. &IIT1:P1IY, that-and was at half ebb. We anchored nlch16 Srn 40 II:tl+ey St,., Newnrk, N. J. the boat at both ends across the channel, and fished. The tide was strong, and we used sinkers of 3 oz. at first, with about 2 ft. of line and a 2-0 sproat hook below it. We started in with white worms, and I An ad for Charles Murphy'~~plzt-bamboo fly rodr that appeared took a sea bass of about a pound weight, zn the March 30, I876, zrrue of Forest & Stream (7101.6,rzo. 8). but as I was unaccustomed to reeling upa Note that Murphy'r mzddle rnztzal zr qzzlen as T ratllrr tfla?zF. heavy sinker the fish seemed to be a mon- Wc aTsume that thz~zs a typo and that Charle~T. A/lurphy ster until brought to boat. Murphy took way not another Murplzy who manufactured cane rodr zn Neulark, several white perch, and some came to my New Jerrey. hook, and so we fished for over an hour, when he said: "The striped bass don't seem to be running on this tide; let's try shedders and see if wcakfish will take Iraving a very tempting bait for most markets to people who don't know one hold." And we did, with great success. fishes. No doubt the crawfish would beas fish from another, and thry are good Within a month an angler living in tempting to fresh-water fishes if it could enough for them. The tide is slackening Wisconsin wrote me, asking where he be found in that state. After this bit of and we will change to lighter sinkers, could get shedder crab, as he had heard crabology we will rejoin Murphy in the sand worms and clams, and take what they were a good bait, and I will leave boat off Bergen Point. comes until after low-water slack and the Murphy in the boat for a while to say: Said he: "We usually get striped bass tide sets up the Bay, when we may strike The crab of salt water is very unlike the here on the last of the ebb tide, but they better luck." crawfish of fresh water, although where don't seem to come our way this morn- As I was only a student, I accepted the Germans have settled the latter are called ing. The weakfish are biting well, but I suggestion of my teacher without ques- "crabs3'-German, "krebs." Both are edi- don't care for them." tion, and for an hour we took perch, por- ble, and, like all crustaceans, must shed "They're gamy fighters," I remarked, gies and flounders as fast as we could their shells in order to grow. Then they as I boated a yellow fin of about 6 Ibs. "I attend to their surgical needs in the way are soft, but harden in a few days, and in don't know anything about big striped of extracting hooks from lips, cheeks, this state the salt-water crabs bringa high bass, although in boyhood fishing we jawbones and stomachs. Then came the price as a table delicacy, being fried and used to get them about Albany up to 1 Ib.; time when the fishrrmen felt the need of eaten paper shells and all, except the but this weakfish fights well and I'm the bait that Murphy had in the basket, "sand bag," or stomach, and the gills. enjoying taking them." and it was both good and generous. But a few days before the shell is cast the "Yes," said he; "that is their redeeming "While we eat," said my companion, animal shrinks, and there is a space quality. They are a fair fish for the table "let's take in our lines and not leave them between it and the shell which can be when just out of the water, but after being out for any fool fish to hook himself detected by tapping it. This is a "shed- caught six hours are only fit to feed to the while we're not fishing." That remark der,'' and theouter shell can be peeled off, hogs. Tons of them are sold in the has been embalmed in my memory like a McLaughlin and Baker come in and find Poole alone I knew there would be trou- ble; but I didn't get out quick enough. I escaped being called at the trial, but it made no difference, for Baker was acquit- ted and appointed to a good office in the Street Department, while Morrisey went to Congress. But it would have done any American good to scr the funeral that Bill Poole had. The City Hall flag was half- masted, and 10,000 men marched to his funeral. That was the last of the Order of United Americans; the foreign element became too strong and has been so ever since. The new paid Fire Department may turn out all right, but they will never have the pride and spirit in their work that the volunteers did." Therr was much more of this, but the above will serve to show Murphy's trend of thought and give a mental as well as a physical picture of the man. I met him in New York about as often as I visited the city, but fished no more with him until the day when Frank Satterthwaite and I found him at Greenwood Lake, curled up in agony in the road from an overindul- gence in buttermilk, as has been related. Notwithstanding all Frank's attempts to switch off Murph, as he called him, I got the story of the building of the first com- plete split-bamboo rod, and took notesof it. The man who made the first one should becredited with it, especially as he did not patent this great improvement. Charles Murphy of Nezi~ark,NPU~ Jer.sey, i~generallycredited with having been Young anglers of to-day may never have the first to conzmerrinlly manufact~irrand market .six-.strip bamboo rods in thought how recent this invention is, nor &hiscountry. This maker'.^ mark is typical of the four Murphy rods in the what an improvement on rod making M~c.cezcm'scollection. Photo Oy Will Cantley Dame Juliana Berners would have thought it. But let Murphy tell the story. "Ever since I can remember, thesouth- ern cane poles have been shipped up here fly in amber. It comes up whenever I read divide the fish, and I had hard work to for fishing purposes, and they are light, of "fish hogs" and of those who would make him understand that I could not use cheap and far ahead of anything that can not like to be placed in that class, but who them in New York City. be cut in Northern woods when a man never cease killing as long as there is any- At this time I think Murphy must have starts without a rod. They seldom exceed thing to kill. Please remember that this been about forty-five years old, while I a foot between the leaf joints and are of no was thirty years ago, or more, and there was about a dozen years younger. He was use to a rod maker, but often one can get was little or no sentiment toward the small and thin; one of those tough, wiry quite a good one with an even curve and preservation of game or the restriction of men who can often stand more physical fair action, but unless kept in a cellar, or the number of fish a man might kill, strain than a muscular one; and that day other damp place, it is no good the next especially in salt water, where the supply as wesat in the boat hechattedin aremin- season, becoming brittle and losing its was supposed to be inexhaustible. Yet, iscent way about old times in New York elasticity. Charley Murphy was one of that class and the old fire laddies. "In 1848 Sam Phillippi, a gunsmith at which composed the old Volunteer Fire "Ever hear of Bill Poole?" he asked. Easton, Pa., got hold of some Calcutta Department that in those days "would "Yes; Lew Baker killed him ten years bamboo, used and sold some for fishing rather fight than eat." He was a small, ago on Broadway, corner of Prince street. rods in the natural state. This cane was wiry man, and I have already related his I was in the West then, but I readall about long, slim and tapered, with greater dis- pugilistic exploit in "cleaning up" a fis- the affair and how George Law loaned tance between the leaf joints, which, you tic terror. his clipper Grapeshot and captured know, show elevated rings on the outside As low-water slack passed and the faint Baker off the coast of Africa." and have a diaphragm across the hollow. flood appeared we changed our positions "You're right," said he. "It was in 1855, Haven't you cut into them and seen to the upper side, and before the half- and few things have ever stirred the city this?" flood had passed we had six striped bass like that. It was in the good old 'Native "Yes; and made fifes from the joints in which aggregated 35 lbs., the largest American' days, and Poole was killed boyhood days leaving one end with its weighing 9 Ibs., besides all the other fish because he belonged to that party and natural stop." which Murphy took along to give away, John Morrisey couldn't whip him. I was "Well, Sam Phillippi wanted a jointed and I voted the striped bass to be the in the room when he was shot in the rod, so he fitted ferrules and made his tip gamiest salt-water fish which had ever Stanwix Hall, opposite Niblo's Garden, and second joint of the Calcutta bamboo tackled my tackle. Murphy wanted to and when I saw Morrisey, Jim Turner. and the butt of some other wood, but he never split the cane as we do now. I saw and perhaps now, the big mouth was there was a lively fight on. Satterthwaite one of his rods which had an ash butt, know by the absurd name of "Oswego" got excited, and not being an expert and I tested the springof the rod and liked bass, and only the small mouth was angler gave Murphy a running lot of it. I showed the rod to Mr. E. A. Green, of called black bass; and it seems to me that advice, to which no attention was paid by Newark, and he got some Calcutta bam- the time has come to take the obnoxious the man who was fighting the fish. boo and made a rod of three pieces for his name of Oswego bass from the statute Murphy kept the bass out of some weeds, own use, of carefully selected material, books of the State of New York. If any but could not prevent its running under and it was an extra good rod for its day. other State uses this name in its laws. I am the boat. Fortunately, there was no Then we talked the matter over. Says I, not aware of it. For years I have con- anchor line to foul, and he shifted his rod 'There is a lot of waste material in that tended against the fashion of deprecating to the other side, reeled in and gave line as rod, and the joints in the cane are no the game qualities of the big mouth, and he thought best, without regard to good;' and so it cameabout that I split the as Murphy and Satterthwaite sat fishing Frank's suggestions, and finally reeled cane, only into four parts at first, shaved with me the question came up concern- the fish up to the side of the boat, which down the pulpy inside and glued the ing the respective fighting qualities of was well down, because three men were pieces together, and had a rod that was the two black basses. on one side of the keelson; and just as I springy enough to cast a fly and had the Satterthwaite said: "Bill, our landlord, put the landing-net into the water to lift backbone to fight a salmon." and the boatmen on this lake say that the the game it gave a final leap and landed "When was this?" small mouth is the gamiest of the two, itself in the boat. It was a big mouth black "It was in 1863. I soon found that four and, by the way, you must have noticed bass of less than 3 Ibs. strips left too much pulp on the inside- how they have corrupted Oswego into "I thought it was a 10-pounder," said for the strength is all in the enamel-and 'swago,' and talk about 'black bass and Murphy. "I took a 7 Ib. bass in this lake I made rods of six and eight strips. The swagos,' and they say the the 'swagos' once that did not put up half the fight latter are too small to work accurately, don't fight like the black bass. I don't fish this one did." but the six-strip was received with favor a great deal, and have taken their words "That carries out my theory," said I, by such anglers as Frank Endicott, Genio for it, and you are the first man that I have "that the fighting weight of a black bass, C. Scott, Robert B. Roosevelt, andothers. heard deny that the big mouth was an no matter what the size of its mouth may Two years later I made a salmon rod and inferior fish." be, is about 2 Ibs. Murphy, you know, as Mr. Andrew Clerk took it to Scotland, "Frank," said I, "years ago when an all-round 'sport,' that no human pug- where it attracted much attention. Mr. American anglers began to think for ilist would think of entering the ring if he Clerk gave this rod to Genio C. Scott, themselves, and to study their own fishes weighed over 190 Ibs., and, therefore, who took it up to the St. Lawrence River and break away from English angling dead weight is not an indication of stay- and killed some big pike and mascalonge books, which treated only of English ing power. It's only an indication of good with it, and wrote it up in the sportsmen's fishes, they found they hadsome fighting living and an accumulation of fat." papers of the day, which gave the new fish which were unknown across the "There seems to be some sense in that, make of rod great popularity. Then, in water, but were plagued with a confusion Frank," said Murphy; "but I never 1866, I made a split-bamboo bait-rod for of names. De Kay, in 1842, made many thought of comparing the physical con- black bass, and arranged with the firm of species and several genera of the black dition of men with that of fish, as Fred Andrew Clerk & Co. to sell my rods, basses, but later Gill reduced them all to has done, but the point is a good one. which they did for some years, and then two, and then came some anglers' distinc- Yankee Sullivan said thirty years ago that they began to make them on a larger tions. Seth Green, then a newspaper a man of 160 Ibs. was fit to fight anything scale." authority on fishes, gave to our laws such on two legs, and perhaps a black bass of 2 That is the history of this now famous names as Oswego bass, California trout, Ibs. is in his best fighting condition. rod as I heard it from the man who first mountain trout and German trout, That's a new proposition. What do you devised it. I am not aware that it has ever according to the locality in which he think, Frank?" been published before, although I have caught the fish or from which it hap- "I think that you have got it about seen references to the work of Mcssrs. pened to come, and it has taken years to right. Sometimes a small bass will make Green and Murphy. In the early days the undo this work. My old friend, Alexander you think he's a big one before he comes rods were known as "rent and glued Mosely, editor of the Richmond Whig, to the boat, and that 5-pounder of mine bamboo." gave to the big mouth the epithet of 'vul- didn't fight very hard; in fact, I didn't "Murphy," said I, "what price did garian,' and it was thought necessary to think it was a big one until I saw it." these rods bring in that early day?" denounce one good game fish in order to And so we passed the time in pleasant "Well, the trout rods sold for $40, and boost another into place." discourse on the merits of the basses until for an 18 ft. salmon rod I got as high as "Well, now," said Murphy, "I never time to reel up and row to Bill's hotel. $125; but it was all hand work, careful gave this matter much thought, but I've Whc.11 we parted with Rill we did not measurements and tests from start to fin- had good sport with the big mouth bass, weep; but Murphy said on the train: ish, with much labor and material that and I'll tell you one thing: if they are not "Every time I stop with Bill I declare that was rejected. And please remember that quite as full of fight-mind me, I don't it will never occur again, but somehow I every rod was made to order. There was say they ain't-I've found them morereli- forget his meanness or I forgive it; I don't no making up a lot, and fitting tips to able as risers to the fly. The big mouth know which." second joints. If there was a fault in a will usually take a fly of some kind if Charles F. Murphy was one of a class of joint a new one had to be made. Though presented properly, and if the wind, sun the old-time all-round sportsmen inter- prices were high, we earned every dollar and water are not in conspiracy against ested in almost everything that is in- we got; but there were a few men in those the fisherman, but the small mouth will cluded in that comprehensive and elastic days who wanted the best that could be often refuse the fly when his brother will term of sport. With no outward polish, had, and would pay for it. If that had not rise to it." brought up among the fire laddies, where been the case, the split-bamboo rod This talk was at 4 P. M., and we were the only qualities recognized in a man would never have been invented." casting with different flies in order to see were honesty, pluck and muscle, he was Greenwood Lake contains both sr~ecies what the bass might prefer in the way of an entertaining companion. He died at of black bass, and at the time we were tinsel, wool, fur, chenille and feather, his home in Newark, N. J., in 1883, at the there, some sixteen or more years ago, when Murphy got a rise, and as he struck agc. of sixty-five. 5 Split-bamboo fly rod with engraved silver fittings and carved hand-piece. The rod (circa 1862) was made by Samuel Phillippr of Easton, Penn.~ylvania,and is in the collection of the State Museum of Pennsyh/ania, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It was given to thr museum by thr Harrisburg Fly-Fishing Club. The rod is probably the same one that James Henshall describrs in his article on thr split-cane rod (.we p. 23 of this issue).

Photos courtr.ry of thr Statr Musrum of Penn.syluania/Pennsyluania Historical and Musrunz Commission

Detail offerrulr on butt section of the Phillippe rod ~-- I..

Origin of the Split-Bamboo Rod by James A. Henshall

And now the ne plus ultra. The which is of stained ash.. ." Phillippe's first, all bamboo, salmon rod (1865). following essay was taken from the later rods includeed both those of four- 1904 edition of Dr. James A. Hen- and six-strip construction, and they were shall's Book of the Black Bass. made entirely of bamboo. It is Henshall's Except for the six-paragraph intro- conclusion that Phillippe was the first A first-class split-bamboo rod is the duction, it is identical to an article American to employ the split-cane tech- ultima thule of rod making. In its con- entitled "Inventing the Split-Bam- nique for the manufacture of bamboo fly struction great care and skill are exer- boo Rod," by Henshall, which appeared rods. He states that "Sam Phillippe also cised. The material is carefully selected in Outing magazine (May 1902, uol. 40, made rods entirely of split bamboo, and by an expert, as the several sections for a no. 2). Henshall considered "the split- of six sections [six-strips] as well, after- joint must be perfect and of the same bamboo rod to be the greatest invention ward, and as I now believe before [our weight and bend, in order to secure ever made pertaining to the art of angling emphasislany other maker attempted the homogeneity and perfect action. This . . ." According to Henshall, he owned construction of a split-bamboo rod." requires technical skill and intelligence one of Phillippe's early rods, and it was Henshall giues Murphy credit for being of a high order. But the cheap and shoddy "made of four sections of bamboo [four- the first to offer split-cane rods to the kind sold in department stores is made of strip construction], except the butt, trade, and also for the construction of the refuse cane by unskilled labor, and is sold 1 I,:~,.,,. :,t <0111(, 1~~11~tl1.t11l1. (lt~-~~ril~c(lnly ~i~ctl~o(l of I~I:I~~IIC a 61~li111:11:11~~~~~ ro,l. :I+ t:i11?11t III(* 1)y JIr. C~~C(*II. T11crc :1ro s~~~~~r:~l

o111,a: \!:1?.4 ()I' (Ioil~cit7 :1l1(1 it 11111-t 1)~1111(1~rstoo(l t11:it tlli- is:~111at(111r 11 01.1;. .i circttl:tr S:LIV is a great help, :~11di~~Clisl)~'ll.s:~bl to tho-c ~11o111alie rodh to scll. p

p, I " 4f-J D &;@, Details of Split Bamboo Rod. (('o~~roy,Ui

., - : - LLIL , ALL -4 . , , LI_.J

- Illustratzon from th~ Book of the Black Bass (1881) Split Bamboo Flv-Rod. by Dr. James A. Henshall (C'OIII?)),1:i.w~ll A ~I:iIlt~~o~~.) at a small advance on thc,cost of produc- made in this country.~~ldred7stops, how- A. G. Wilkinson, of the Patent Office, tion. A hard wood rod at thrice the price ever, were necessarily a failure from the Washington, D. C., gives, so far as I is infinitely better. faulty method of their construction. He know, the first history of the split- I consider the split-bamboo rod to be made them of many short pieces sawn bamboo rod and its method of construc- the greatest invention ever made pertain- from between the knots, or leaf-ridges, of tion. Incidentally'he says: ing to the art of angling, equaling the the male cane, and spliced, to form con- invention of the breerh-loatling rifle and tinuous lengths. So much for theoriginal "Twcnty-five years ago (18.51) a shot-gun for field sports. idea. London firm made split-bamboo Thc history of the "split-l)amboo," It is not my province, nor desire, to rods, putting the enamel inside.. . . "section-bamboo," or, as it is sometimrs detract one iota from the credit or just due Mr. Phillippe, living at Easton, called, the "rent and glucd hamboo" rod, of any one in this matter, but rather to Pa., conceived the idea, in 1866, of although of comparatively recent origin, render unto Caesar those things that putting the enamel upon the out- dating back only some sixty years, is belong to Caesar. In the following pages I side, where it would do the most somewhat obscure. Several prrsons have will present only such evidence as is good. Next, Mr. Green and Mr. laid claim to the invention, though with entirely trustworthy, having been ob- Murphy put their heads together, what justice it has, herrtoforc, never been tained from authentic sources, and put it and made rods of this sort of four clearly determined. on record here as reliable data in regard to strands, and finally the old and Thew is, perhaps, no important mc- the early history of the American split- well-known firm of A. Clerk &Co., chanical invention that has, in its incep- bamboo rod; and in so doing I hope to do New York, introduced into the tion and principle, sprung entirely and justice to an obscure, but worthy brother market the Leonard rod of six and spontaneously from the brain of any sin- of the angle. twelve strands, and have since been gle individual; and this will apply to the The following amplified account of supplying Europeans with all they split-bamboo rod as well, for though the invention of the split-bamboo rod I get of this article." purely an American invention, as now rontributed to the "Outing" magazine ronstructed, the idea, or principle, is for May, 1902. As a matter of record I In 1881, in my "Book of the Black really of English origin. Rods formed of reproduce it here: Bass," I gave a brief history of the origin several pieces of hard wood, that is, from of the split-bamboo rod as made in the two or three longitrldinal sections mitred United States, giving rredit for the inven- and glued together, were made in Eng- tion to Samuel Phillippe, of Easton, Pa., land many years ago; and Aldred, of Lon- and the date of his first rods as early as don, made rod tips, or, as they are called In an admirable and comprehensive 1848. The proofs that I produced were in England, "tops," of split-bamboo, article on "Salmon Fishing" in "Srrib- complete and authentic enough to estab- before rhr split-bamboo rod, roper, was nu's Magazine" for October, 1876, Dr. lish thr claim for Phillippe as the inven- tor of the split-bamboo rod in America, writing I could not fix Murphy's Wm. Blacker, 54 Dean street, Soho, and certainly as the first in the world to exact date. I am now clearly of the London, and to order, for James make a four-section rod. Those made in opinion that Phillippe's son care- Stevens, an old and well-known England about that time, and exhibited lessly wrote 1866 in place of 1846, angler, of Hoboken, N. J. This was at the first World's Fair at the Crystal and in fact I remember perfectly in 1852, and it was given to me for Palace in London, in 1851, were all three- well that his figures were pretty dif- repairs and alterations in that section rods; that is, three triangular ficult to decipher." year." strips, or sections, either with the enamel inside or outside. These were known as In order to confirm and substantiate The late Professor Alfred M. Mayer, "rent and glued-up" bamboo rods, and the claim I made for Phillippe, I subse- editor of the Century Company's "Sport were shown by several makers.* quently corresponded with several of his with Rod and Gun,"* in a footnote to Dr. Mr. William Mitchell, of New York, an old fishing companions and friends, citi- Wilkinson's article, says in reference to excellent and well-known rod maker, in zens of Easton, Pa., with the result that I this rod: an article on the split-bamboo rod in the am now able to fix the date of his first "American Angler," says: rods as early as 1845. "I have seen a split-bamboo rod At the World's Columbian Exposition, made according to the suggestions "Mr. Wilkinson gives the year at Chicago, in 1893, I exhibited in my of that distinguished angler, the 1866 as the one in which Mr. Phil- department an oil portrait of Samuel late James Stevens, of Hoboken, by lippe, a gunmaker of Easton, Pa., Phillippe, together with several of his Blacker, of London. This rod is of made a glued-up split-bamboo rod rods, one of which is now in my posses- three sections, with the enamel on in three sections, or parts of one. sion. It is one of his first rods. and is still the outside, and was made in 1852, He was followed by Mr. Green and in as good practical condition as when while Mr. Stevens was in London. Mr. Murphy. first made. It is a trout fly rod, 11 feet 4 This date has been accurately deter- "Dr. Henshall, in his 'Book of inches in length, and weighs exactly 8 mined for me by his son, Mr. Frank the Black Bass,'gives thedateof the ounces. It is a perfectly proportioned rod, Stevens." first split-bamboo rod made in this as the following diameters show: Great- country, by Samuel Phillippe, as est swell of butt, 1 inch; insidediameter of Notwithstanding the great number of about 1848; but all dates are from first ferrule, 5-16th~of an inch; of the British books on angling published dur- memory, and I believe the date second ferrule, 3-16th~of an inch; of ing a century, there is no mention of the given by Mr. Wilkinson is the extreme tip, 3-32ds of an inch. Length of rent and glued-up cane rod previous to nearer approach to the correct one. reel seat, 3'4 inches; diameter, 11-16th~of 1847. In this year "Ephemera" (Edward Mr. Phillippe never made a com- an inch. Length of butt handle, from reel Fitzgibbon) published his "Hand-book plete rod of split-bamboo, only a seat to end, 10 inches, including the iron of Angling," in which he gives a descrip- tip and joint to a three-piece rod, thimble at end. If the end of butt was tion of the method of Mr. Little, a Lon- the butt of ash, and the joint and shortened, as in modern rods, the weight don rod maker, in the construction of a tip made in three sections. would be reduced at least 1%ounces. It is salmon rod composed of an ash butt, "Mr. Murphy, of Newark, N. J., made of four sections of bamboo, except with the other joints of three-section split in an article by Mr. B. Phillips, on the butt, which is of stained ash, and is and glued-up bamboo cane. the origin of the split-bamboo, neatly wrapped with black silk on the During the Chicago World's Fair a published in the New York bamboo joints. The ferrules and reel daughter of Samuel Phillippe called on "Times," gives the date as 1848, bands are brass. me and gave me a very interesting ac- when Mr. Phillippe used the natu- The other rods exhibited were of four count of her father. Among other things ral bamboo, and subsequently and six sections or strips throughout, she stated that after her father's death made a joint of bamboo." including butt. One of the latter was a Joseph Jefferson, the actor, called at their very finely finished and handsome rod house and purchased one of her father's Satisfied that there was some error or with solid silver mountings, neatly rods. mistake concerning the date, 1866, as engraved; it was accompanied by a reel of Mr. Solon C. Phillippe, of Easton, Pa., given by Dr. Wilkinson, I afterward mother of pearl, the only one I have ever a son of Samuel Phillippe, furnished me wrote to him on this point, when he re- seen. This last was doubtless one of his with the following notes concerning his plied as follows: later rods. father: My opinion now is that Phillippe was "You are certainly all right on really the first maker, and consequently "Samuel Phillippe was born the split-bamboo question. Mitch- the inventor of the split-bamboo rod, and August 9, 1801, in Reading, Pa., ell gives the date of Murphy's rods made his first rod before they were made and died in Easton, Pa., May 25, as 1863, and Murphy concedes in England. I do not believe that the 1877. He went to Easton when priority to Phillippe, and the lat- three-section rent and glued-up bamboo about sixteen years old, where he ter's date is 1846. At the time of rod was made in London previous to learned the trade of gunsmith with 1845, though rods of three sections of Mr. Peter Young. He was a skilled hickory and other hard woods were, per- workman in wood or metal. He "[As late as 1870, in Bohn's edition of haps, made as early or earlier. made violins and fishing rods in Walton's Complete Angler, edited by I do not think it possible that Phil- addition to his regular work as a Jesse, Mr. Bohn says in a footnote: "The lippe, in a small interior town in Penn- split-cane or glued-up rod is difficult to sylvania, ever heard of an English split- make well, and very expensive; it is made bamboo rod before his invention; for *Dr. A. G. Wilkinson was the first to of three pieces of split cane (which some even Mr. Mitchell, an old and expe- suggest to the editor of "Scribner's Maga- say should have the bark inside, some rienced rod maker of New York, says in zine," Dr. Holland, to publish a series of outside), and is said to have the advantage the article referred to: articles on sports with gun and rod, of of not warping through wet."] which his was the first. "The first split-bamboo rod I ever saw or heard of was made by gunsmith. He received a silver rod: can give Phillippe credit for the medal for one of his violins from From Mr. Geo. W. Stout, of Easton, discovery of split-bamboo fly rods the Franklin Institute Fair, at Phil- Pa.: without fear of being contradicted. adelphia. He made the first "Kin- While making rods for Andrew sey" fishing hooks from patterns "I came to this town in 1851. I Clerk & Co., Mr. Abbey, of that furnished by Phineus Kinsey, of made my first split-bamboo rod in firm, showed Mr. Green and myself Easton, Pa. He was a good trout 1860, and got my idea from Phil- a rod made by Mr. Phillippe, the fisher, and fished at times in com- lippe's rods. I was an amateur only, top and second joint made of split- pany with Thad. Norris, of Phila- and never made more than a dozen bamboo, with butt joint made from delphia, and Judge Jas. Madison in all.. . . Ex.-Sheriff Thos. Heck- white ash. I made the first split- Porter, Colonel T. R. Sitgreaves, man, now in his eighty-sixth year, bamboo salmon rod, also the first Wm. Green, Phineus Kinsey, John was a life-long acquaintance of black bass rod of split-bamboo." and Abraham DeHart, Sheriff Heck- Phillippe, and often went fishing man, and others of Easton. with him. He is well preserved, From Dr. W. W. Bowlby, of New York "He visited a number of places with an excellent memory, and is City: with Mr. Thad. Norris, when the good authority. He says he knows latter was seeking a location for a that Samuel Phillippe made split- "My earliest recollection of the trout hatchery, and which was bamboo rods in 1846. Edward split-bamboo rod dates back to finally located near Bloomsburg, Innes, a man of repute, aged about about the year 1852. At that time I N. J. Mr. Norris often saw Phil- sixty-seven, remembers seeing him lived in New Jersey, near Easton, lippe at work on split-bamboo rods making one of these rods in 1847. Pa., and fished in the same waters in his shop. Charles F. Murphy, You may rely implicitly on the evi- in New Jersey and Pennsylvania himself a noted rod maker, of dence of Heckman and Innes, who with an old gunsmith of Easton, Newark, N. J., also visited Phil- both fished with Sam before, and known among us as 'Old Sam Phil- lippe to learn something of his many years after, 1846. Innes was lippe.' It was about the year above method of making split-bamboo much at Sam's shop before 1847, named that I saw a split-bamboo rods. and fixes the date by its being just rod in his possession, and he in- "In his first experiments Phil- before he removed to Philadelphia, formed me at the time that he was lippe made tips and second joints where he resided several years." the originator of the idea; and to of two, and then three sections of him, I earnestly believe, belongs split-bambo, enamel outside, with From Mr. Thos. Heckman, ex-Sheriff the credit of having first conceived butts of solid cane or ash. But these of Easton, Pa.: the idea of constructing a rod from rods would not cast the fly true. He such material." then made the joints of four sec- "I knew Sam Phillippe a great tions, and found that they would many years, some sixty or seventy. I While certain parties were compelled cast perfectly in any direction. He have fished with him many times, to concede the priority of Phillippe in then made complete rods of four sometimes for a week's camping in this matter, they sought to detract some- sections, including the butt, and the mountains of Monroe County. what from his laurels by pronouncing his later of six sections or strips; the He was the first man in this part of rods crude affairs, with the added remark enamel was always on the outside. the country to build a split-bamboo that they were not "complete," having These rods were for his own use, rod. He made two for me, one of white ash butts. Now, judging from the but afterward he made some for his which isstill in goodcondition. To rod in my possession, old Sam Phillippe friends, one of the first being for my best recollection he built his knew just what a trout fly rod should be Colonel T. R. Sitgreaves, with ash first rod about 1846; he made his in its action, both in casting a fly and in butt and joints of four-section own ferrules, rings, and keepers." playing a trout; and it is on these quali- spli t-bamboo. ties of a rod that its merits should be "His books show that the first From Abbey & Imbrie, of New York judged, rather than on the style of its split-bamboo rod sold was in 1848. City: construction or fine appearance. Of This was a four-section rod in three course, it is better, and desirable, to have pieces, all split-bamboo, including "Your account of the origin of beauty of form combined with excellence the butt. His first rods were made the split-bamboo rod is perfectly of action whenever this is possible; but I certainly as early as 1845. Soon correct. Our Mr. Abbey, the writer, have seen hundreds of split-bamboo rods Phillippe learned rod making, in was the active member of Andrew that, while they were all that could be addition to the trade of gunsmith, Clerk & Co. at the time of the origi- desired as to style and appearance, were from his father. In 1859 Solon made nation, by Mr. Phillippe, of the sadly lacking as to the purposes and uses a complete rod of six sections; the split-bamboo rod, and is, therefore, for which they were constructed. handpiece, 18 inches long, was well acquainted with its history The ash butt of my Phillippe rod gives made of twelve sections of hard down to the present time." just the right amount of backbone, and wood. In 1876 he made a three- the bamboo joints just the requisite pli- piece rod, with handpiece of red- From Mr. Chas. F. Murphy, of Newark, ancy and resiliency needed in a fly rod. Its wood, and balance of rod of eight N. J.: joints are just as straight and intact as sections or strips, four of split- when first made. It is as honest and relia- bamboo, and four of snakewood, "Mr. Chas. Luke, of thiscity, for- ble, and, I might say, as perfect a rod, so alternating." merly of Easton, Pa., used to fish far as its uses and action are concerned, as and hunt with Mr. Phillippe, and some of my modern rods, "complete" Following are extracts from letters frequented his workshop, where he though they may be. relating to this subject from some of my saw him use split-bamboo for fly But old Sam Phillippe also made rods correspondents, as evidence to corrobo- rods certainly as far back as 1848. entirely of split-bamboo, and of six sec- rate my opinion that Samuel Phillippe Luke moved from Easton to New- tions as well, afterward, and, as I now was the first maker of the split-bamboo ark in 1850. I am very certain you believe, before any other maker attemp------0 a -- - Split Bamboo Fly-Rod.-(Chns. F. Orvis.)

- -- - -

v U

7---- . .- s Ash and Lancewood Fly-Rod.-(Wm. Mills 6: Son.)

Illustration from the Book of the Black Bass (1881) by Dr. James A. Henshall

ted the construction of a split-bamboo the surface enamel or outside siliceous inside and a small portion of thesiliceous rod. And that he improved on his earlier coating, at the angles, as in the formation or outside layer. efforts those who saw the silver-mounted of the round rod, and is therefore a Then these rods have been made of six-section rod in my exhibit at the Chi- stronger rod. eight and nine strips; but there is no real cago World's Fair can bear witness. While this looks plausible enough it merit in any of these last-mentioned § has no foundation in fact. The hexagonal plans, and the six-section, outside ena- The first split-bamboo rods for the rod is not a true six-sided figure, but mel, hexagonal or round, is the only trade were made by Mr. Charles F. Mur- rather a round figure with six angles; for common-sense, practical plan. phy, of Newark, who made the first split- the face of each section is of course A first-class split-bamboo rod is strong bamboo salmon-rod in 1865, which Dr. slightly rounded, or convex, as it origi- enough for all the emergencies of bait- or Andrew Clerk took to Scotland, where it nally existedin thecane, and theextreme- fly-fishing if properly handled, but in proved a success. Subsequently, Genio C. ly small amount of outside surface that is England a steel wire center is added by Scott took the same rod to the St. Law- taken off at the angles to make the rod one maker, and spiral wire ribbing by rence, and, on his return, published an round does not amount to much, or another, though the latter is for whole interesting account of his tripand the use weaken the rod a particle. In my opinion cane rods. In this country, natural bam- of the rod, in Wilkes' "Spirit of the a round rod will cast truer in every boo rods have been closely wound with Times," in the same year. The first split- direction. linen thread to add stiffness andstrength. bamboo black bass rod was made by Mr. Another plan has been advocated, to The best plan to meet these requirements Murphy, in 1866. reverse the process in sawing the strips, is that patented by Mr. J. M. Kenyon, of To Andrew Clerk & Co., and their suc- and place the enamel or outside coating Toledo, Ohio, and consists in closely cessors, Abbey & Imbrie, belong the credit at the interior of the rod. And still winding with very fine silk from butt to and honor of bringing this rod to its pres- another, and somewhat better plan, by tip, and using several coats of transparent ent state of perfection and prominence. the way, has been proposed, more espe- varnish. The rod when finished is a beau- They were the first patrons of Phillippe, cially for tips, as follows: tiful object, requiring the aid of amagni- Murphy, and Leonard, and gave them The shaded sides of the sections repre- fying glass to see the silk wrapping. It is every assistance and encouragement. sent the outer coating. The sections are to called the "silkien" rod, and is also made The best form of the split-bamboo rod, be pressed together, and glued in the by the T. H. Chubb Rod Co., Post Mills, in my opinion, as proved by actual ser- position in which they are drawn in the Vt. The first rod made on this principle vice, is the round, six-section rod. Many figure, which brings the enamel of each that I ever saw was alluded to in the first experiments have been made to improve strip partly inside and partly outside; the edition of this book. It was spirally upon this method. The hexagonal rod is piece is then worked down to a round wrapped with fine strips of rattan. In claimed to be preferable to the round rod, form, having the center of enamel, and appearance it was a beauty, but in prac- inasmuch as there is no cutting away of the circumference of alternate strips of tice a complete failure. § Notes and Comment

in 1855, is considered to have been one of Made in Maine Exhibit this country's finest rodmakers. For more Includes Recreation of information on Thomas and his rods, see Cla.~sicRods and Rod Makers (1976) by F. E. Thomas Rod Shop Martin Keane. The Maine State Muscum -1'hc shop of thy F. E. Thomas Rod is located at the State Ho~~scin Augr~sta. C;ornl)any of Rangor, Maine, as it might They are open daily from 9 a.m. 105 p.m.; h;~vc*al)pc';lrul circa 1940, has been re- Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and crcatctl for a long-term exhibit titled Suntlay from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Other "Mad(%in Maine" at the Maine State Mainc, fishing-related items on display Muscum (see photo). Thomas established at the, museum include a land-locket1 his Rangor shop sometinle in 1902. Thca salmon mounted by Herb Welch, a firm w;~sin business until 1957 when it C;oltlen Witch streamer ticd by Carrie was ~~~r(.hasc~dby a Connecticut rod- Stevcns, and an H. L. Leonard split-cane maker. Thomas, born inNewbury, Maine, fly rod (circa 1876). The Loomis and Plumb Red Trout Automatic Fly Reel To tlir Editor: In his rcccnt article or1 automatic fly Very soon after my article "The> Red reels (Thr Amrricnn Fly Fisltrr, vol. 13, Trout: Profilr of a Rare Gamefish Dur- no. I), John Orrelle was ptrzzlccl as to the ing the 1930s in Quc~hrc"appearctl in thc relationship between Francis A. Loomis Antrrican Fly Fishrr (vol. 12, no. I), I and James S. Plumb. While ~,crusingthe received an interesting pieceof material. I April 30, 1881, issue of the Chicago Field, had tried for some considerable time to we came upon the followitig atlvertise- loc;ttc, Professor Samrtrl Garman's paprr ment. Apl~arently,Loornis and Plumb :~l)outthe red trout (Sn17~rlinu.smnrsto?ii). FZF/II?I~HorI I'ntr71ls oj lllr If I had posscsscd this informative llnzl~clStntrs 1838-1940 by Jim Rrown. 1):11)('r sooner I worrld have inclrtcled thc Stamfortl, Connecticut: Ti ico I'rcs, material in my paper. A very small 1985, 108 ~);tges,~ndcx, I)il)liog~ ;tl~hy. amount of data has I~rcnrrcorcled al)out Clotlil~ourid.$25 thr mar.sloni, in fact, virtually not hirig rxccl~tscale counts ;tntl some other (pcrti- ncsnt)trctinical data has hcen recordeel for Hrrc is ;I wc~lcorneandcxtrcfirnc~ly rlsefr11 postc*rity. refcrcnccs I)ook that any reel c.ollrctor or Imagine my satisf;iction w1it.n ;tti angling 1iistori:tn will t.crt;tinly want to astute anel enterprising librarian iri one have. Ji~nR~oH'I~, rv11o 1 first 111et seve1-;11 of tlie libraries at the IJniversity of yea1.s ago \vlicn he ~vascloirig rc.sc;trch at Toronto located S. Garman's papcr for the Mrlscrtln's libl-al-y,h;ts :tl)l)roached mc. In tliis article, Profc-ssor S. C;:trm;tn the sul~jc~c.tof r.cel 1,;ltcnts with the ex1)lains the origin of tlie reel trout's systematic. tlioroughnc~ssof a ~,rofcssiori- name3, viz Snl~~rli~r?~.~nznr.stoni. I quote al 1it)rari;tti. which he is. 'I'hc, result is from his articlr w1iic.h ;tl,peared in the. sple~~(Ii~l. 189.3 issue of Scir~~cr. There is, first, an outst;tntling inti-o- cluctiori that riot only esl)l;ti~isli~\v to Our specinims [of red trout] were acquir-c, c.ol)irs of 11:1tc1its. 1)11t givcbs an taken in Lac dr M;irl>rr, Ottawa cscrllcnt, short history of thc. I1.S. Ixltcnt \\,ere partricsrs anel markrtetl th(ir rcc,l for Cor~nty,Provinc.~ of Quebec, Carl- systcm ittit1 tlcsc.~.il,cshow it h;ts wor.ked. a I~ricfpc~riod of time bcfor.cs sc,lling the ada, whence t1ir.y wearcsent by favor A suc.c.int.t tlisc-rrssion of how to intc~~-~~~-et patent rights for thcir creation to Yaw- of the Honortr;~l)lrJ.C;. A. Crrigh- v;tr-ious p;tt('rrt rnarkirigs o~ircrls is also man anel Er.11~5.Yawman ant1 Erl)c. then ton. They rc:tc.Iictl its at the insis- inc-ludecl. marketc,cl tlie I.(~(>I as thc YPcl.: arttomatic t(s~i(.eof Mr. A. N. <:lirney, fishing 7'hc introduc.tion is \,cbr.yusefrrl, ant1 I fly I-eel. c,tlitor of Sliootirrg ancl Fishing, tiope that it will fincl a hornc so~nc~u~lierc who, who1 asked to suggest a six- iri the ~)cariodic.:tl liter;ttr~rc'. .I'lic intro- cific name, rel)licd with the clues- clrtc.tion is th(~11followc~l I)y ;I list of rnorc tion, 'How woultl it tlo to name it than right hundrcd sl)ccific. 1);ttrnts for Mr. R. B. M;lrston, editor of involving fishing r.ccls, from I,atcsrit Fishing Gazette, I,ondon, an Eng- nrtrnl)c.r 85.1 (Arunah .I'iffa~iy,C;i t~son, lislirnan ovrrflo~~i~igwith gootl NY, July 26, 1838) to I);ltcxnt numl~rr froling for evc*rythingl~ertaining to 2,221, 852 (MT;tltc~.T(~rr.eri(.c, N~IY York, fish, fishing ant1 America, and who NY, Novernl)c~r 19, 1940). 'l'hc 1,atent is doing much to c~~iliancefrirndly sc(.tio~ic.o~it;ti~is IIIIIIIC~~~IS I);II~III ~II.;~MI- intcxrcst betwcm the ~,eol>lcof the ings and ~)hotogr;tl~lid~,yth(8 authors of two countries?' 111 c.onsct1rtcnc.c of irnlx)rt;trit :untl c.urious fishing rc.cls. The the suggrstion, this handsornc~ 1):1te1it list is folio\\-cstl by ;III i~itlcsof the. (.Ii;tr. one of the. 1i;tritlsotnc~stof our riariics of ;tll ;tssigners anel in\,c~itor-s. ~l)(~cics,is introdrrc.c~el r~ndrr-thc *I'lic volutric is attr;~c.ti\~c~lytlosignc~tl (by n;trnc, Salrno (S;tlvelirius) Marstoni. the i.l?,rrric,n,z Fly Fi.slzrr'.r own M;trtli;~ CAMBRIDGE,MASS. S. GARMAN I'oolc Mv~.win)anel contains rirlmc*r.ous 01-n;rrnc>ntal illustr:rtions from early MI.. A. N. Chenciy's wortls ;lbout R. R. ;lngling I~ooks;tlotig n.itli th(. ~)ic.trtresof Corrigenda M;trsto~i'scontrit~ution srsrm as trrlc ant1 rc*cls. Fl'l~isI)ook shoultl I)(* 1);trt of c\.cry ~)crtincntnow ;IS iri thr past. I have rcaad srrious angling lihl.;tt.y. l'hc c.rlrrent size of Pyr;ttrii(l I.;tke c.onsidcl;thle of M;trston's works, i~iclutl- We are now blessed with sc~vcraldedi- is apl)roxitn;ttc.ly 130,000 surf;tce ing Tlrr Rrozi1~1Trout (Snl?no fnrio). the c.atctl r(sc.1 1iistori:rns who ~\.'r.it('.Jirn acres. In Kol)c~rtRclinkr's artic.lc on /In1rric.a?1 Fly Fi.rlrrr (vol. 12, no. 3). Rrown joins John OrrclI(~.Srcavc~~i Vcr- thc Pyramitl I.akc c~rtth~.o;tttrortt Rot1cr.t Bright Marston was obviously :I rio~i.Mitry KcsIly, ;t~iiI:I fc~votIi(*i.s ~vlio (Thr /Jn~rrir,crl~Fly Fi.vl~or,vol. IS, man whose love for angling, :~rtthor.shi~) ztrr Iic~lpirig11s rt~i(lerst:t~i(ltliis i~iiport;~rit r~o.I, 1,. 22, csntlnotc I ) the l;~kca'ssizes and gootlwill transc.c~ntlcclthe more usu;tl tc~c-hnologicxlIiistol-y. 1,c.t' Irol)ct th(8ir \.\.as inc.or.rrc.tly given as 1,000 surl;tc.e I)ouritl;~ric~s. \\I-itings find sufficient arrtlic.r~c.c.to keel) :lcrc's. E. C;. Davis Islingtori, Ontario Join the Museum Museum News Membership Dues (per annum*) Associate* $ 25 Sustaining* $ 50 Patron* $ 250 Sponsor* $ 500 Corporate* $1000 Life $1500 Membership dues include the cost of a subscription ($20) to the American Fly FZSILPT.Please send your application to the membership secretary and include your mailing address. The Museum is a member of the American Association of Museums and the American Associ- ation for State and Local History. We Mere at the Museum, we're often asker1 two indepcndcnt means. ?'here was a are a nonprofit, educational institution :it)out the safety and security of ourcol- sul)stantial hurglary at the nearby Ben- chartered under the laws of the state of Iec,tion and ahout what policies wc have, nington Muse~crna couple of years ago, Vermont. in c*ffect forsc~llingorotl~erwisedisl~os-and wr were tlisturbed to find that their i~igof ite~nsfrom that collection. "If I al:trni systern was identical to ours. Support the Museum elorlate this rod, will it he safc?" ancl Fortunately, working with local author- As an independent, nonprofit institution, "How do I know you won't sell this reel iticas, wr were able to find out how their the American Museum of Fly Fishing I'il'tccn years from now?"are typical clues- a1;lr.m systcm was circumvented and must rely on the generosity of puhlir- tions. Wc think thosccl~~rstionsarcof ini~nc~tliatelyhael ours modified to make spirited individuals for substantial sufficient irnl)ortance to devote some such intervention impossible. support. We ask that you give our space here to the answrrs and to reassure Even though our building has been institution serious consideration when some of our tlonors at the same tirncs. inspec.ted by I)oth state fir(, authorities planning for gifts and bequests. Someone asked me, not long ago if it and our insurane.e underwriters, the pos- were true that the Musrum had recently sibility of a worst-case disaster-howtsvrr Visit the Museum soltl a collrction of ten Payne fly rods that rrmotc-does exist. But wtado have some hael once hcslonged toJot' Brooks. I spent rccorrrse even in that casta. Our collection Summer hours (May 1 through consideral)le lime assuring him that such has been fully insured since 1983, and O.ctober 31) are 10 A.M. to4 P.M. daily. an idea was absurd (evcbn if Joe Brooks although some of our items are irreplacc- Winter hours (November 1 through 11:1el hat1 ten Paync rotls, which I seriously al)lra. many of them can btb replacecl. Our April 30) are weekdays 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. doubt). col lect ion records are stored in fireproof We are closed on major holidays. Once a donatetl o1)jcct-rod, reel, files at the Mrlser~m,and aduplicateset is painting, book, flies, whatever-is for- stored at anothcr location. In short, if all Back Issues of the ~nallyrntc~rcd into the collection, it has wc~eirldre~l lost, an cxpcditious recon- American Fly Fisher found a p~rnza~zrrzthome anrl cannot, struction shoul(l he possi1)lc. untler present muscum policy, be dis- Src.111-ity is i~lsoa consideration when The following back issues are ~)oxdof in any fashion. Those who havc wtnII;IVC visitors at the Muscum. The gal- available at $4 per copy: attenclcd one of our many annual fund- Icrics are thc only public areas, ant1 here Volume 6, Numbcrs 1,2,3and4 raising dinner-auctions may have, I)een c~vrrythingis locked in elisplay casrs or Volume 7, Numbers 2,3 and 4 a little confused, sinc.c we tlooccasionally otherwise frtstrnrd to make its rcmoval auction something that wo111d appear to iml~ossiblrwithout consitlerable csffort. Volume 8, Number 3 l)c of rnrlscum quality. In all casrs, how- Our library is available for research and is Volume 9, Numbrrs I, 2 and 3 cvel-, these items havc been tlonatetl for usrd by various peoplr fairly often for Volume 10, Numbers 1 and 2 resale ant1 not for thtbcollection itself. that purposr. This takes place under the Volumell, Numbcrs1,2,3antl4 They have never been made a formal part ~)hysicalsuy~crvision of a museum staff Volume 12, Numbt.rs 1 and 3 of thecoIlec.tion ant1 invariably arr elupli- member. Thc library, by the way, as a c.;~tcsof what we have in the collection matter of I)oard policy is not a lentling already. Our I~oarclof trustees and the library. Materials thcrcain are available museum staff are ~)resentlyworking on for use on the premisrs only. the devcIol,nient of a policy ~~ndrrwhich Like most museums, we're facrcl with The we'll be, ;lllowetl to cr~llirrlwanted items thr choice of total security-which rnrrlns from the c.ollection. Howevc>rthis policy no p~~blicacc.c3ss to our resources at all- American is shal)rtl in future years, pcr~nissionof ancl serving the l~ublicin general-which the original tlonor will l~ean integral is part of o~~rrole as a museum. So, like Museum part. most muscums, we clo allow supervised Whcn we purchasrd and reworked our access to our collections. As our collec- of 1)uilcling in 1983, we took sr~l)stantial tions grow-and they have mightily in Ine;Isurcss to protect our collc~ctionancl rccent years-so cloes our responsibility Fly Fishing rccorcls. Sophisticatrd systems for both for both controlleel access and security. Post Office Box 42 fire ant1 physical scscurity wc5rrsinstalled All of us at the Museum take that respon- Manchester ancl arcs now openlting, connc~c.tedclirect- sibility most seriously. Vermont 05254 ly to locxl fire anel police dcl)art~nc~ntsI)y -John hIrnoin, ~~X~CZL~ZZ~P1)irrctor .uo!lr?rrop a[q!ssod JO arnls!d Isareal3 lno sn JA!S sawnloA -rnm rnoj aAeq 01 aleunlloj b~a~a.re aM e SF maql Jap!snos Alsno!~as ol pur? 711 blrea asaql 'a~om~aql~nd.leqM Su![ 'sa~.-layszJ ill J uvnz-la~vaq~JO anss! s!ql s~q~jo Ie!lalem .IOJ palaad saba .r!aq~daay -[as S~MO~M au!ur.raiap 01 OSI~prre parnl u! passnss!p aAeq am ley1 spol aues-~qds 01 s.ra~roddnspalexpap .rno jo [[I?a.~o[dw! -~ejnuewaJaM s13arqo pale[ar-8u!qs!j 01 a'u!lela.r le!laleru aql ~aprsuo3.LIO!I paapu! 'a91n 'a[oFe~pInoM a~ .S~JOMu!elras uaqM an!urlalap sn ca'u~dlaq -3alloJ Jno u! sde'a: buem l[!ls a.re araql aJua.rajal ~rrel~odrn!hlauranxa ale asaqL u! 'blsno!~qo 'IUBIJO~UII b~a~ale slexpo in8 'passewe uaaq JaAa seq ley1 swal!

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