FISHING RODS 



best adapted for the butt piece, and lancewood, 

 greenheart, or bethabara for the other pieces or 

 joints. 



A first-class split-bamboo rod is the ultima thule 

 of rod making. In its construction great care and 

 skill are exercised. The material is carefully 

 selected by an expert, as the several sections for a 

 joint must be perfect and of the same weight and 

 bend, in order to secure homogeneity and perfect 

 action. This requires technical skill and intelli- 

 gence of a high order. But the cheap and shoddy 

 kind sold in department stores is made of refuse 

 cane by unskilled labor, and is sold at a small 

 advance on the cost of production. A hard wood 

 rod at the same price is infinitely better. 



The best fishing reels and rods are produced in 

 the United States, for the reason that the manufac- 

 turers seek to supply just what the angler demands. 

 On the other hand, the British angler usually 

 accepts without question the tools offered him by 

 their makers, who, with their characteristic con- 

 servatism, still adhere to the heavy tackle of their 

 forebears. Some of their split-bamboo rods have 

 steel centres or ribs to add "strength," and for the 

 same reason their fly-lines have wire centres. 

 The British angler is compelled to use them, 

 though his inconsistency is apparent when with 

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