532 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



Varnishing is now in order. I use coach-varnish, the best 

 I can get; there is nothing better, and it is well to give it 

 several coats, drying it each time in the air, in a bright sun- 

 shine, if possible. It should be thinned with turpentine till 

 it flows readily from the brush, and a very thin coat should 

 be put on, repeating it several times. When four or five 

 coats are dried on hard they can be rubbed down with pum- 

 ice and water (pumice-blocks ready prepared for the work 

 can be procured) washing off every now and then to see how 

 the surface is progressing. When sufficient has been done, 

 rotten stone and water follows, and finally, dry rotten stone. 

 Then wash to clear it entirely, and dry quickly. Then rub 

 the rod with a handful of the finest tissue paper, pretty vig- 

 orously, changing the paper occasionally, and the result will 

 be a brilliant polish. The same treatment applies to all 

 kinds of rods if you desire a really handsome appearance. If 

 that is a matter of no consequence an ordinary vanished sur- 

 face will serve — indeed very few of even fine rods are pol- 

 ished as above described. The materials for the ordinary 

 varnishing process are procurable of Mr. J. C. Chubb, of Post 

 Mills, Vermont. 



The making of a split-bamboo rod demands much higher 

 skill and carefulness, but it is not so difficult as it appears, 

 when one can readily and neatly finish a whole-wood one. 

 It bears a relationship to simple rod-making similar to that 

 borne by Salmon-fly making, as compared with ordinary 

 Trout-fly manufacture. It is impossible for the absolute 

 novice to make a Salmon-fly at first sight; and the same may 

 be said of that fairy-wand, the modern split-bamboo fly-rod. 



The cane generally used is the Calcutta bamboo, with the 

 brown mottling, and only the last five feet of any stick is 

 useful. In selecting it be careful to look it over for worm- 

 marks; reject all canes that have that ominous boring in it, 

 and select only those that are perfectly sound and not burned 

 deeply — for the mottling is undoubtedly due to burning. 



