200 BOOK OF THE BLACK BASS. 



Cane, or Reed. — Native and foreign cane poles are 

 much used for fishing-rods, especially in certain kinds of 

 angling where no reel is required, and for such service an- 

 swer a good purpose. The native canes are the lightest, 

 though not so strong and durable as the Chinese or Jap- 

 anese canes. 



Calcutta Bamboo. — The East Indian, or, as it is gen- 

 erally termed, the Calcutta bamboo, is the best of all ma- 

 terial for the construction of a perfect rod when carefully 

 made by a skillful and master workman. In its natural 

 state it is almost perfect in its action, and possesses all the 

 desired qualities for certain modes of angling, but for 

 methods that require a shorter and lighter, or more pliant 

 rod, these additional features can be secured by altering 

 the original conditions of the cane, by sawing it into strips 

 and accurately fitting and gluing them together ; thus re- 

 ducing the caliber, and, at the same time, preserving and 

 enhancing all the essential and desirable qualities in a 

 more compact form. 



There are two kinds of Calcutta bamboo, known to the 

 trade as "male" and "female" canes. The former is 

 nearly solid, hard, and very tough, with large and protuber- 

 ant knots or joints, where, wdien growing, are attached the 

 leaves and tendril-like branches, which are so tough as to 

 render it necessary to burn them oif ; this gives to these 

 canes the peculiar clouded and burnt appearance, which 

 adds so much to the beauty of the split bamboo rod. The 

 female cane is hollow through its entire length, except just 

 at the joints or bulges, which are not so prominent as in 

 the male cane. The male cane is the best to use in its 

 natural state, but for split bamboo rods, the selected female 

 cane is to be preferred, as it makes the most perfect rod. 



